Fall 2005 Taylor Public Lectures on Religion & Culture

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As chair of the Religion & Theology Department at Taylor University College, I would like to invite everyone to our fourth annual Taylor Public Lecture Series on Religion & Culture. These lectures will touch on various topics where popular culture and religion intersect.

This fall we have an exciting line-up of speakers and topics. I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Merold Westphal, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University in New York, will be presenting on the relationship between faith and postmodernism. Dr. Westphal has written numerous books and articles and is one of the leading philosophers of religion North America. In addition, we have lectures scheduled on Dan Brown’s best-selling and controversial book The Da Vinci Code, as well as C.S. Lewis’s classic children’s book (and soon to be released film), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The series begins at the end of September with Jim Van Yperen’s lecture on the importance of character and community for leaders. Jim Van Yperen, a nationally known leadership consultant, is founder and president of Metanoia Ministries. Each lecture will include time for discussion and interaction. Consistent with the aims of our institution, we will explore these topics from a distinctively Christian perspective.

The four lectures are:

  • Lecture 1: “Embodying Reconciliation: How the Church Can become a Redemptive Community,” by Jim Van Yperen, President of Metanoia Ministries (Thursday, September 29, 7:30-9:00 pm). This lecture will address why all church conflict is about leadership; all leadership is about character and all character is about community. If the church is to be the Gospel in a conflicted world, leaders and members must make reconciliation a way of life.
  • Lecture 2: “Responding to The Da Vinci Code: Mary Magdalene in History and Canon” by Dr. Jo-Ann Badley, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies, Newman Theological College, Edmonton (Thursday, October 13, 7:30-9:00 pm).The Da Vinci Code has been on the best-seller list for months because it is a fascinating book Brown bases his plot on the neglect of Mary Magdalene in the church. How much fact is there in the fascinating? This lecture will review Brown’s book and explore Mary Magdalene’s role in scripture and the early church.
  • Lecture 3: “Religious Uses of Secular Postmodernism: Toward a Postmodern Christian Faith” by Dr. Merold Westphal, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University, New York (Thursday, October 27, 7:30-9:00 pm). Many Christians see postmodernism as a threat to their faith. This lecture will take a closer look at this perceived threat and uncover how many aspects of secular postmodernism are actually useful in proclaiming the Christian faith.
  • Lecture 4: “Past Watchful Dragons: Christianity in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by Dr. Martin Friedrich, Associate Professor of English, Taylor University College (Thursday, November 10, 7:30-9:00 pm). C.S. Lewis once said that his task as a writer was to get past the “watchful dragons” of his readers. This presentation will examine the literary techniques that Lewis employed to get past those watchful dragons and to appeal to as broad an audience as possible.

All lectures are free and will be held in Stencel Hall, in the Taylor Seminary Building, 11525-23 Avenue (access from the West parking lot off 23 Avenue). For more information, including promotional materials, please go here or contact me at your convenience.

If you are in the Edmonton area, please feel free to come to these free public lectures. If you are not in the area, don’t fret. The lectures will be available online in MP3 format.

For MP3s of previous lectures you can check out the archive here.