"Truth Matters" Contributor Jay Gupta to be Interviewed on KPFA Radio March 19

Truth Matters contributor Jay Gupta will be interviewed on Berkeley-based KPFA radio's Against the Grain program. The program begins at noon Pacific Time, Wednesday March 19th.  The interview will be about the essay he contributed to the volume coming out of the "Truth Matters" conference and will run for about 50 minutes.  Gupta's essay is titled "Does Truth Matter to Ethics? Kierkegaard, Ethics, and the Subjectivity of Truth".

The audio will be archived afterward, in on-demand and downloadable forms, at againstthegrain.org.

Against the Grain on Pacifica Radio airs on KPFA 94.1 FM in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, and on KFCF 88.1 FM in Fresno and California's Central Valley. It also broadcasts worldwide via kpfa.org.

Upcoming Event Reminders

Thursday March 20: The CPRSE will be hosting Ryan McIlhenny (this year's ARCU lecturer) speaking on "Preserving the Common, Producing Difference: Neo-Calvinism and the Cultural Turn in the Humanities" at the Toronto School of Theology. Click here for more information.

Thursday March 27: The Art Talks! 2014 lecture, “The Byzantine Icon is Alive and Well: The Practice and Reflections of a Working Iconographer”, by iconographer Lynette Hull at St Michael’s College. Click here for more information.

Sunday April 13: The dramatic choral reading of Senior Member Emeritus Cal Seerveld's translation of the biblical book Ecclesiastes is scheduled for Willowdale Christian Reformed Church, 70 Hilda Ave Toronto.

May 12 & 13: Registration is now open for Are We There Yet? Economic Justice and the Common Good, a major conference co-hosted by the ICS Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics and The King’s University College in Edmonton Alberta. Click here for registration and more information.

Ron Kuipers at the Lonergan Research Centre Graduate Seminar

On Friday March 21st ICS Senior Member Ron Kuipers will be at the Lonergan Research Centre Graduate Seminar responding to a paper by Thomas Reynolds (of Emmanuel College) titled "Negotiating Religious Pluralism Today: Canadian Challenges".

Tom Reynolds recently responded to Ron Kuiper's Book "Rorty" at the book launch for the same.

Ron is Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at ICS and Director of the ICS Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics.

Shannon Hoff at Simon Fraser University

Senior member Shannon Hoff will be leading a seminar at Simon Fraser University Institute of the Humanities on Monday, March 24, at 1:30 p.m..  The seminar is titled "Hegel's Phenomenology and Intercultural Criticism."  Here is the abstract:

"In this seminar, we will discuss Hegel’s ideas of ethical life and recognition and build from them an understanding of some of the challenges facing intercultural criticism. Three short readings will be distributed in advance: a selection from the Phenomenology of Spirit in which Hegel explains the idea of Sittlichkeit or “ethical life”; a selection from the Philosophy of Mind of the Encyclopaedia in which Hegel discusses the relation between religion and the state; and a selection from my own writing in which I draw on these ideas from Hegel to talk about the politics of intercultural communication (reading these selections in advance is recommended but not required). The seminar will begin with discussion of the passages from Hegel, after which I will present for discussion some of my own ideas about what these ideas imply for interpretation of contemporary political situations. In particular, I will argue that we cannot adequately recognize persons from other cultures if we presume the existence of culturally neutral values that can be applied to their cultural realities without initiation into the historically developed forms through which meaning appears in those cultures and in our own."

Shannon is Associate Professor of Social and Political Philosophy at ICS.

April 4, Grand Rapids Book Launch

A book launch featuring recent publications by ICS faculty, students, and alumni will take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 4. Featured publications include Truth Matters: Knowledge, Politics, Ethics, Religion, edited by Senior Member Lambert Zuidervaart, CPRSE Associate Director Allyson Carr, and ICS doctoral candidates Matthew Klaassen and Ronnie Shuker; A Levinasian Ethics for Education’s Commonplaces by ICS alumnus Clarence Joldersma; and two recent books by ICS alumnus James K. A. Smith: Who’s Afraid of Relativism? and How (Not) to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor. Nature’s Suit: Husserl’s Phenomenological Philosophy of the Physical Sciences by Lee Hardy (Philosophy, Calvin College) will also be celebrated.

The launch takes place in Calvin College’s Commons Annex Lecture Hall at 3:30-5:00 pm on Friday, April 4, with a reception to follow, and is sponsored by the Philosophy Department, Education Department, and Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship. Please join us in celebrating the work of these scholars. All are welcome to attend.

Rebekah Smick at Princeton Theological Seminary

ICS Senior Member Rebekah Smick will be giving a paper titled "Kuyper's Calvin in Western Art History" on April 11 at the Kuyper Center Annual Conference on "Philosophy, Worship and Art". Her paper will offer a first instalment of a contextualization of Abraham Kuyper’s thought on the arts through an examination of his understanding of Calvin’s place in Western art history.

Rebekah is Associate Professor of Philosophy of Arts and Culture at ICS.

Toronto, March 27 – The Byzantine Icon is Alive and Well: The Practice and Reflections of a Working Iconographer

ICS Art Talks! lecture by iconographer Lynette Hull.
View Lynette's Ted Talk on Youtube.

Toronto, Thursday March 27, 2014. 7–9 PM
Admission is free. Full details on the event page...

goo.gl/C6DZRx

Toronto, March 20 – Preserving the Common, Producing Difference: Neo-Calvinism and the Cultural Turn in the Humanities

ARCU lecture by Dr. Ryan McIlhenny.
Associate Professor of History and Humanities
Providence Christian College

Toronto, Thursday March 20, 2014. 7:30 PM
Admission is free. Full information on the event page...

Edmonton, May 12–13: Are We There Yet? Economic Justice and the Common Good

Registration is now open for Are We There Yet? Economic Justice and the Common Good, a major conference co-hosted by the ICS Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics and The King’s University College in Edmonton Alberta, May 12 & 13, 2014..

While economic issues dominate Canada’s political agenda, protest movements like Occupy and Idle No More signal growing concern about the effects of the free market on the environment and the health of Canadian society. Disagreement about these effects often divides us while opportunities for dialogue remain relatively rare. This conference seeks to set a hospitable table around which a broad range of opinions, political perspectives, and socio-economic experiences can be gathered and shared in a spirit of solidarity and mutual respect.

The conference takes place in Edmonton on King’s campus.  On-campus accomodations are available.  Visit the conference website thereyet.ca for more information, registration and updates.  Take advantage of the early-bird specials!

March 16, April 13: Ecclesiastes with Cal Seerveld

Senior Member Emeritus Cal Seerveld's translation of the biblical book Ecclesiastes as a chorus of voices will be performed at Tyndale College in Toronto on Sunday March 16. The presentation has Ray Louter of Redeemer College in the main speaking role of Qoheleth. Musical interludes will be performed by cellist Wendy Solomon of LUSH. Tom Carson from Arts Engine is the director.

Plans are afoot to present this at different churches in Hamilton, Ancaster and Toronto during April.

The dramatic choral reading is scheduled for Willowdale Christian Reformed Church, 70 Hilda Ave, Toronto on Sunday April 13, followed by a Q & A.

Bob Sweetman in Florida

Senior Member Bob Sweetman will be presenting a paper titled "Admiratio, Imitatio and the Vita Christi in Aquinas' Summa theologiae" at The New College Conference on Medieval and Renaissance Studies on March 6 in Sarasota, Florida.

Junior Members Presenting Papers This Month

Joe Kirby will present “Ontology and Living Death: Solitary Confinement in Prisons and Monasteries.” at the Penn State Philosophy Graduate Student Conference on March 1-3.

Matt Johnson will present “Songs of Solidarity: A New Approach to Liturgical Music and Community Cohesion” and Joe Kirby will present “Mysticism and Madness in Prison Awaiting Death,” at the 20th Annual Graduate Interdisciplinary Conference, held at Concordia University in Montreal on March 6.

Ruth Bott will present “Holy Blood, Menstruation as a Signifier of the Holy: A Study of the Ritual Purity Codes of Leviticus 15” and Caleb Ratzlaff will present “Ephesians and the Household Code: a Conversation with John Howard Yoder at the Advanced Degree Student Association Theology Conference at the Toronto School of Theology on March 14th.

Dean Dettloff will present “Back to the Rough Ground! Into Life!: Anti-Philosophy as Christian Philosophy,” Joshua Harris will present “Propositions, Art, and Truth: Zuidervaart’s Critique of Wolterstorff,” and Matt Johnson will present “A Particular Collision: Arendt, CERN, and Reformational Philosophy” at the 2014 Society of Christian Philosophers and Society for Continental Philosophy and Theology Conference at Trinity Christian College on March 27-29.

Joe Kirby will be presenting “Language is the Fire: Ontology in Solitary Confinement Awaiting Death” at the 2014 Philosophy and the Arts Graduate Student Conference in Stony Brook University to be held March 28-29 in Manhattan.

Prayer Letter: March 2014

Saturday March 1: Junior Member Joe Kirby is presenting a paper at Penn State this weekend. We pray for safe travel and blessings on all who are attending.

Monday, March 3: Junior Member Tina Covert’s nephew John Leslie will be competing for Canada in snowboarding in the Paralympics in Russia later this month. Congratulations John! We pray for blessings and safe travel.

Tuesday, March 4: Work continues to prepare the next edition of Perspective. We ask God's blessing and guidance for all those involved.

Wednesday, March 5: The Faculty meets this afternoon. We ask for God to bless and guide this meeting.

Thursday, March 6: Today Senior Member Bob Sweetman is presenting a paper in Florida and Junior Members Matt Johnson and Joe Kirby are presenting papers in Montreal. We pray for safe travel and blessings on all who attend these meetings.

Friday, March 7: We offer prayers of gratitude for the generous spirit that is always shown by you, our many supporters, who have encouraged ICS with gifts of prayer, money, and expressions of appreciation. We are constantly blessed with your interest and support.

Monday, March 10: There is a Board Executive meeting this evening. We pray for God’s wisdom to guide their decisions.

Tuesday, March 11: We ask God's help and guidance for all those who are doing advancement work for ICS. Please pray that support for the vision and mission of ICS continues to grow.

Wednesday, March 12: The Academic Council meets today. We ask God to guide them in their discussions and decisions.

Thursday, March 13: We ask God to bless Senior Member Ron Kuipers, Director, and Allyson Carr, Associate Director of our Centre for Philosophy, Religion and Social Ethics as they continue their work.

Friday, March 14: Junior Members Ruth Bott and Caleb Ratzlaff are presenting papers in Toronto today. We ask God to bless everyone who is attending.

Sunday, March 16: Cal Seerveld's translation of the biblical book Ecclesiastes as a chorus of voices will be performed in Toronto today. We pray for blessings on Cal and everyone who performs and attends.

Monday, March 17: We pray for energy and creativity for all those who are involved in the planning for the upcoming conference on economic justice in Edmonton in May.

Tuesday, March 18: We pray for blessings for Senior Member Doug Blomberg as he continues in his roles as Acting President and Academic Dean.

Wednesday, March 19: We thank God for all the applicants to our programs. We pray that the successful applicants will be able to join us in our mission.

Thursday, March 20: This evening CPRSE will be hosting a lecture by Ryan McIlhenny. We ask for blessings on all who attend this event.

Friday, March 21: Today we pray for blessings for the Friends of ICS Board and all those who are doing advancement work in the US.

Monday, March 24: Today we pray for those who are struggling with illnesses. We ask God for strength, patience and for good results from treatment.

Tuesday, March 25: We ask God to bless Tom and Dawn Wolthuis as He continues to lead them on their way.

Wednesday, March 26: There is a Leadership Team meeting today. We ask God to bless them and guide them in their discussions and decisions.

Thursday, March 27: Art Talks! takes place today. We pray for blessings on the event for all who attend.
Our Registrar and Associate Academic Dean Shawn Stovell is at the Canadian Alumni Professionals meeting today. We pray for blessings and a fruitful session.

Friday, March 28: Junior Members Dean Dettloff, Joshua Harris and Matt Johnson are presenting papers in Chicago this weekend. Junior Member Joe Kirby is presenting a paper in New York this weekend. We pray for blessings and safe travel.

Monday, March 31: Our Librarian Isabella Guthrie-McNaughton is attending the TST Librarians Meeting today. We pray for blessings and a fruitful session.