“EXploring the Abrahamic HeritagE: An Undergraduate Conference”
This undergraduate student conference will focus on the rich medieval heritages of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic philosophical and theological traditions. Since many of the foundational teachings of the intellectual heritage of these Abrahamic faiths were set in place in that period by great theological and philosophical thinkers, the conference will highlight and expound the common intellectual and religious foundations of these three great Abrahamic traditions in the context of inter-religious dialogue and cross-cultural discussions of philosophical and theological principles and doctrines which became prominent in the Middle Ages. The emphasis will be on influences, conceptual connections, and parallel intellectual developments between and/or among key thinkers of that period.
Schedule*
Location: Raynor Memorial Library Beaumier Conference Center, Rooms AB
8:30-9:00 am Coffee, tea, et alia service
9:00 am: Welcome and introductions by Dr John Pustejovsky, Interim Dean, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr Christine Krueger, Director, University Core of Common Studies
9:20-10:50 am: The Medieval Heritage of Judaism: Kathleen Weiner, University of Denver, “Moses Maimonides: The Search for the Golden Apple of Truth in Jewish Religion”
Comments from an Islamic Perspective: Alison Droster, Marquette University
Comments from a Christian Perspective: Michael Tedone, Marquette University
Open Discussion
10:50-11:10 Break Coffee, tea, et alia service
11:10-12:40 pm: The Medieval Heritage of Christianity: Michael Gray, Loyola University of Chicago, “Whispers of God”
Comments from a Jewish Perspective: Jeff Volling. Marquette University
Comments from an Islamic Perspective: Daniel Gibboney, Jr.,, Loyola Unversity of Chicago
Open Discussion
1:00-2:30 pm: Lunch Break. Welcome and remarks by Stephanie Russell,
Marquette Office of Mission and Identity
3:00-4:30 pm: The Medieval Heritage of Islam: Rizwaan Akhtar, “Al-Ghazali and the Development of Theological Tolerance,” University of Wisconsin, Madison
Title change: “Al-Ghazali and the Individualist Pursuit”
Comments from a Christian Perspective: Erin Fitzpatrick, Marquette University
Comments from a Jewish Perspective: Matthieu Remacle, McGill University,
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Open Discussion
4:30-5:15 pm: Rev. G. Simon Harak, S.J., Director, Marquette University Center for Peacemaking: “Peacemaking: Ancient Visions, Modern Practices"
5:15-6:15: Reception
7:00 pm: Conference Dinner at Shahrazad Persian Restaurant
*Special Pre-Conference Event:
Dr. Sarah Pessin
Emil and Eva Hecht Chair in Judaic Studies
Department of Philosophy and Center for Judaic Studies
University of Denver
“Maimonides’ Ethics of Contemplation?: Imitatio Dei as Speculation,
Imitatio Dei as Loving-Kindness in The Guide of the Perplexed”
DATE & TIME: April 1, 2008, 5-6:30 pm
LOCATION: Marquette Raynor Library Conference Center, Rm D
Awards will be given to those students whose
presentation proposals are accepted.
Each award will cover
•room/board for the duration of the conference (2 nights)
•travel to and from the home institution (4 awards of $300)
•honorarium of $100 for presenters, $50 for commentators
Proposals will be reviewed by a faculty committee.
For SUBMISSION AND THEMATIC GUIDELINES,
click here or on the link at the top of this page.
Prospective presenters should send an abstract of the proposed paper (no longer than 300 words) and a current CV by e-mail to
Dr. Richard C. Taylor (Richard.Taylor@Marquette.edu)
Proposals for presentations from the perspectives of the three traditions have been received and approved. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis from students interested in being commentators.
Conference Coordinators
Dr. Irfan A. Omar, Theology Department, and
Drs. Owen Goldin and Richard Taylor, Philosophy Department
Major Sponsor: THE MELLON FOUNDATION
Co-Sponsors
THE KLINGLER COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, AND DEPARTMENTS OF THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY, AND HISTORY AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, THE MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY JEWISH STUDENT UNION
Image credits: <a href="http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2918842280082721655Uxqqsx"><img src="http://thumb15.webshots.net/t/60/460/8/42/28/2918842280082721655Uxqqsx_th.jpg" alt="DSCF2280 Israel - Jerusalem - Learning the Law of Moses - Orthodox man reading the Torah"></a>
A One-Day Undergraduate Conference on the Importance of Philosophical and Theological Developments in
Medieval Islam, Christianity, and Judaism
Thanks to the fine presentations and commentaries shared by our undergraduate participants and the many questions, comments and insights voiced by audience members, this gathering proved to be all that we had hoped and much more. Not only was it valuable for those directly involved, it was valuable for the education of the wider community of Marquette students and faculty concerning the fundamental unity of the religions of the Abrahamic tradition together with the distinctiveness of Judaism, Christianity and Islam within the tradition.
We want to express our sincere thanks to our student presenters for sharing their work with us. We also want to thank Fr. G. Simon Harak of the Marquette University Peacemaking Center for his concluding talk, “Peacemaking: Ancient Visions, Modern Practices.”
Finally, we want to thank former dean Dr. Michael McKinney of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, interim acting dean Dr. John Pustejovsky, and associate dean Dr. Heather Hathaway for their generous assistance regarding the Mellon Foundation grant that made this event possible.
Owen Goldin, Philosophy Department
Irfan Omar, Theology Department
Richard C. Taylor, Philosophy Department
For photos of conference events and participants, see
http://gallery.mac.com/mistertea#100122
April 2, 2008, 9 am - 6:15 pm
Raynor Library Beaumier Conference Center
© Pictures of Rome courtesy of
