Frederick Sontag

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Western philosophy Contemporary philosophy
Name: Frederick Sontag
Birth: October 2, 1924 (Long Beach, California)
Death: August 6, 1969 (aged 84)
School/tradition: Existentialism
Main interests
Existentialism; Metaphysics; Philosophy of Religion; Philosophical Theology
Notable ideas

Frederick Earl Sontag (October 2, 1924 – June 14, 2009) was a professor of philosophy and a prolific author. He taught at Pomona College in Claremont, California from 1952 to 2009, retiring shortly before his death.

Life

Frederick Earl Sontag was born on October 2, 1924 in Long Beach, California. His father was a Russian Jew who survived a pogrom. He left Russia and arrived in New York in 1903. Finding no work there he took a train to California and a bus to Long Beach, where he was offered a job and was able to learn English. There being no synagogue in Long Beach, he began attending the Baptist Church and converted. Frederick Sontag was born in Long Beach. His parents died during his childhood: his mother when he was three and his father when he was 14.

Sontag served in the U.S. Army during the Second World War, becoming a sergeant. He graduated from Stanford University in 1949 with a B.A. (with great distinction). His intention was to become a lawyer, but Stanford did not have a pre-law curriculum so he took courses in psychology and philosophy. Realizing his true interest was in philosophy, he then attended Yale University where he earned an M.A. in 1951 and a Ph.D. in philosophy in 1952. During this time he married his wife, Carol Furth, on June 10, 1950.

The Sontags had two children, a son Grant and daughter Anne, who gave them grandchildren Rachel, Lydia and Chas.

His interest in religion led him to attend Union Seminary during his first sabbatical from Pomona College, but he recognized that he was destined to be a teacher not a minister. Discovering that the Congregational Church did not require a seminary degree and regarded teaching as a ministry, he was ordained there. During his time at Pomona he performed over 100 marriages, many for his students and former students.

He retired after 56 years of teaching, and died soon after of congestive heart failure on June 14, 2009.

Academic career

Sontag was the Robert C. Denison Professor of Philosophy at Pomona College, where he worked from 1952 to 2009. He had also been chairman of the department (1960–67 and 1976–77) and chairman of the Committee on Honors Study (1961–70). He also served as a visiting professor at a number of institutions (Union Theological Seminary, 1959–60, Collegio di Sant'Anselmo, Rome, 1966–67, University of Copenhagen, 1972, University of Kyoto, 1974, and East-West Center, Honolulu, 1974). He was the theologian-in-residence at American Church in Paris in 1973 and Fulbright Regional American Professor, East Asian and Pacific Area from 1977 to 1978.

His research interests were Existentialism, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Religion, and Philosophical Theology.

Research on the Unification Church

He was considered an expert on the Unification Church. In the 1970s he interviewed church founder Sun Myung Moon and church members in Europe, America, and Asia while researching for a book published in 1977. Sontag spent 10 months visiting church members in North America, Europe, and Asia as well as interviewing Moon at his home in New York State. The book also provides an overview of Unification Church beliefs.

In an interview with UPI Sontag compared the Unification Church (founded in 1954) with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and said that he expected its practices to conform more to mainstream American society as its members become more mature. He added that he did not want to be considered an apologist for the church but a close look at its theology is important: "They raise some incredibly interesting issues."

Relationship with students

Sontag was legendary at Pomona College for his devotion to his students. He advised the Kappa Delta fraternity, officiated at their weddings, and generally provided great support to all his students: “He really, really, cared for students,” said Professor of Philosophy Stephen Erickson. “Not just when they were at school, but after they became alumni as well.”

The most surprising example came in 2000 when Sontag offered to let a troubled student spend the night at his home. As he drove the student to his dormitory to pick up some clothes, the student became agitated, drew a knife and stabbed Sontag twice in the neck. The student was charged with attempted murder. Sontag worked with his parents to mount a defense of temporary insanity. He said about the incident: "My genes lack something, I don't seem to hold grudges...I believe in restoring relationships." Sontag's colleagues were not surprised by his concern for the student and lack of ill will toward him, regarding it as "vintage Sontag."

Legacy

Upon his retirement from Pomona College in May 2009, Sontag was awarded the Pomona College Trustees’ Medal of Merit, as "an extraordinarily magnanimous member of this community."

A research fellowship fund, a gate, a theater, and a residence hall are named in his honor.

In 1997, Pomona College Alumni showed their affection for Sontag by raising funds for the renovation of the Greek Theater at Pomona College, originally built n 1920, and renamed the Sontag Greek Theater in honor of Professor Frederick Sontag.

Works

• American Life (2005). University Press of America. ISBN 9780761834410
• A Kierkegaard Handbook (2003). Wipf & Stock Publishers.
• The Mysterious Presence: A Spiritual Odyssey. (2001). University Press of America.
• Defense of God. (1999). Paragon House. ISBN 0913757276
• The Descent of Women (1997). Paragon House. ISBN 1557787190
• Truth and Imagination (1997). University Press of America. ISBN 076180921X
• The Acts of Trinity (1996). University Press of America. ISBN 0761803637
• Uncertain Truth (1995). University Press of America. ISBN 081919851X
• Wittgenstein and the Mystical: Philosophy As an Ascetic Practice (1995). An American Academy of Religion Book. ISBN 1555409938
• Emotion: Its Role in Understanding and Decision (American University Studies Series V, Philosophy) (1990). Peter Lang Pub Inc. ISBN 0820410691
• Unificationism and Modern Society: An Appraisal of the Thought and Work of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon with Thomas G. Walsh. (1988). International Cultural Foundation and the International Religious Foundation. ISBN 978-0892260621
• The Elements of Philosophy (1984). Scribner.
• God: The Contemporary Discussion with M. Darrol Bryant. (1982) Rose of Sharon Press. ISBN 0932894127
• What can God do? (1979). Abingdon Press. ISBN 0687446007
• Sun Myung Moon and the Unification Church (1977). Abingdon Press. ISBN 0687406226
• Love Beyond Pain: Mysticism Within Christianity (1977). Paulist Press.
• God and America's Future (1977). McGrath Pub. Co. ISBN 0843406410
• The American Religious Experience: The Roots, Trends and the Future of American Theology, with John K. Roth (1972). Harper and Row.
• How Philosophy Shapes Theology: Problems in the Philosophy of Religion (1971). Harper and Row. ISBN 006046349X
• The Problems of Metaphysics (1970). Chandler.
• God, Why Did You Do That? (1970) Westminster.
• The God of Evil: An Argument from the Existence of the Devil (1970). Harper
• The Crisis of Faith: A Protestant Witness in Rome (1969). Doubleday., ASIN: B0020CM7AW
• The Future of Theology: A Philosophical Basis for Contemporary Protestant Theology (1969). Westminster.
• The Existentialist Prolegomena: To a Future Metaphysics (1969). University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0226768198
• Divine Perfection (1962). Harper & Brothers.

External links

All links retrieved

• Interview: Frederick Sontag: A Time of Searching by Richard Whittaker, April 10, 2002.
• The Unification Church: Theory vs. Practice / Ideal vs. Reality Journal of Unification Studies 3 (1999-2000): 41-56.
• Community Gathers to Remember Professor Fred Sontag By Jordan Cohen, The Student Life, October 16, 2009.

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