Dr. Steven Clark Cunningham was born in Denver, Colorado. After graduating from Creighton University with majors in chemistry and Spanish, he attended medical school at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Having completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Maryland and a fellowship in surgery of the liver and pancreas at Johns Hopkins University, he now serves as Director of Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Surgery as well as Director of Research at Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He is currently completing his master's degree in religion at Harvard University. He has served as a contributing editor of Maryland Poetry Review, and his poems have appeared in that journal. In addition, his work won the literary arts contest sponsored by the magazine "The New Physician." His poems have also appeared in Chimeras, Word House Baltimore's Literary Calendar, and in the anthologies Function at the Junction #2, Pasta Poetics, and Poems for Chromosomes. "Dinosaur Name Poems" / "Poems de Nobres de Dinosaurios" (Three Conditions Press, 2009), his first full-length book of children's poetry, translated into Spanish by his wife, Myriam Gorospe, won the 2009 Moonbeam Award in both the Children's Poetry and the Spanish Language categories. His second book, "Your Body Sick and Well: How Do You Know?" (Three Conditions Press, 2020), was awarded 1st Place in Children's Nonfiction at the 26th Annual CIPA EVVY Awards Contest, sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, and a Gold Medal in the 14th Annual Moonbeam Awards. It was also a Finalist in the 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards.
"It's Considerate to Be Literate about Religion is a
fun, compassionate, and lyrical journey into religious diversity.
With whimsical prose and beautiful illustrations, Cunningham offers
kindhearted depictions of religious differences alongside his
invitation to appreciate their common moral commitments. A
must-have for childhood educators and families hoping to raise
open-minded children!"-Matthew W. Hughey, PhD, Professor of
Sociology, University of Connecticut
"In this important book by Dr. Steven Cunningham, the author builds
on his previous works that explore the intersection of poetry and
nomenclature to help us see a topic in a new and unique light. In
his current work, Dr. Cunningham masterfully uses 'poemenclature'
to make religious literacy an approachable topic for a wide
population. This book provides a broad welcoming overview of
different religious world perspectives. It is a must-read for not
only the young, but for people of all ages."-Timothy M. Pawlik, MD,
PhD, MPH, MTS, MBA, FACS, FSSO, FRACS (Hon.), Professor of Surgery,
Ohio State University; scholar of religion
"Dr. Cunningham's contribution to the field of religious studies is
creative, accessible, and informative. Most importantly, it
addresses some of the most common misconceptions about religion and
offers readers a more sophisticated and nuanced approach to
understanding our diverse world."-John Camardella, College World
Religion, Prospect High School; Education Fellow, Religion in
Public Life Program, Harvard Divinity School
"A well-crafted and imaginative book assisting students to
understand and address one of the critical issues facing our
multireligious and multiethnic world-religious illiteracy. The
eloquent poems and case studies, skillfully integrated into the
text, are brilliant!"-Ali S. Asani, PhD, Murray A. Albertson
Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Professor of Indo-Muslim and
Islamic Religion and Cultures, Harvard University
"Wherever we find ourselves-in a classroom, a workplace, a
neighborhood-we encounter the presence of religious diversity. In
his book, Dr. Steven Cunningham reveals a key way to avoid
conflicts and tensions in our relationships: by becoming familiar
with and learning about religion, especially religions that are not
our own. The examples in the book clarify the various points he
brings. Knowledge develops respect, tolerance, and acceptance of
the 'other, ' exactly what our society needs now. Knowledge is
power. I would recommend this book to anyone, no matter what
age."-Rabbi Ziona Zelazo, BsC; Assoc. Chaplain, Valley Hospital,
Ridgewood, NJ; Disaster Spiritual Care Provider for the American
Red Cross
"Dr Cunningham's book is an absolute must-read for all clinicians
and educators. As we recognize the importance of providing care to
all people with respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is
essential that respect for people's religious or spiritual beliefs
and values be respected and honored in their care. This book is
engaging, thoughtful, scholarly, and practical."-Christina
Puchalski, MD, OCDS, FACP, FAAHPM, Professor of Medicine and Health
Science; Executive Director, The George Washington University's
Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish)
"Well-produced, accessibly written, and beautifully illustrated,
this book encourages the kind of well-informed engagement with
religions that is all too rare, and yet increasingly a requirement
of civilized encounter with others in our time."-Bruce D. Chilton,
PhD, MDiv, Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Philosophy and
Religion; Director, Institute of Advanced Theology, Bard
College
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