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Humanities Symposium

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Keynote Address: “Un/Civil Religion: American Christianity and Liberal Democracy in Crisis”

Gorski

Philip S. Gorski, Ph.D., is professor of sociology and religious studies at Yale University. He writes on religion and politics in early modern and modern Western Europe and North America from a comparative historical perspective. His empirical work focuses on topics such as state formation, nationalism, revolution, economic development and secularization, with particular attention to the interaction of religion and politics. He is the author of several book-length studies in these fields. His current work focuses on the history and politics of white Christian nationalism and American civil religion.

Date: February 22, 2024
Location: Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts, Parmer Hall
Time: 7:30 pm
Cost: Free tickets are required for this event. To reserve, please contact the Messiah University Box Office at 717-691-6036 option #1 or online at messiah.edu/tickets.

 

Symposium Schedule

All Sessions will be conducted in Boyer 131

9:20–9:50 a.m. “The Practice of Constructive Conversations in American Christian Institutions of Higher Education”  

Faculty lecture: Ling Dinse (social work)

10–10:30 a.m. “The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats: What Would Jesus Say Today?” 

Faculty and guest lecture: Kelly Waltman (psychology, criminal justice and sociology) and Marsha Curry–Nixon (founder and executive director of A Miracle 4 Sure) Sponsored by Kelly Waltman (psychology, criminal justice and sociology)

10:40–11:40 a.m. “On the Road to Freedom: Engaging Stories of the Civil Rights Movement”

Panel discussion: Lew Gladfelter (information technology services), Jeremy Lippert (safety), Jake Edmunds (first year experience), Jon Stuckey (advancement), Bernardo Michael (history, politics and international relations), Anna Seip (marketing and communications) and student Akon Undieh (biology) Sponsored by Todd Allen (office of diversity affairs)

12–1 p.m. Opening Reception
Howe Atrium

1–2 p.m. “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism in the American Project”

Faculty–student organized colloquium: Students from the honors FYS “Patriotism or Cosmopolitanism?” class
Sponsored by Jim LaGrand (honors program)

2:10–3:10 p.m. "Constitutional Freedom and Christ"

Guest lecture: Sylvester H. Brown (Pastor, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Brandy Station, VA.) Sponsored by the Center for Public Humanities

3:20–3:50 p.m. “The American Project: Can Democracy Survive the Comments Section?”

Faculty–student organized colloquium: Jason Renn and students – Joshua Ammons (history, politics and international relations) and Carolina Hatch (cybersecurity) Sponsored by Jason Renn (history, politics & international relations)

4–5 p.m. “What makes American Music, “American”

Musical performance: James Colonna (music) Free event Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts, Parmer Hall

In-Service Day

All sessions conducted in Boyer 131 except indicated

10–10:30 a.m. “Sport, Character, and the American Identity: Promise and Problems”

Faculty lecture: Sean Strehlow (health, nutrition and exercise science)

10:40–11:10 a.m. “American “Secular Missionaries” and the Transnational Exchange of Educational “Apartheid” in Sub–Saharan Africa”

Faculty lecture: Obed Mfum–Mensah (graduate program: education)

11:20–11:50 a.m. “The Liberal Arts and the American Experience”

Faculty lecture: Peter Powers (language, literature and writing)

12–12:30 p.m. “Textbook History: The Influence of American History Textbooks on the Understanding of U.S. History”

Faculty lecture: David Hazen (education)

12:40–1:10 p.m. “From Pamphlets to Social Media: A Historical Progression of Political Rhetoric in the American Project”

Faculty and alumni lecture: Brooke Dunbar–Treadwell (language, literature and writing) and Allie Mast (graduate ’23 politics and international relations). Sponsored by Brooke Dunbar–Treadwell (language, literature and writing)

1:20–1:50 p.m. “Student Views: “Where Does our Food Come From?”

Student panel discussion: Madison Curry (undeclared), Elizabeth Kirkland (physics with secondary teaching), Kevine Kurembereza (undeclared), Michael Marquez (nursing), Nathan Nashed (philosophy) and Aubrey Yeager (applied health science). Sponsored by Dawn Landes (interdisciplinary studies)

2–3 p.m. “The Problem of the American Polarization Narrative”

Student panel discussion: Kyle Chu (history, politics and intl. relations), Gabi Kovalchick (history, politics and intl. relations) and Allie Mast (graduate ’23 history, politics and intl. relations) Sponsored by Robin Lauermann (history, politics and international relations)

3–4 p.m. “Examining the Lived Experience of Disabilities through Gender and Race”

Jointly sponsored faculty–student colloquium: Sponsored by Melinda Burchard (education) and Sarah Myers (Murray library)
Boyer 432

4–5 p.m. “Composing America: An Exploration of the American Project Through the Eyes of Three Contemporary American Composers from Underrepresented Populations”

Lecture recital/musical performance: Erik Forst (music) Free event
Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and
Performing Arts, Recital Hall

7:30 p.m. “Un/Civil Religion: American Christianity and Liberal Democracy in Crisis”

Symposium keynote address: Philip S. Gorski

Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts, Parmer Hall

All sessions conducted in Boyer 131 except indicated.

9:20–9:50 a.m. “American Diversity in Digital Imagination at Messiah University”

Faculty lecture: Hong Huo (art and design)

 

10–10:30 a.m. “Democracy and the Problem of Trust”

Faculty lecture: Joshua Matthan Brown (biblical, religious and philosophical studies)

 

10:40–11:40 a.m. “Repairing the American Project: Lessons Learned from Research, Teaching & Learning for the Public Good at Messiah University”

Faculty panel discussion: Devin Manzullo–Thomas (biblical, religious and philosophical studies), Bernardo Michael, David Pettegrew (history, politics and international relations), Comments by Sarah Myers (Murray Library) Sponsored by Bernardo Michael (history, politics & international relations)


12–1 p.m. “Closing Reception with Poetry Readings and CPH exhibit”

Faculty and student poems: “Brownstown, USA,” Timothy Shea (faculty, language, literature and writing), “The Colors We Bleed,” Connor Fleming (communication), “Middle Class in America,” Harrison Keator applied health sciences), “Untethered,” Abigail Rickabaugh (nursing) Sponsored by Timothy Shea
Howe Atrium


1–1:30 p.m. “The Chester Way: Stories of Freedom, Equity, and Justice in Pennsylvania’s Capital Region”

Student presentation: Alexandra Shehigian (public history) and Elizabeth Movinsky (music) Sponsored by the Center for Public Humanities & Digital Humanities

1:40–2:10 p.m. “Reimagining the Voices of Our Past: Placed–Based Storytelling on the T. Morris Chester Way”

Student presentation: Kelan Amme (history) Sponsored by the Center for Public Humanities & Digital Humanities

2:20–2:50 p.m. “The Daughters of Bilitis: Advocates and Writers for the Rights of Lesbians and Women During the1950’s”

Student presentation: Isabella Kern (studio art) Sponsored by Sarah Myers (history, politics and international relations)

3–3:30 p.m. “Health Care Disparities of Rural and Small Community Americans”

Faculty lecture: Noel Kline (nursing)

4 p.m. “Humanities Symposium Dance Concert”

Dance performance and discussion Sponsored by Gregg Hurley (theater and dance) Free event, tickets required
Poorman Black Box Theatre,
Climenhaga Building

4–6:30 p.m. “Conscientious Objection and the American Project: An Under–Told Story”

Film and panel discussion: Col. R. Scott Buran, USMC (Ret.), Program Coordinator for the War, Peace and Justice Project and Dr. John R. Yeatts, Messiah University Professor Emeritus of the Psychology of Religion, will respond to the documentary, Conscientious Objector, about World War II Medal of Honor recipient, Desmond T. Doss and participate in Q & A. Sponsored by George Pickens (peace and conflict studies)
Kline 120

 

8 p.m. “Humanities Symposium Dance Concert”

Dance performance and discussion: Sponsored by Gregg Hurley (theater and dance) Free event, tickets required
Poorman Black Box Theatre,
Climenhaga Building