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Symposium featuring school faculty looks at how faith can stop violence

Posted March 17, 2014 11:00 pm

By Ryan Blackburn Benedictine University

Tobias Winright, an associate professor of theological ethics in the Department of Theological Studies at St. Louis University, will be the featured speaker April 4 when Benedictine University in Lisle sponsors an all-day symposium, "Love Thy Neighbor: How Faith and Reason Work Against Structural Violence." Courtesy of Benedictine University

Benedictine University faculty from across the institution will join an expert in theological studies from St. Louis University to discuss violence and how to work against it in Benedictine's seventh annual Faith and Reason Symposium.

This year's symposium, "Love Thy Neighbor: How Faith and Reason Work Against Structural Violence," is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 4, in the Krasa Presentation Room on campus, 5700 College Ave., Lisle.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Mission and Identity, the College of Liberal Arts and the Department of History, Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Featured speaker Tobias Winright, PhD., is an associate professor of theological ethics in the Department of Theological Studies at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.

A former corrections officer and campus minster, Winright taught religious ethics at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, and moral theology at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, before joining the St. Louis University faculty in 2005.

Winright seeks to equip and enable students to think theologically, to inform their consciences about significant questions and issues of the day, and to be men and women for others.

He is an active member of several professional and learned societies, co-editor of the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, book reviews editor for the international journal Political Theology and a contributing writer to Sojourners magazine.

Winright will be the featured luncheon keynote speaker. He will examine "Liturgy and God's Justice for All: Catholicism and Capital Punishment."

The symposium also will include two panel discussions looking at how individuals can work against violence against ourselves, others, cultures and the Earth. The first discussion meets 9 to 11:30 a.m.; the second from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Panelists include Jack Thornburg, Ph.D., associate professor of anthropology; Cheryl Heinz, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences; Patrick Polasek, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology/sociology; Christine Fletcher, Ph.D., associate professor of theology; Joel Ostrow, Ph.D., professor of political science; Fannie Rushing, Ph.D., professor of history; and Patricia Somers, Ph.D., instructor in the Department of Psychology/Sociology.

The symposium is free. RSVP at ben.edu/faith. For information, contact William Knox at wknox@ben.edu or (630) 829-6593.

Jack Thornburg, an associate professor of anthropology, will be one of the panelists April 4 when Benedictine University hosts an all-day symposium, "Love Thy Neighbor: How Faith and Reason Work Against Structural Violence." Courtesy of Benedictine University

Christine Fletcher, an associate professor of theology, will be on the panel for the April 4 symposium at Lisle's Benedictine University. Courtesy of Benedictine University

Joel Ostrow, professor of political science Courtesy of Benedictine University

Patrick Polasek, assistant professor of psychology/sociology Courtesy of Benedictine University

Cheryl Heinz, associate professor of biological sciences Courtesy of Benedictine University

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