Robert Sullivan Ph.D., a Phoenix College Professor September 24, 2008
Posted by Jacob Morales in General.Tags: atheism, Bob Sullivan, Maricopa Community Colleges, Moral Truth, Phoenix College, religion, Robert Sullivan, Truth
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It was a thrilling morning as I prepared for my first day of college in the fall of 1999. I was excited but also extremely nervous not only because I didn’t know what to expect but subconsciously I wasn’t quite ready to grow up. The past many months leading up to my new educational journey had been rocky to say the least. I hoped that my newfound path would yield some stability in my tumultuous life. My first class that morning was an introduction to Philosophy class with a man named Bob Sullivan, Ph. D.
I quietly walked into the classroom and took my seat in the back to try and keep a low profile. The teacher up front, who I assumed was the “Bob Sullivan” listed on my class schedule, began writing on the board without saying a word. It struck me as strange because he was using chalk and I hadn’t seen a chalk board since early grade school. Before I could finish reading his words on the board he began,
“What is moral truth?”
The room fell silent as his question resounded. He remained quiet and stared at us as we undoubtedly returned his gaze in confusion.
“WHAT IS MORAL TRUTH?!” He shouted.
The confusion had now turned into shock and fear for almost all of us as a deafening hush settled over the classroom. I say almost all because for me it reverberated into the depths of my soul; I didn’t know it then, but I would soon fall in love with the study of philosophy and the arts. I felt I knew the answer but out of fear I remained quiet.
One brave soul raised his hand and said boldly, “There is no such thing as truth. Truth is whatever you believe it is.”
I can only say that what ensued after his statement was truly remarkable to say the least. I doubt that this young man realized what he was doing when he spoke those words, but it began one of the most incredible, and yet simplistic, feats of human reason I had ever witnessed in my life.
Dr. Sullivan began…
“Ok. Let’s take your statement and go to work on it shall we? SO let’s assume I am a young man and I grew up in a good home. Alright. I had good parents who REALLY loved me and looked after me. Ok. But I have this damn anger problem that I can’t seem to get rid of and it’s a real problem. Fair enough? Ok. Now mom and dad did their best to raise me right but this woman I see walking down the street…well she is just beauuuuutiful.
So because I WANT HER. (Long Pause) I RAPE HER!
Silence for what seems like an eternity
So if truth is whatever I want it to be. WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO TELL ME IM WRONG?! I FREELY CHOSE TO RAPE! If truth is whatever I believe, then who are you to tell me what I (long pause) OUGHT to do?”
The sound in the classroom was louder than any noise I had ever heard; no one said a thing, no one moved. What was amazing is Dr. Sullivan continued for 40+ minutes with this blatant and provoked attack on the very foundations of modern societies “way of thinking”. From that day forward I had a permanently etched smile on my face in his class as I watched this 70 year old man verbally beat down the very core of modern relativism.
That day marked the first day of my real education. It started something in me that is the single most important reason I am even alive today. That day I walked into that room a drug addict, a hiding Christian struggling with my faith, and even worse I was unsure if what I had held on to for so long was even true. It was not necessarily his direct intention, but every time I heard him lecture it began to solidify my faith and gave me a reason for why I believed in God.
That day signified the first step in a journey that changed the course of my life forever.
I began to write papers in his class feverishly and with great excitement. When my first paper returned from him I read his comments quietly to myself as he handed them back to the class. They read “Very rarely do I get a student of your caliber in my classes. Your understanding of the subject matter is superior. Excellent work. Never let this passion fade from you” Those words were like water to my soul, the seedlings that had been planted in my heart began to take root and dug deep into the very core of who I was becoming.
The man I came to know as Bob was more than a teacher; he was a friend, a fighter, a dad and a husband, and to me the most spiritually significant person I never knew I needed to meet. An Irish Catholic from Chicago became a missionary and priest in South America, and eventually had nearly a dozen sons and daughters. He is to this day the single most influential person I have ever encountered or known in my life.
Robert Sullivan recently passed away last year, but his life will live on. This blog is a legacy to him, to what he taught, to what he stood for, and to a generation of people who refuse to shut up, sit down, and allow the world to fade into moral decay. In the days and months to come I will be writing on some of the topics he taught on including posting his lectures I was able to record. He spoke on family, life, morality, and some of the most important topics our culture is now facing more than ever. Bob Sullivan believed in absolute moral truth, and I intend to show you why it is something we cannot afford to forget or leave in the past.
It is my hope that someday, with this help of his family, there will be a Robert Sullivan Foundation and that many more will share the honor in carrying his torch. Today we honor a man who fought the fight and won. Bob, it was an honor to know you, learn from you, and carry this to many more. You taught me the definition of being a good dad, a loving husband, and a zealot for the truth. The life you lived was an example to everyone around you, you are my hero and I am a better man because of you. We are all going to miss you.
I can’t believe I found this, but I went to PC years ago and had Bob Sullivan. He is the best professor I ever had. Nice work here Jacob. I’ll bookmark this and keep an eye out for your progress.
Jacob I didn’t know Dr. Sullivan, but your description of him makes me wish I did. Thank you for honoring him and for sharing this with us all!
Bob was one of the best people I ever knew. I am so glad to see you doing this Jacob. Keep it up!
Absolute Moral Truth eh? I’m interested to see where this is going…
I knew Bob personally and was so elated to read this Jacob. I am so moved and in tears by what you write and thank God for you. You have such an incredible way of wording things that locks people into what you are saying. Continue on this course, it is making a big difference!
I was lucky to have Bob as a teacher at PC in the early 1970’s. Bob was a Force of Nature and a gentleman in the purest sense. I earned degrees from the University of Maryland, University of Arizona and Harvard after leaving PC, but never had a better professor.
I too had Dr. Sullivan as a teacher at PC in the early 1970’s. I got to go to PC after 4 years as a US Marine under the GI Bill. I enjoyed his Psyc 101 class so much that I took his Psyc 102 as well as his Ethics class. After finishing PC, I went on to ASU as well as nearly finshing a graduate program there. Clearly of all the teachers I have had Dr. Sullivan was by far the best.
Dr. Sullivan provied a document according to Thomas Aquinas of Rational Proof for the Existence of God at the end of one of the Psyc classes. I have it in my hand as I speak. If you have a copy and have ever read it you would be in agreement as to what a wonderful piece of work it is….I keep the document as a reminder of a great man and master instructor, Dr. Sullivan.
RIP Dr. Sullivan.
Your student….Bruce Walrath….Tempe, AZ
I should have written Phil 101 and Phil 102 not Psyc.
Hey Jacob,
I am one of Bob Sullivan’s daughter and read your blog with much delight. I was wondering if you might be able to copy the lectures you have. We, our family, would love to have them. Thanks.
Jacob, my sister Ella sent me this link. I could hear my father’s voice in your writings. Thank you for bringing tears and laughter to me. I just spent a week with my family in Phoenix visiting my Mom, sisters, brothers, and nieces and nephews. It was truly a joy getting this gift to read when I first returned home to Dallas. Thank you and keep in touch.
I am Bob Sullivan’s eldest living child. I can hear the pregnant pause right before he laid something profound into you. I use it to this day with my 7 children because it was so powerful. You have to know that he was as gentle with the unfortunate as he was powerful in the classroom. Could not have had a better father nor better role model. He loved his students and many times I heard him say that teaching was like eating chocolate ice cream…he could never get enough. Thanks for remembering the “Poor Dumb Irish Catholic” as he used to call himself.
I’m so sorry for my delayed response. I had this blog set to an old email account that has been closed. I do have those recordings that I’ll upload for you all to hear. They are extremely moving. I was in his class many times over the years and in one of the recordings he speaks of one of you (Jim I believe) very fondly. I never knew you, yet I could hear the incredible love he had for you all. I hope that my comments revere him in the way you do, because although he wasn’t my father, he was largely the most important man I have ever met or known.
I know I cannot begin to express the same loss, but I miss Dr. Sullivan and think of his words often. I will upload the audio clips I have for him as soon as possible.
http://absolutemoraltruth.wordpress.com/2009/04/22/dr-bob-sullivan-life-changing-lectures/
I tried to open the lectures and for some reason I can’t. Has anyone else had the same problem?
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/swu-download.pl?upd_id=1283&PASSVAL2=SMB
The DVF file needs a special Sony audio player to hear the file. The link is for the special player. Hope that helps.
Please let me know if I can be of service to your family in any way. It might seem a little overbearing, but I truly feel like I owe your family so much.
I was able to download the special player, but there is only static playing. Any ideas? Below is the text of a letter my dad wrote to my two brothers while they were studying in Rome. We found it after he passed away, and it brought joy and tears to our family the same way your blog did. I hope you enjoy it.
Sept. 24, 1993
Paul and Tim,
I am going to make this short, but it will not be sweet. You are forbidden by me to call the States to anybody but your mother and me.
You have never heard me speak this way. I am so angry I could spit. PEOPLE BREAK THEIR ASS TRYING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR YOUR EDUCATION, AND YOU RESPOND BY HAVING US SENT A ONE MONTH PHONE BILL FOR $458.00!!!! THAT IS ALMOST $5,500 IN A YEAR. IF ALL NINE OF OUR CHILDREN USED THE PHONE IN THIS MANNER FOR A YEAR THAT COST WOULD BE $24,732!!!!!!!
I’M TEMPTED TO ADDRESS THE TWO OF YOU AS THE TWO ASSHOLES. WAKE UP! YOU ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF AFFLUENCE!!! STOP ACTING LIKE A COUPLE OF SPOILED, UNDISCIPLINED BRATS!!
DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY BILLS THAT DEAL WITH REALITEIS INFINITELY MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU DESIRE TO SPEAK TO YOUR FRIENDS HERE IN THE STATES?
MARGARET WORKS TWO AND SOMETIMES THREE SCHOOL NIGHTS WHILE KEEPING A 4.0, AND, IN THE MEANTIME MY TWO LITTLE BOYS IN ROME THROW AWAY SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON CHIT-CHAT. MARY WORKS EVERYDAY THAT SHE CAN, EVEN WHEN THAT MEANS THAT SHE SUFFERS AS A MEMBER OF THE BASKETBALE TEAM. THAT MEANS THAT SHE GIVES UP SOMETHING THAT SHE WANTS VERY BADLY BECAUSE OF THE NECESSITY THAT SHE EARN HER TUITION. THAT HAVE PUT ASIDE $3700 AND THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH $1600 MORE. $458 WOULD SURE AS HELL HELP!
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE TWO OF YOU? WE WENT OVER THIS WHOLE MATTER BEFORE YOU LEFT. MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF AT P.C. WHERE VERY REAL PEOPLE DEAL EVERYDAY WITH VERY REAL NEEDS; WHERE VERY REAL PEOPLE HANDLE VERY REAL DEPRIVATIONS EVERY DAY.
IF YOU ONLY UNDERSTOOD HOW ANGRY I AM, WOU WOULD NOT WANT TO BE WITH ME. IT IS SHIRT TEARING TIME HERE, BUT I CAN’T GET HOLD OF EITHER OF YOU TWO ASSHOLES OR YOUR SHIRTS. BELIEVE ME, YOU ARE FORTUNATE.!!!
I WLL CALM DOWN, AND THIS WILL ALL PASS, AND I WILL REGRET HAVING WRITTEN THIS LETTER, BUT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REGREAT AT THIS MOMENT. GOODBYE MY DEARLY LOVED ASSHOLES. I HOPE TO HELL THAT YOU BOTH SO SOME GROWING UP IN THE NEXT ELEVEN WEEKS.
CIAO!!!
DAD
Ella, I will find a way to convert the files to MP3s for you. Also if that doesn’t work I’ll find a way to get you the audio files on a CD and mail it as well as transcribe it for your family.
The parts I have pointed out in the audio are extremely moving. Especially when he speaks of your mom. I listened to it for the first time about a year ago and it moved me to tears. Your dad is second to none and I only wish I could have known him better.
Jacob, thank you. I just started to listen to the first lecture and wow. To hear my fathers voice again is breathtaking. I cant express to you how much these mean to me/us. Thank you, I look forward to listening to them.
I am thankful to God for the way this turned out. I had taken your father’s class 2 times prior to taking it again in January of 2006. I was taking it only because I wanted to just hear him again, not because I needed the class. I have been accused on several occasions of having an elephants memory and I will tell you that in all the times I heard him lecture I never heard him spend as much time speaking of your family and never in this intimate matter (As much as he did in Lecture 1 posted). To have it on audio is, I am sure, priceless.
If this is as precious to you as I had hoped it would be, then I thank God because if I can do anything for his family then I am truly content.
My first time in his class is when Mary was in it and to see the way he interacted with her; the way he loved her; it is how I have resolved to love my two little girls every single day.
I cannot use words enough to express my admiration for your father. The few times I was able to speak to him outside of class were gems that I will never forget. The times he would get angry and shout at a student foolish enough to defy him were truly awesome. I am sure it was not all fun and gum drops all the time, but the good he did made all the difference.
Having not had a father that was really involved in my life as a child, I felt truly blessed to have a man care so much about people he barely knew. He made all the difference in my life and that is a true understatement.