Spring 2007: February 5 – May 7
Monday Evenings 7:00-10:00 p.m. LSTC Common Room (350)
Chaired by John R. Albright and Carol Rausch Albright
The seminar will explore perspectives on the nature of evil drawn from the Abrahamic religions and from various sciences. Given these perspectives, what are appropriate responses to evil for our time?
Questions regarding the nature of evil, and ways in which to cope with evil, contain it, or redeem it, have occupied men and women throughout human history. In our time, evil has assumed both age-old and novel forms, and the sciences as well as philosophy and religion continue to try to understand and deal with it. The exploration will proceed through three steps:
What are some basic theological, philosophical, and scientific understandings about evil?
What do the sciences tell us about current evil?
What initiatives for coping with evil are being explored in our time?
Scholars knowledgeable in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim perspectives on evil will bring us their perspectives, as will specialists in various sciences, including psychology, anthropology, ecology, applied technology, and pastoral care and other perspectives. Current attempts to cope with evil will be described by persons with knowledge of attempts at social change, legal solutions, ethical systems, personal spiritual growth, and the theology of the cross.
The seminar is designed as a research seminar for faculty and students. The seminar is open to students in all degree programs. The requirements will be adjusted upwards for the most advanced students.
