Faculty members in the philosophy and theology department are joining forces for a new Lecture Series that delves into everything from nature and grace to God and even Google.
“The main intent here is to do what many other departments do: share the wealth that they have with the wider University community,” says Dr. Stephen Loughlin, chair of the philosophy and theology department. “We also wanted to expose our students to a different side of us.”
The department will host five lectures throughout the academic year, four of which will be delivered by faculty members. A well-known Christian thinker will be invited to campus to give the fifth and final lecture.
Dr. Rodney Howsare, professor of theology, kicked off the series in October, focusing on Flannery O’Connor and the “Christ-haunted” role of the city in her novels.
Loughlin will deliver the second lecture on Tuesday, November 28. He’ll discuss the medieval philosopher and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas and how the imago dei impacts his psychology and vision of the Christian life.
“I’m presenting on one of the central principals of his view of human persons,” Loughlin says. “Namely that we, as Genesis will say, are made to the image and likeness of God. What impact does that have on Aquinas’ view of the human person? I’ll also show how the impact of this teaching is felt with regard to all of the arts and sciences.”
Dr. Colin Miller, assistant professor of theology, will present in February on Why Catholics Should Boycott Google, and Sara Hulse, instructor of theology, will speak in March about De Lubac on Nature and Grace. A fifth speaker has not yet been named. All of the lectures will be held from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room of the DeSales University Center.
Loughlin is also working with the distance education and instructional technology department (DEIT) to record the lectures and post them on YouTube.
For more information on the Lecture Series, contact Loughlin at 610.282.1100, ext. 1637, or Stephen.Loughlin@desales.edu.