Sunday Forum meets Sundays at 9:45 a.m.
in the basement classroom.
On the Beginnings of Christianity
October 8: Jews and Judaism at the Time of Jesus
presented by Matthias Henze
CTK member Matthias Henze will speak about the diverse Jewish groups in first
century Israel. Who are these different groups, and what do we know about them?
Which ancient sources inform us about them and the theological disputes they
had? We will also ask how this knowledge contributes to our understanding of
Jesus and the beginnings of Christianity.
October 15: Were the Jews looking for the Messiah, and did the early
Christians think he had come?
presented by George W.E. Nickelsburg, Professor Emeritus
of the University of Iowa.
For forty years Prof. Nickelsburg has been one of the leading scholars on Ancient
Judaism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, early apocalyptic literature, and nascent Christianity.
This is a unique opportunity to hear a premier and internationally known scholar
speak about a central issue in early Christian studies.
Church, State, Religion, and Public Discourse
October 22: Was the United States Created as a Christian Nation?
presented by Dr. John Boles
Religion, the Founding Fathers, and the Separation of Church and State: This
class will summarize the religious views of the leading founders, discuss the
role of religion in the writing of the Constitution, and trace out how the principle
of religious freedom and the separation of church and state developed.
October 29: The Bible in Contemporary Public Discourse: Faith versus
Reason?
presented by Matthias Henze
Matthias Henze will give a presentation on The Bible plays a very significant
role in the public debate of contemporary social and political issues in the
US. This talk examines different perceptions of the Bible and suggests ways
in which the Bible can be used responsibly in public debates.
November 5: The Religion of Thomas Jefferson
presented by Dr. John Boles
Widely recognized as the most thoughtful and cosmopolitan of the founding fathers,
Jefferson wrote more than any other founder on religious topics and on the concept
of freedom. Moreover, he was very interested in the related topics of science,
race, nature, and antiquity. He was the author of the Virginia Act for Establishing
Religious Freedom. The second class will examine this so-called Renaissance
man with particular attention to his views on religion.