“Decolonizing Theory: Thinking Across Traditions” with Aditya Nigam
On February 11th, 2024, members of the Institute for Critical Social Theory, including Seyed Javad Miri, Mehdi Shariati, Michael Naughton, and Dustin J. Byrd, discussed the book, “Decolonizing Theory: Thinking Across Traditions” (Bloomsbury 2020) with its author, Aditya Nigam. It was a very fruitful discuss of decolonization thought within a variety of contexts and time periods.
“Democratic Response to the Far-Right and Fascism”
Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert discussed the history and important of democracy’s resistance to the authoritarian far-right and fascism in particular. He was joined by the ICST Founder and Co-Director, Dustin J. Byrd, on January 27th, 2024. Dr. Siebert is also a member of ICST (www.dialectical-religion.org).
“Can Religion be Rescued in the 21st Century? Erich Fromm’s Religious Humanism in an Age of Authoritarian Populism”
Dr. Dustin J. Byrd joined other scholars of Erich Fromm to discuss his reading of Fromm’s religious humanism, which is especially important in the West when religion is actively being recruited into authoritarian populism movements. The seminar was sponsored by the Erich Fromm Society of North America (www.erichfrommna.com) on January 21st, 2024.
“Erich Fromm’s Dialectical Attitude toward Religion”
Rudolf J. Siebert, a member of the Institute for Critical Social Theory, participated in the “Erich Fromm, Religion, and Judaism” seminar, sponsored by the Erich Fromm Society of North America (www.erichfrommna.com) on January 21st, 2024. His paper, entitled “Erich Fromm’s Dialectical Attitude toward Religion” has been excerpted from the seminar in the video below.
“Liberation Theology: Past, Present, and Future”
In this video, the Institute for Critical Social Theory member, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, discusses the history and development of Liberation Theology, both in Latin America and in Europe. With Dr. Dustin J. Byrd, the Co-director of ICST, they examine the influences of Marx, Marxism, and the Frankfurt School on Liberation Theology, as well as the opposition it faced within the institutional Catholic Church.
“The End of the Constantinian Church”
On this video, the Institute for Critical Social Theory member, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, discusses the history of, and potential end, of the Constantinian Church, the foundations of which were laid by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century when he legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire. Since then, Western history has been determined partially by the marriage of the church and state, to the detriment of millions.
“The Frankfurt School and the Dialectics of Religion”
On March 1st, 2023, members of the Institute for Critical Social Theory, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert and Dr. Dustin J. Byrd, discussed the dialectical nature of religion as it relates to the Frankfurt School, and their attempt to “rescue” religion from itself by translating certain elements into social and political philosophy. Through this “determinate negation,” emancipatory elements in religion live on through post-metaphysical reasoning.
“Pope Benedict XVI: From the Third Reich to the Papacy”
January 11th, 2023, the Institute for Critical Social Theory founder, Dustin J. Byrd, discussed with the ICST member, Rudolf J. Siebert, the life, work, and legacy of Joseph Ratzinger, i.e., Pope Benedict XVI. In this introspective discussion, Siebert discusses the many parallels his life has with Joseph Ratzinger, as well as issues surrounding Ratzinger’s controversial career in the Church, as well as his eight years as Pope.
“Social Theory and the Fundamental Challenges to Humanity”
On December 17th, 2022, members of the Institute for Critical Social Theory discussed some of the more challenging issues facing humanity, including global climate change, political-economics, social injustice, miscarriages of justice, war, and their relation to social theory. The video can be watched on ICST’s YouTube Channel.
“Freud and the Frankfurt School,” with Rudolf J. Siebert
On December 14th, the Institute for Critical Social Theory founder, Dustin J. Byrd, discussed with the ICST member, Rudolf J. Siebert, discussed the topic of “Freud and the Frankfurt School,” wherein they examined the history and role of psychoanalysis in Critical Theory. The video can be watched on ICST’s YouTube Channel.
“The Russo-Ukrainian War: Challenges and Future Scenarios for the Global Order”
The Institute for Critical Social Theory sponsored a Zoom discourse on Sunday April 17th, at 9:30am EST, regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. It included Alexander Azadgan, Dustin J. Byrd, Michael Kuhn, Haiyun Ma, Sergey Markedanov, Charles McKelvey, Mehdi Shariati, and Seyed Javad Miri. Below is a link to the YouTube video.
“Weltschmerz: A Discourse on a Global Condition”
The Institute for Critical Social Theory co-sponsored a discourse on the concept of “Weltschmerz,” or “world pain,” on January 23rd, at 9am EST. It featured a number of our members, including Dr. Dustin J. Byrd, Dr. Seyed Javad Miri, Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, and Dr. Mehdi Shariati, discussing the travails of the contemporary world.
Institute for Critical Social Theory 