| home |
current schedule |
email listserv signup |
| info and press |
schedule archive | paper archive |
| DATE |
SPEAKER / RESPONDENT |
TOPIC |
| Fri Jan 25 CG 203 |
Brian Clayton, Philosophy, Gonzaga Tim Clancy, SJ, Philosophy & Honors Program, Gonzaga |
“Teaching as a Pastoral
Vocation” (mp3 audio) At least since the time of Plato’s reflections on his own teacher Socrates, teaching has been recognized as a deeply personal involvement of a person in the lives of others. The best of teachers do not merely transmit information to their students, but invest themselves in the lives of their students, model the life of active inquiry, and help shape the characters of their students. If anything, these points are—or should be—even more true for the Christian teacher. The Christian teacher is a pastor, a shepherd. The teaching ministry of Jesus exemplifies the teacher’s role as shepherd in the ways he communicates truth to the disciples while also encouraging and building them up as future leaders for the church. Brian Clayton and Tim Clancy, both of the Gonzaga Philosophy Department, will offer their reflections on the pastoral nature of teaching, particularly in the context of a Jesuit, Catholic, and Humanist university such as Gonzaga. Dr. Clayton suggests reading C. S. Lewis' sermon, "The Weight of Glory" (especially the final paragraph) for the talk; Fr. Clancy offers these notes on the nature of wisdom (MS Word .doc format). |
| Fri Feb 15 CG 101 |
Aaron Brown, Philosophy graduate
student, Gonzaga Brent Diebel, Philosophy grad student, Gonzaga |
“The New Atheism” (talk outline / mp3 audio) "The New Atheism: A Response" by Brent Diebel A period from fall 2006 to summer 2007 marked a minor flood of books by prominent public intellectuals--scientists, philosophers, and journalists such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, and Victor Stenger--who vigorously defended atheism as an outlook. This "New Atheism" is not only non-theistic, it is explicitly, even militantly anti-theistic. In the view of these thinkers, religion is not only an outmoded and demonstrably false view of the world, it is pernicious and dangerous for both individuals and society at large. Gonzaga University Philosophy grad student Aaron Brown will offer an overview of the New Atheism and highlight some of the central arguments against religion offered by New Atheist thinkers. A response will be offered by Brent Diebel, also a graduate student in Philosophy at Gonzaga University. |
| Fri Mar 28 CG 101 |
Matthew Gallatin, author, speaker,
podcaster, and former
philosophy professor, North Idaho College Richard McClelland, Philosophy, Gonzaga |
"Christian Pluralism and the
Person of Christ" (talk
abstract / mp3 audio) The three Persons of the Holy Trinity are a divine community whose unity is so perfect that they are together just one God. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Christians are blessed to participate in that transcendent oneness. Thus, Jesus Christ teaches that unity among believers must be of the same quality as the union He shares with the Father (John 17:20-23). But the landscape of Christian denominationalism seems to present the antithesis of union. Yet it is common for Christians to dismiss this apparently problematic division by an appeal to “the same Jesus”: at some fundamental level, all Christians believe in one Christ. According to author and speaker Matthew Gallatin, to describe Jesus Christ in a manner universal enough to incorporate His various denominational species would require abandoning the Person Jesus Christ. To live in the fulfillment of God’s ultimate purpose, unity in a universalized “idea” of Christ is not enough. Oneness with the very specific “person” Christ is required. And the Person Jesus Christ can bear only one doctrinal description. Thus, Christian doctrinal division is not excusable. It is a problem that must be faced. The implications for the Faith as a whole, and for individual believers, are weighty. Matthew Gallatin writes and speaks on Eastern Orthodox Christian apologetics and spirituality. He holds a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from Gonzaga University, and is a former philosophy professor at North Idaho College. Matthew is the author of Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells (Conciliar Press, 2002). His second book, One: What It Means to be a Christian, is due to be published later this year (2008). |
| Fri Apr 18 CG 101 |
Ted DiMaria, Philosophy,
Gonzaga Wayne Pomerleau, Philosophy, Gonzaga |
"Can Christianity Be Reduced
to an Ethical System?" (talk
outline / talk text
/ response text / mp3 audio) Critics and reformers (or would-be reformers) of Christianity have sometimes argued that the essential core of Christianity can be found in its moral teaching, particularly in the parables and commandments of Jesus. In what is perhaps the most famous example, Thomas Jefferson produced an edited compilation of the Gospels, The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth (sometimes called the “Jefferson Bible”) that excised miracles and supernatural signs in favor of Jesus’ moral teachings. This example and others show that it is possible to regard Christianity as essentially an ethical system. Gonzaga Philosophy Professor Ted Di Maria argues that we should separate the question of whether or not Christianity can be reduced to an ethical system from whether or not it should be so reduced. Regarding the latter question, Di Maria offers a conceptual analysis of Christianity, noting in particular the features distinct from morality or moral claims. Appealing to Immanuel Kant’s Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone as a reference point, Di Maria explores the justifications for and limitations of reducing Christian belief and practice to morality. A comment on Professor Di Maria’s talk will be offered by Professor Wayne Pomerleau, also of the Gonzaga Philosophy Department. |
INFORMATION
For
information about the Gonzaga Socratic Club or to propose topics or
speakers for future meetings, contact the Club Director: