Faculty Presentations
Theism, Reason and Faith: In Conversation with the “New Atheists”
Series Schedule:
February 2 — “The Question About God as a Question About Method” by Richard V. Horner, Adjunct Professor of Religion at UF and Director of the Christian Study Center
March 1 — “Religious Belief, Rationality, and Religious Experience: An Atheist’s View” by Gene Witmer, Associate Professor of Philosophy at UF
March 29 — “Immanent Transcendence: A Case for Agnosticism” by Manuel Vásquez, Professor of Religion at UF
April 12 — “Making Sense of Moral Experience: In Search of a Best Account” by Richard V. Horner
In the past decade several intellectuals have issued atheist manifestos that have sold a lot of copies and gotten a lot of attention. While these manifestos have come under harsh criticism and are often dismissed by their critics, certainly these books do raise some important questions. The point of this series of presentations and discussions will be to identify and address some of those questions. In other words, what issues do these books raise that are worth addressing? Led by faculty from the University of Florida who include atheist, agnostic, and theist viewpoints, this series will not so much aim to create a debate over atheism as to create a sympathetic conversation around fundamental questions about human experience and to do so in a way that is in conversation with the so-called “new atheists.” Our intent will not be to debate the “new atheists,” but to engage worthwhile questions that these books raise. In the end, we are interested in pursuing a shared inquiry into the best ways to understand human experience.
Presentations by Gene Witmer, Manuel Vasque, and Richard V. Horner
Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm – February 2, March 1 and 29, and April 12.
Whereas the Pascal Society focuses on the Christian Faith, the Forum on Religion and Scholarship seeks to facilitate a discussion within the university community across a broad range of religious and philosophical differences. Working in cooperation with other academic centers and departments at the University of Florida, the Forum seeks to promote dialogue around a spectrum of issues that arise at the intersection of scholarship and religion in the university setting and that are of interest from a variety of religious and non-religious perspectives. The Forum on Religion and Scholarship exists for the mutual benefit of all who grapple with the issues raised by the intersection of religion and scholarship in the university.