PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION NEWS
From the Department Head’s Desk
On Buttons and Slogans
One strangely significant event from
the last semester was the purchasing of
a button maker. The idea was to make
and distribute buttons so that we could
spread the word (evangelize if you like)
the good work happening up here on
the third floor of Cherry Hall.
Volume 3, Issue no. 2
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
Digitally printed by Liberty Printing on 50% recycled paper with 25% post consumer fiber. Please recycle after use.
In this issue . . .
Interfaith
Dialogue
on
Earth
Care
Exciting interfaith
conference scheduled for
Bowling Green in February
Feb. 19 & 20, 2010
Keynote speaker Feb. 19
Dr. Matthew Sleeth,
“Serve God,
Save the Planet”
Mass Media & Technology Hall Auditorium, WKU
Friday, February 19, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Parking at Chestnut Street South lot
(near President’s home)
2
Conference Feb. 20
“Christianity, Buddhism, Islam,
Judaism, and Earth Care”
Christ Episcopal Church, 1215 State Street
Saturday, February 20, 2010, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
breakfast and lunch included
Presentations, responses, by WKU faculty and religious leaders
Participant discussions
Registration Deadline January 30, 2010.
Registration Fee $20, $15 Students
Registration Form www.wku.edu/bggreen/
On-site Registration $25
SPONSORS: Community Religious Literacy Project, WKU Office of Sustainability, WKU Provost’s Initiative for Excellence Grant, WKU Departments of Biology, Philosophy & Religion, Geography & Geology, and Sociology,
Potter College of Arts & Letters, Ogden College of Science & Engineering, College of Health & Human Services, Graduate Studies; BGGreen, Southern Recycling
Islamic Center, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, The Presbyterian Church, State Street Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist Church, State Street Baptist Church, First Christian Church, Christ Episcopal Church
For information contact Margie.bowker@wku.edu or bella.mukonyora@wku.edu
Once we had the button maker, we had
to figure out what to put on the buttons.
We quickly produced a batch with the
word “THINK” on them—promoting our philosophy program
(see above). These have made their way around campus. This
sparked an objection from the religious studies folks, who
insisted that they “think” as well (of course they do) and that
their courses, just like those in philosophy, help students to
develop their cranial organ. But was there a comparable term
that would fit even better for religious studies. “Believe” seemed
inappropriate, and “contemplate” or “reflect” seemed too tame.
One colleague suggested “exegesis,” since we spend a good
amount of time interpreting and elucidating texts.
Visit Dr. Matthew Sleeth’s web site: www.blessedearth.org
Dr. Arvin Vos returns
to China to deliver
lectures on Aquinas
2
Dr. Tripp York publishes
new book on Christian
anarchism
3
The easy alternative would be to add “& Religion” to the
“THINK” button. But that seems too easy. Do you have any
suggestions? The very identity of the department and its
programs are at stake. Just let me know at eric.bainselbo@wku.edu.
Eric Bain-Selbo, Department Head
Congratulations to Our December Graduates
This December saw another topnotch group of
students graduate from our programs. Good luck to
all our graduates, and please keep in touch with us
here at the the Top of the Hill.
Philosophy majors: Matthew D. Hume, Shauna L.
Landsberg, and Corey A. Smith.
Religious Studies majors: Chelsey A. Aronhalt,
Andrew S. Baker, Nina M. Bosken, Timothy R.
Henderson, Elizabeth A. Hogan, Andrew T. Ingram,
Patricia J. Miller, Robert G. Reynolds, and Joshua A.
Smith.
Religious Studies minors: Benard A. Airo, Phillip R.
Alexander, Jacob E. Blair, Megan E. Dephillips,
David M. Galloway, Jennifer L. Gray, Jenny L. Gray,
Logan P. Hatfield, Harold T. Maxwell, Lucas G.
Page, Heather R. Pennington, Michael J. Tomasulo,
and Jeremy T. Willoughby.
Many thanks to all of these students. Your
participation in our classes and in our programs has
added greatly to our work.
Pr
hi
Ri
di
Li
Philosophy and Religion News
Page 2
Digitally printed by Liberty Printing on 50% recycled paper with 25% post consumer fiber. Please recycle after use.
CRLP to Co-Sponsor Religion and Ecology Conference
Interfaith
Dialogue
on
Earth
Care
Feb. 19 & 20, 2010
Keynote speaker Feb. 19
Dr. Matthew Sleeth,
“Serve God,
Save the Planet”
Mass Media & Technology Hall Auditorium, WKU
Friday, February 19, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Parking at Chestnut Street South lot
(near President’s home)
The Community Religious Literacy Project, an outreach
program of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, is
co-sponsoring Interfaith Dialogue on Earth Care, an ecumenical
conference on the relationship of religion to ecology—with
particular attention to questions of sustainability.
Nationally acclaimed speaker, Dr. Matthew Sleeth, Executive
Director of Blessed Earth, will speak on Christianity and
Earth Care on Friday, February 19th at 7 p.m. in Mass Media
& Technology Hall on WKU’s campus. It is free and open to
the public. The conference the next day will take place from 8
a.m.-3 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Bowling Green.
The cost is $20. Discussion will focus on the worldviews of
Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism in the search for
common ground on ecological issues. Many faculty members
from the Department of Philosophy and Religion will be
featured speakers and respondents.
Conference Feb. 20
“Christianity, Buddhism, Islam,
Judaism, and Earth Care”
Christ Episcopal Church, 1215 State Street
Saturday, February 20, 2010, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
breakfast and lunch included
Presentations, responses, by WKU faculty and religious leaders
Participant discussions
Registration Deadline January 30, 2010.
Registration Fee $20, $15 Students
Registration Form www.wku.edu/bggreen/
On-site Registration $25
SPONSORS: Community Religious Literacy Project, WKU Office of Sustainability, WKU Provost’s Initiative for Excellence Grant, WKU Departments of Biology, Philosophy & Religion, Geography & Geology, and Sociology,
Potter College of Arts & Letters, Ogden College of Science & Engineering, College of Health & Human Services, Graduate Studies; BGGreen, Southern Recycling
Islamic Center, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, The Presbyterian Church, State Street Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist Church, State Street Baptist Church, First Christian Church, Christ Episcopal Church
For information contact Margie.bowker@wku.edu or bella.mukonyora@wku.edu
Visit Dr. Matthew Sleeth’s web site: www.blessedearth.org
For more information and a registration form, visit:
http://www.wku.edu/bggreen/event2.php
The Interfaith Dialogue on Earth Care is a joint venture of
several WKU departments and religious organizations
throughout the area.
Professor Vos Returns to China
During the last half of October, Dr. Arvin Vos lectured at
Wuhan University in China. Vos was invited by Prof. Duan
De-Zhi to give five seminars on the thought of Thomas
Aquinas. Prof. Duan is the leading scholar in Thomist
studies in China. He is directing a team that is translating
the entire Summa theologiae—a massive undertaking as the
work is more than 4000 pages in English translation. The
seminars were attended by both graduate and upper-level
undergraduate students.
Vos
focused on Aquinas’s
philosophy of mind, primarily as expounded in the Summa.
On the days when there was no seminar, Vos gave public
lectures.
Two of the public lectures were at Wuhan
University and one lecture at each of three other local
universities—Wuhan Technical University, Zhong Nan
University of Economics and Law, and
Hua Zhong
University of Science and Technology.
The library at Wuhan University in China. Built in
1935. Wuhan University dates back to 1893, and
currently enrolls nearly 50,000 students.
The Department of Philosophy and Religion currently is in talks with Wuhan University concerning a
possible faculty and student exchange program between the two institutions.
Philosophy and Religion News
Page 3
New Asian Religions and Cultures Major
Awaiting Final Approval
The University Senate approved the creation of a new major
in Asian Religions and Cultures (ARCS) at its January
meeting. The new program now only awaits approval by the
WKU Board of Regents at its April meeting. ARCS is an
interdisciplinary major that will be housed in the Department
of Philosophy and Religion.
The continent of Asia is home to some of the most ancient and
formative civilizations in history. All of the world’s largest
religious traditions have their origins on the continent, and
Asian peoples have shaped and reshaped how humanity
understands the world and itself for centuries. The Asian
Religions and Cultures major facilitates the understanding of
the continent and its peoples, allowing students not only to
understand the Asian past but to put current issues and
problems into a broader historical, religious, and cultural
context.
The major in Asian Religions and Cultures requires 33 credit
hours. Students must take courses in Religion (9 credit hours),
Language (6 credit hours), History and Politics (6 credit
hours), Electives (9 credit hours), and complete the Senior
Project (3 credit hours). Students must take courses from at
least four different departments. At least 17 hours must be at
Student and
alumni news
Justin Cavanaugh, a recent philosophy
graduate, is beginning his studies in the MA
program in Folk Studies—one of the leading
programs of its kind in the country. Good luck
Justin!
Cole Bodkin, a senior religious studies major,
attended the 2009 annual meeting of the Society
for Biblical Literature. The meeting was held in
New Orleans. Cole’s trip was supported by the
department with funds provided by generous
alumni and friends who contribute to the
department’s Foundation account.
Sarah Kirwan, a recent religious studies
graduate, has received a full tuition scholarship
to attend Christian Theological Seminar in
Indianapolis. Sarah began her work in the
Master of Divinity program in January.
Congratulations Sarah!
__________________________________________
Please send any student or alumni
news to eric.bain-selbo@wku.edu.
New Book Looks at Christian Anarchists
Dr. Tripp York, adjunct instructor in Religious Studies, has published his third
book, Living on Hope While Living in Babylon: The Christian Anarchists of the 20th
Century (Wipf & Stock Press).
Jesus promised his followers neither safety nor affluence, but rather that those
who come after him should expect persecution. Christian discipleship and
tribal nationalism, however, continue to be co-opted into the nation-state
project of prosperity and security. This co-option has made it difficult for the
church to recognize its task to be a prophetic witness both for and against the
state. That only a small pocket of Christians bear witness against such an
accommodation of Christian practice is disconcerting; and yet, it breeds hope.
Dr. York examines a few twentieth century Christians who lived such a
witness, including the Berrigan brothers, Dorothy Day, and Eberhard Arnold. These witnesses can be
viewed as anarchical in the sense that their loyalty to Christ undermines the pseudo-soteriological myth
employed by the state. These Christians are seekers of the peace of the city whose chief desire is for those
belonging to the temporal cities to be able to participate in the eternal city—the city of God. By examining
their ideas and their actions, this book will attempt to understand how the politics of the church—an
apocalyptic politic—is necessary for the church to understand its mission as bearer of the gospel.
Other Faculty News
Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo, associate professor and department head,
organized and presided over a panel on sports, religion, and film at
the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion. This
year’s meeting was in Montreal in early November. Dr. Bain-Selbo
also responded to a paper in another session that focused on the
concept of anteriority (i.e., the idea of a “time before” or “beginning
of time”).
Dr. Adrian Switzer, assistant professor of philosophy,
participated in two conferences during the fall 2009 term. In
October, he presented a paper on Foucault's writings on the 1968
Paris protests and 1978 Iranian Revolution at the annual meeting of
the Western Society for French Studies. The paper has been
nominated for the Millstone Prize for best interdisciplinary paper at
the conference. Also in October, Dr. Switzer participated in a panel
discussion of the political significance of Kant's idea of teleology in
the Critique of Judgment at the annual meeting of the Society of
Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy. He spent the winter
break in Berlin writing and researching a forthcoming article on
Nietzsche's The Gay Science; the article will appear as a book chapter
from Mellen Press in 2010. Dr. Switzer’s research this coming
summer is being supported by a Faculty Summer Scholarship
from WKU.
Dr. Jeffrey Samuels, associate professor of religion, has
received a Faculty Summer Scholarship from WKU. The grant
will provide funding for his continuing research on a social
history of Buddhism in Malaysia. In the fall semester, he
presented “The Sinhalese Sangha in Malaysia: Rationalization,
Religious Ecumenism, and the Creation of a Theravada Buddhist
Identity” at the South Asia Studies Conference. He also
published a review of Mahinda Deegalle’s Popularizing Buddhism:
Preaching as Performance in Sri Lanka. It can be found in Buddhist
Studies Review, 26(1), 111-113, 2009.
Dr. Tripp York,
Christian Ethics
Benevolent Deity
and Some South
Being Pro-Life.”
adjunct instructor, published two articles in
Today, “A Prayer to the All-Powerful, All
Who Really Likes Sports (But Not the Orioles
Asians)” as well as “The Subtle Atheism of
As you consider your contribution to the New Century of Spirit campaign for Western Kentucky
University, please remember that you can designate your gift to the Philosophy and Religion Department.
Your contributions are critical to the life of the department and its students.
Philosophy and Religion News
Department of Philosophy and Religion
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd.
Bowling Green, KY 42101