Public Lectures

Ryan O'Dowd is Senior Visiting Lecturer of Aerospace Studies at Cornell University. He holds a PhD in Old Testament from the University of Liverpool. He has also taught in the areas of Biblical Studies and social justice at Briercrest College and Redeemer University College as well as serving as Adjunct Faculty at the Paideia Centre for Public Theology.

**Dr. Ecklund will be interviewed on All Things Equal, a Cornell-sponsored radio talk show Tuesday October 26.  You can listen live by tuning in to WHCU, 870 AM, at 8:30 AM, or listen to the podcast, which will be posted later that day, on the All Things Equal website.**

For any and all Christian alumni and relatives, including (but not limited to) those who were involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, Chesterton House, Chi Alpha, Chinese Bible Study, Cornell Christian Fellowship (InterVarsity), Cornell International Christian Fellowship, Grace Christian Fellowship, Graduate Christian Fellowship, Navigators, and others. Join us for breakfast, fellowship, and updates on campus ministry activity. For more information, call Karl Johnson at 607-319-4038.

We will discuss what scientists think about religion and whether they perceive any possible areas of overlap with science. In particular we will uncover the surprising reasons scientists believe and the surprising reasons scientists do not believe.

Elaine Howard Ecklund is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Rice University, where she also serves as a Rice Scholar of the James Baker III Institute for Public Policy, and Director of the Program on Religion and Public Life at the Institute for Urban Research.

ABSTRACT

We will examine whether there are places in the university where science and religion might fruitfully connect and models scientists with faith have for participating in religious communities.

Elaine Howard Ecklund is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Rice University, where she also serves as a Rice Scholar of the James Baker III Institute for Public Policy, and Director of the Program on Religion and Public Life at the Institute for Urban Research.

Eleonore Stump is the Robert J. Henle, S.J., Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University. Author of several works in medieval philosophy, philosophy of religion, and metaphysics, Stump has served as president of the Society of Christian Philosophers, and president of the American Catholic Philosophical Association. She delivered the prestigious Gifford Lectures at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland in 2002.

Professor Chignell will speak about the issues raised by his recent article "Whither Wheaton." You can find the "back story" of the article and links to the many articles about the article at www.whitherwheaton.org.

Text: John 14. 15-23

What Every Orphan Needs to Know

“I will not leave you orphaned.” Jesus

Everyone is orphaned, if not literally, than metaphorically, by the pain, loss and sometimes by the devastations of life. The fear or reality of being alone needs the fulfillment of Christ’s promise that he will come to us and be with us. He brings us into the eternal family of the Trinity where Father, Son and Spirit are present with each other in conversation, love and great happiness.