The Bible and Violence: A symposium

Date of Release: 02/24/2005

SAN MARCOS—John J. Collins, Ph.D., Holmes Professor of Old Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale University will present a lecture titled “Does the Bible Legitimate Violence?” 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 at Texas State University-San Marcos.

The event will be in the LBJ Student Center, room 3.14.1. Admission is free, and the public is invited.

Drawing examples from the Bible and European and American history, Collins raises questions about the historical use of the Bible in legitimating violence, and also about the role of biblical scholarship in addressing questions of such public import. Following the lecture, a panel of religious studies scholars and clergy from the region will discuss the issues raised by Collins.

The panelists are Rabbi Samuel Barth of Congregation Agudas Achim, Prof. Kelley Coblentz-Bautch of St. Edward’s University, Rev. George Montague of St. Mary’s University, David Tabb Stewart of Southwestern University and Rev. Carl C. Trovall, University Lutheran Church, UT-Austin. Prof. Rebecca Raphael of Philosophy moderates.

This event is sponsored by the University Public Lecture Series, the College of Liberal Arts, Common Experience, Philosophy, Sociology, Political Science, History, the NEH Distinguished Teaching Chair, and St. Edward’s University.