Undoing (Paperback)

Undoing acknowledges as proper and legitimate whatever specific views are being voiced at any given moment, and it does so without approving or condemning. Given the genetic makeup, the situations, the conditioning, and the choices that make up our past, whatever is currently believed could not be different. This means that the content of Undoing will be addressing a seemingly endless range of beliefs and practices. Consequently, there is probably something here for everyone and probably nothing here that will appeal to everyone. Every human being is a unique individual with a one-of-a-kind set of beliefs. Unfortunately, this is seldom realized to the point of allowing others to be as they are until they are inclined … within themselves … to make changes. Undoing honors this principle and offers suggestions on how we can facilitate change within ourselves.

James E. Royster (1933-2017) was born in a Detroit suburb. He became an Eagle scout during his high school years, and received an outstanding senior award on graduation. He earned two master's degrees after college, again being honored as an outstanding graduate. He received a Ph.D. in 1970. During the previous five years, with his wife and three children, Judy, Samuel, and Steven, he served as an educational missionary in India (two years), Egypt (two years), and Kenya (one year). He taught at several colleges until 1975 when he began his tenure at Cleveland State University, retiring in 2002. While his teaching covered all the religions of the world, he specialized in those of the East and gave an annual seminar on "Religion and Personal Transformation." He published numerous articles in scholarly journals. During his teaching years at C.S.U., Royster lived on a small farm with his family. At different times, they together raised cattle, chickens, rabbits, goats, and put in a large vegetable garden each summer. For ten years after retirement, he spent half of each year in Australia with his wife while visiting their youngest son, his wife, and their three daughters. Royster and his wife have returned to India twice, and spent nearly a year traveling around the world while observing religion as it is actually practiced in each country. During a two month visit to New Zealand--probably the most sailing-committed country in the world--Royster himself become interested in sailing. On returning to the States, he bought a sailboat, sold the farm, and moved to a small home on Lake Erie that his wife named "Rose Cottage." Here he finished writing "Have This Mind," sailed Lake Erie, and eventually retired to Lady Lake, Florida.