Throughout the last five hundred years, the Catholic Church has developed methods to reconcile science with scripture and to explain the development of morality in the Bible. Fr. Spitzer will explore four hermeneutical principles to resolve seeming contradictions between science and scripture, and between the Old and New Testaments: The principles of Pius XII, St. Robert Bellarmine, Joseph Ratzinger, and the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

Dr. Richard Bauckham and colleagues have made groundbreaking discoveries to reconnect the Gospel eyewitnesses with the traditions underlying our Gospels. At the same time, several groups of scientists have examined the Shroud of Turin—the purported burial cloth of Jesus—revealing probative insights into His passion and resurrection. Fr. Spitzer will explore the results of these investigations and discuss the implications for the reality and significance of Jesus Christ today.

David Lewis was one of the most influential philosophers in the analytic tradition. When it came to religion, he was a ‘contented atheist’. Despite being an atheist, he took philosophy of religion seriously and maintained an extensive correspondence with Christian philosophers, especially with those who put analytic theism on the map (Robert Adams, Alvin Plantinga, Peter van Inwagen). His conversations with Christian philosophers not only impacted the development of analytic theism, but led to an epistemological methodology for discussing topics that one does not believe in their heart to be true. In this talk, I explain this methodology and argue that it is useful for engaging constructively in intellectual debates, where certain propositions are based on faith. The upshot is that disagreement is no barrier to intellectual discussion of religion, so long as the attitude of dogmatism is held in a reflective, measured way with empathetic understanding.

African Ubuntu philosophy affirms the central value of social cooperation: "I am because we are." In a similar vein, Catholic synodality emphasizes the importance of different people "walking together in faith." Gonzaga Religious Studies Assistant Professor Itohan M. Idumwonyi unites the two in her "Ubuntu and Synodality" project to advance human flourishing, aligning with the university's Jesuit mission of social justice and community engagement. Idumwonyi will examine the shared principles of Ubuntu and synodality, such as interconnectedness, inclusivity, and collaborative responsibility, exploring how these principles can create stronger, more just communities and tackle pressing issues like inequality.

A panel of Gonzaga faculty will enrich the conversation by addressing the connections between Ubuntu and Synodality from different perspectives, encouraging participants to consider their roles within their communities and the effects of their actions. The project's goal is to foster empathy and active participation, empowering individuals to contribute to a more connected and compassionate world, thereby embodying Gonzaga's values through dialogue, reflection, and a deepened commitment to inclusive community building.

Itohan M. Idumwonyi is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University, where she has taught since 2019. The pillars of her interdisciplinary scholarship draw together themes from African Religions, African Diaspora religions, African Studies, Sociology of religion, African Womanist Theology, and Religion and Gender. A native of Nigeria, Idumwonyi has degrees from the University of Ibadan and Harvard University and earned her Ph.D. in Religion from Rice University. The author of over 14 scholarly articles and book chapters, Idumwonyi’s most recent publication is the book Crashed Realities? Gender Dynamics in Nigerian Pentecostalism (Brill, 2023). In addition to her academic work, Idumwonyi has experience in non-profit organizations that work with and empower women.

John N. Sheveland, Ph.D. is a theologian and professor of religious studies at Gonzaga University. He teaches courses on Catholic theology, interreligious dialogue, religion and violence, and the religions of India, and he has published articles and books in these same areas. He serves a second term on the National Review Board for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Most recent teaching and research interests include safeguarding and synodality.

Fr. Patrick Baraza, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University since 2005, specializing and teaching courses on Islamic Studies and African Traditional Religions. An ordained priest from the Diocese of Kitale, Kenya, he has served as a chaplain at Saint Mary's College of California. He is the author of "Rival Claims for the Soul of Africa" and "Drumming up Dialogue: The Bukusu Model for the World."