"Westar 2016 Spring Meeting" ProgressiveChristianity.org of Gig Harbr, Washington, United States for Thursday, 14 January 2016How does religion interact with other disciplines? This and more at the Westar Spring 2016 Meeting-- Taking the Scholarship of Religion Public.
Spring 2016 Meeting
Taking the Scholarship of Religion Public
We are entering uncharted territory...
At Westar Institute's Spring 2016 national meeting, we'll explore the uncharted space where religion interacts, in new and exciting ways, with other disciplines. Binary models -- such as faith-science, atheism-theism, gentile-Jew -- have often held sway in Western ideas about religion. Today, in light of new conversations across the sciences, philosophy, theology, classics, and history, they no longer can. Please join us in welcoming creative thinkers from the leading edge of this important endeavor.
Program Overview
Public Lectures
Mary Evelyn Tucker, The Emerging Alliance of Religion and Ecology
John D. Caputo, Does the Kingdom of God Need God?
Dennis R. MacDonald, Mythologizing Jesus
An Interview with Burton Mack
Academic Seminars
Christianity Seminar
Seminar on God and the Human Future
Polebridge Authors & Books
Young Leaders in Religion Forum
*Next Deadline: Register by Febuary 17, 2016 for best savings!
Featuring
Mary Evelyn Tucker
The Emerging Alliance of Religion and Ecology
We have discovered the ways in which galaxies and stars, planets and living organisms emerged within the vast drama of the universe. We’ve learned that the survival of species and entire ecosystems depend upon choices humans make. Against this backdrop, Mary Evelyn Tucker notes the promise of religion for ethical and spiritual transformation regarding ecological attitudes and practices. She calls for the world’s religious communities to recognize the implications of the growing ecological crisis. As part of her presentation, she will show and discuss the Emmy award-winning film, Journey of the Universe.
Wednesday, 9 am–3:30 pm
The Emerging Alliance of Religion and Ecology
We have discovered the ways in which galaxies and stars, planets and living organisms emerged within the vast drama of the universe. We’ve learned that the survival of species and entire ecosystems depend upon choices humans make. Against this backdrop, Mary Evelyn Tucker notes the promise of religion for ethical and spiritual transformation regarding ecological attitudes and practices. She calls for the world’s religious communities to recognize the implications of the growing ecological crisis. As part of her presentation, she will show and discuss the Emmy award-winning film, Journey of the Universe.
Wednesday, 9 am–3:30 pm
John D. Caputo
Does the Kingdom of God Need God?
The name of God is not that of a supreme being. It is instead the name of something unconditional without power, of a powerless power—a weak force with no army to back it up, like a kiss of peace rather than a sword. The kingdom of God is a kingdom without a royal monarch. Thus, the image of the Son of Man coming to judge the nations is, in theologian Paul Tillich’s words, half-blasphemous. The kingdom of God does not need God, but, according to Jack Caputo, this theological atheism does not spell the end of God’s kingdom; rather it dispels the misunderstanding of the gospel and preserves what is good about the good news. It opens the door to understanding the coming of the kingdom of God in terms other than power, and to understanding power—God’s power or anyone else’s—differently.
Thursday, 9–11:30 am
Does the Kingdom of God Need God?
The name of God is not that of a supreme being. It is instead the name of something unconditional without power, of a powerless power—a weak force with no army to back it up, like a kiss of peace rather than a sword. The kingdom of God is a kingdom without a royal monarch. Thus, the image of the Son of Man coming to judge the nations is, in theologian Paul Tillich’s words, half-blasphemous. The kingdom of God does not need God, but, according to Jack Caputo, this theological atheism does not spell the end of God’s kingdom; rather it dispels the misunderstanding of the gospel and preserves what is good about the good news. It opens the door to understanding the coming of the kingdom of God in terms other than power, and to understanding power—God’s power or anyone else’s—differently.
Thursday, 9–11:30 am
Dennis R. MacDonald
Mythologizing Jesus
The Case of the Anointing Woman
Scholars long have recognized that New Testament depictions of Jesus witness to a creative explosion of stories about him. Few interpreters, however, have recognized that many, if not most, of these stories have analogies in classical Greek literature, especially in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. The story of the woman who anointed Jesus at Bethany, for example, imitates book 19 of the Odyssey. According to Dennis MacDonald, the implications are profound. First, Mark apparently did not inherit the anointing tale from tradition but created it to rival Homer. Second, parallels to the story in Luke and John do not represent an independent tradition. Third and most significantly, this analysis suggests that the evangelist expected his readers to be sufficiently familiar with the Odyssey to detect the imitation.
Thursday, 1–3:30 pm
Mythologizing Jesus
The Case of the Anointing Woman
Scholars long have recognized that New Testament depictions of Jesus witness to a creative explosion of stories about him. Few interpreters, however, have recognized that many, if not most, of these stories have analogies in classical Greek literature, especially in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. The story of the woman who anointed Jesus at Bethany, for example, imitates book 19 of the Odyssey. According to Dennis MacDonald, the implications are profound. First, Mark apparently did not inherit the anointing tale from tradition but created it to rival Homer. Second, parallels to the story in Luke and John do not represent an independent tradition. Third and most significantly, this analysis suggests that the evangelist expected his readers to be sufficiently familiar with the Odyssey to detect the imitation.
Thursday, 1–3:30 pm
An Interview with Burton Mack
A charter member of the Jesus Seminar and mentor of many Westar Fellows and Society of Biblical Literature leaders, Burton Mack is widely recognized for his work on Christian origins. His concept of myth-making, for instance, re-invigorated critical thinking about the gospels and Paul. His idea of “social experimentation” broke open first-century texts as products of societal imagination, rather than historical record. Mack’s innovative scholarship profoundly influenced the thinking of the Jesus Seminar during its early years.
Known for his thoughtful conversational style and acerbic wit, Burton Mack promises a warm chuckle, a fearless search for insight, and equal partssuspicion and fascination with first-century literature. Since his retirement, he has focused on how the Christian myth is re-enacted in contemporary American nationhood. Ever wary of the mix, his latest books explore ways beyond this poisonous combination.
Friday, 7:30–9 pm
Academic Seminars
Cultural Construction and Reconfiguration of FamilyCulture wars are not a modern phenomenon. They are attested throughout history. At Westar’s Spring 2016 meeting, Fellows of the Christianity Seminar will explore creative, contentious, and regressive first- and second-century clashes over the meaning of family.
Friday & Saturday, times TBA
The Promise of Paul after the Death of GodToday’s Radical Theology movement owes a debt to the 1960s Death of God movement, which both liberated theology from narrow-minded debates about the literal existence of a supernatural being and bridged the traditionally theist-atheist divide between theologians and philosophers. What may be surprising to many, however, is that the themes and concerns that arose after the death of God share common elements with themes and concerns of the Apostle Paul—not the Paul of traditional church lore but a new Paul who is emerging in light of recent scholarship. In ancient times, Paul heard the call of a God that was bigger than he had ever imagined. In modern times, following the disappearance of the God made small in light of science, only the God who persists can promise a meaningful future. At its Spring 2016 session, with the help of guest scholars Bernard Brandon Scott of Phillips Theological Seminary and Richard Kearney of Boston University, the Seminar on God and the Human Future will explore the new possibilities raised by this exciting connection.
Friday & Saturday, times TBA
Seminar Papers
The Seminar Papers, which will become available in March, are the basis for the discussions in the Friday and Saturday sessions. They will not be presented orally at the event. Persons wishing to follow the discussions should read the papers in advance.
Electronic copies of the Seminar Papers are available to the public and will be posted when they come available, usually 2 to 3 weeks prior to the event. Hard copies of the papers will be available at a cost of $25 each.
Polebridge Authors & Books
New and recent Polebridge authors will appear at these free afternoon book talks. Presenters and books TBA. Includes book signing.
Wednesday & Thursday, 4–5 pm
Free event
Young Leaders in Religion
Helping clergy and other leaders ages 20 to 45 to translate and transform religion scholarship into meaningful forms for their communities
Westar Institute is forming a new Young Leaders in Religion Forum. If you are between the ages of 20 and 45, and are a trained religious leader in church, arts, chaplaincy, non-profit, social advocacy, new faith community or social service work, we invite you to join this new solidarity network, which launched at Westar’s national meeting in Santa Rosa, March 18–21, 2015. At that time participants came together to raise and address issues, challenges, and goals, and to identify leaders to help shape the future of Young Leaders in Religion at Westar. The Spring 2016 Meeting will continue that important work.
Westar is actively seeking interested members for this new forum. If you feel you or someone you know would be a good candidate for this program, please contact academic director David Galston for more information:dgalston@westarinstitute.org
Young Leaders in Religion should not use the regular registration form to sign up for the Spring 2016 forum. Please await instructions from the Young Leaders in Religion program committee.
Schedule
Registration & Fees
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Our mailing address is:
ProgressiveChristianity.org
4810 Pt. Fosdick Dr. NW#80
A charter member of the Jesus Seminar and mentor of many Westar Fellows and Society of Biblical Literature leaders, Burton Mack is widely recognized for his work on Christian origins. His concept of myth-making, for instance, re-invigorated critical thinking about the gospels and Paul. His idea of “social experimentation” broke open first-century texts as products of societal imagination, rather than historical record. Mack’s innovative scholarship profoundly influenced the thinking of the Jesus Seminar during its early years.
Known for his thoughtful conversational style and acerbic wit, Burton Mack promises a warm chuckle, a fearless search for insight, and equal partssuspicion and fascination with first-century literature. Since his retirement, he has focused on how the Christian myth is re-enacted in contemporary American nationhood. Ever wary of the mix, his latest books explore ways beyond this poisonous combination.
Friday, 7:30–9 pm
Academic Seminars
Cultural Construction and Reconfiguration of FamilyCulture wars are not a modern phenomenon. They are attested throughout history. At Westar’s Spring 2016 meeting, Fellows of the Christianity Seminar will explore creative, contentious, and regressive first- and second-century clashes over the meaning of family.
Friday & Saturday, times TBA
The Promise of Paul after the Death of GodToday’s Radical Theology movement owes a debt to the 1960s Death of God movement, which both liberated theology from narrow-minded debates about the literal existence of a supernatural being and bridged the traditionally theist-atheist divide between theologians and philosophers. What may be surprising to many, however, is that the themes and concerns that arose after the death of God share common elements with themes and concerns of the Apostle Paul—not the Paul of traditional church lore but a new Paul who is emerging in light of recent scholarship. In ancient times, Paul heard the call of a God that was bigger than he had ever imagined. In modern times, following the disappearance of the God made small in light of science, only the God who persists can promise a meaningful future. At its Spring 2016 session, with the help of guest scholars Bernard Brandon Scott of Phillips Theological Seminary and Richard Kearney of Boston University, the Seminar on God and the Human Future will explore the new possibilities raised by this exciting connection.
Friday & Saturday, times TBA
Seminar Papers
The Seminar Papers, which will become available in March, are the basis for the discussions in the Friday and Saturday sessions. They will not be presented orally at the event. Persons wishing to follow the discussions should read the papers in advance.
Electronic copies of the Seminar Papers are available to the public and will be posted when they come available, usually 2 to 3 weeks prior to the event. Hard copies of the papers will be available at a cost of $25 each.
Polebridge Authors & Books
New and recent Polebridge authors will appear at these free afternoon book talks. Presenters and books TBA. Includes book signing.
Wednesday & Thursday, 4–5 pm
Free event
Young Leaders in Religion
Helping clergy and other leaders ages 20 to 45 to translate and transform religion scholarship into meaningful forms for their communities
Westar Institute is forming a new Young Leaders in Religion Forum. If you are between the ages of 20 and 45, and are a trained religious leader in church, arts, chaplaincy, non-profit, social advocacy, new faith community or social service work, we invite you to join this new solidarity network, which launched at Westar’s national meeting in Santa Rosa, March 18–21, 2015. At that time participants came together to raise and address issues, challenges, and goals, and to identify leaders to help shape the future of Young Leaders in Religion at Westar. The Spring 2016 Meeting will continue that important work.
Westar is actively seeking interested members for this new forum. If you feel you or someone you know would be a good candidate for this program, please contact academic director David Galston for more information:dgalston@westarinstitute.org
Young Leaders in Religion should not use the regular registration form to sign up for the Spring 2016 forum. Please await instructions from the Young Leaders in Religion program committee.
Schedule
Registration & Fees
ShareTweetForward+1Our mailing address is:
ProgressiveChristianity.org
4810 Pt. Fosdick Dr. NW#80
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335, United States
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