The Point Weekly ? Wiley Lectures to ask: What is truth?

On February 8, 2013 by pointweeklyeditor

By Guimel Sibingo

staff writer

If you walk into the School of Theology and Christian Ministry in Smee Hall, you?ll probably no?tice the stained glass windows, the smell of the office, the couches and the quiet environment. This week, however, you would also notice a number of bright green and blue posters strategically placed around the building. These posters adver?tise the upcoming H. Orton Wiley lectures taking place Feb. 11 to 13 in Crill Performance Hall. The lectures will feature Dr. James K.A. Smith, an author and professor of philosophy at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

According to the STCM web?site, the Wiley lectures have taken place nearly every year since 1951. Founded by former PLNU presi?dent H. Orton Wiley, they serve as a forum where the Christian aca?demic community can participate in theological conversation, said Will Turner, ASB director of spiri?tual life.

?It?s a really neat opportunity to be able to engage in critical think?ing and in long-term lecture with somebody who?s really active in doing something incredible in that world,? Turner said.

This year?s topic, relativism, is one often discussed in the field of philosophy. According to Brad Kelle, professor of Old Testament at PLNU and director of the Mas?ter of Arts Program in religion, relativism is an issue pertaining to whether there is truth in a state?ment or religion.

?Particularly [Smith] is think?ing about [relativism] from a Chris?tian point of view? it?s that ques?tion of ?What is true? or ?What is truth??? Kelle said. ?How does that fit in into the question of what is true or is Christianity true??

Unlike other years, the Lec?tures will be covering a topic that pertains to philosophy instead of theology. Associate Professor of philosophy Heather Ross is pleased with this prospect.

?I?m very excited that we will have the topic of the Wiley lec?tures to be philosophy, and I think it will be for the first time,? she said. ?I think [it] will be interest?ing to a lot of our students be?cause they?ll get a sense of philos?ophy outside the context of their general education courses.?

Smith is a prominent philoso?pher and author among Christian circles, especially in Christian colleges. His book, Desiring the Kingdom, which won him a Chris?tianity Today Book Award in 2009, has been read by some students at PLNU this past year.

Turner was one of the students who read Smith?s book in a class last semester. He talked about the opportunity to meet and dialogue in person with someone he had read and studied.

?I love the things he has to say,? Turner said. ?These are some of the people that we study in the classroom and [can] actu?ally dialogue about their work and what they are doing. That?s really amazing.?

Kelle, who also serves as lo?gistical coordinator for the lec?tures, said Smith?s influence in colleges makes him a good fit as this year?s speaker.

?We?re really excited,? he said. ?He is somebody that is [not only] familiar with us and ? what we do here but also [someone] who?s study of faith and culture ? really fits well with the Christian college setting.?

Smith is looking forward to dia?loguing with the PLNU communi?ty. He said that despite his Calvinist background, he?s spent much time with other Wesleyans.

?It?s an honor to be part of the rich tradition of the Wiley Lec?tures, which in the past has in?cluded scholars that I respect and value,? he said via email. ?Plus, I don?t mind leaving Michigan in the middle of February to visit sunny San Diego!?

Although the lectures are ad?vertised to those in ministry edu?cation, Kelle encourages students from other majors to attend.

?I think it?s something that?s interesting to students from all disciplines because all disci?plines are in one way or another asking this question about what is truth,? he said. ?To me it goes well beyond just people who are interested in Bible or theology or Christian ministry.?

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Source: http://www.pointweekly.com/2013/02/08/wiley-lectures-to-ask-what-is-truth/

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