Friday, April 12, 2013

A Quiet Revolution: Broad Findings and Further Thoughts in Changing Times

Leila Ahmed
Victor S. Thomas Professor of Divinity, Harvard Divinity School

April 10, 2013
Grawemeyer Award in Religion Lecture

Dr. Ahmed received the 2013 Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion for ideas set forth in her book, A Quiet Revolution: The Veil’s Resurgence from the Middle East to America.  She examines the increase in American Muslim women who wear the veil, or hijab.  She looks at the experiences of women in Islam in both broad and personal terms, and examines Muslim American women in the post-9/11 world.  For some women wearing the hijab can be a simultaneous demand for justice for Muslims in American and justice for women in Islam.  Listen to the lecture.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Coloring Outside the Lines: Jesus and Religious Diversity

Cynthia M. Campbell
Former President of McCormick Seminary
Interim Pastor, Highland Presbyterian Church

Festival of Theology
April 10, 2013
Luke 7:1-10

Listen to the sermon.

No Common Creed: The American Bible from Thomas Jefferson to Barack Obama

Steven Prothero
Professor, Department of Religion at Boston University

Greenhoe Lecture
April 9, 2013

Listen to the lecture.

Being the Children of Abraham

Cynthia M. Campbell
Former President of McCormick Seminary
Interim Pastor, Highland Presbyterian Church

Festival of Theology
April 9, 2013
Genesis 12:1-9

Listen to the sermon.

No Common Path: From Interfaith 1.0 to Interfaith 2.0

Steven Prothero
Professor, Department of Religion at Boston University

Caldwell Lecture
April 9, 2013

Listen to the lecture delivered during the Festival of Theology and Reunion.

Monday, March 25, 2013

The First Temptation: A Sermon on Luke 4:1-13

Scott C. Williamson
Robert H. Walkup Professor of Theological Ethics

February 22, 2013
Luke 4:1-13

The devil tempts Jesus to prove his authority as the Son of God by commanding a stone to become a loaf of bread.  Even though he is famished after forty days of fasting, Jesus trusts that God will provide. This story parallels the experience of Civil Rights figures, like Sister Pollard, who echoed Jesus’ trust in God. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, Sister Pollard, in her seventies, walked to work and refused the offer of a ride by saying “My feets is tired, but my soul is rested.” She shows a faith that endures hardships while trusting in God’s providence.  The good news is that God has given us the bread of life, the bread that satisfies our hunger for justice and thirst for righteousness.  Listen to the sermon.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

It Is the Worst of Times; It Is the Best of Times

It Is the Worst of Times; It Is the Best of Times

Kathryn L. Johnson
Paul Tudor Jones Professor of Church History and Professor of Historical Theology

February 7, 2012
Proverbs 8:1-11, 32–9:4
Philippians 1:3-11

Perhaps the challenges that in our context help to make this “the worst of times” for our church communities can be part of what can allow us, perhaps only retrospectively and with difficulty, that see it is also – not alternatively, but also – the best.  Listen to the sermon.  Read the sermon in PDF.

Let’s Just Do This

Delmetria Cayson-Combs
Master of Divinity Student

February 15, 2013
II Corinthians 5:20-6:10

We are called to be earthly ambassadors for the cause of Christ, but we can’t do anything without being reconciled with ourselves and each other.  Listen to the sermon.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Living by the Spirit

Clifton Kirkpatrick
Visiting Professor of Ecumenical Studies and Global Ministries
February 8, 2013
Micah 6:6-8
Galatians 5:22-26
The fruit of the spirit is one of the sweetest gifts we can receive in this life. Listen to the sermon.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Dangerous Dreams

Cynthia M. Campbell
Former President, McCormick Theological Seminary

November 16, 2012
John 10:14-16

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religions and ethical traditions.  We are called to a compassionate Christianity.  Listen to the sermon.