Thomas A. Forsthoefel

Thomas A. Forsthoefel serves as a professor in the religious studies department at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Alongside his academic career, he is also a poet and author. His scholarly pursuits particularly center on Hinduism and Buddhism, exploring both established traditions and newer religious movements within these faiths, despite his own Roman Catholic upbringing.

Forsthoefel's engagement with religious traditions extends to practical application and public discourse. He met the 14th Dalai Lama in 1999 and later edited an anthology of the Dalai Lama's writings in 2008, also contributing to a documentary about him. In 2010, he was appointed Poet Laureate of Erie County, Pennsylvania, a role he used to champion poetry programs for incarcerated individuals. His tenure was renewed for 2011. He also gained attention from The New York Times for his commentary on a high school's accommodation of Muslim students observing Ramadan.

As a professor of religious studies, Thomas A. Forsthoefel's academic work delves into the complexities of religious traditions, with a particular emphasis on Hinduism and Buddhism. His research and writing encompass both established practices and emergent religious movements within these paths. While his academic focus is on Eastern religions, his personal background is rooted in Roman Catholicism. This dual perspective likely informs his nuanced understanding of diverse spiritual and philosophical landscapes.

Forsthoefel has actively engaged with figures and concepts central to Tibetan Buddhism, notably through his interactions with the 14th Dalai Lama. His work editing the Dalai Lama's essential writings and contributing to a documentary reflects a commitment to disseminating Buddhist thought. Furthermore, his reflections on the observance of Ramadan, as highlighted by The New York Times, showcase his ability to interpret and comment on the philosophical and spiritual significance of religious practices within broader cultural contexts, emphasizing the intentionality and honor inherent in such observances.

“I think it is really in keeping with the best instincts of Islam in honoring the Ramadan fast, which, in my view, is an intentional disruption of quotidian life in order to affirm and galvanize key principles of Islam and to live under submission to Allah. I find that very honorable and a real testimony to the awareness that there is something going on in life other than making a buck or seeing the bottom line.”