VCU to offer Reason, Wisdom & Spirituality lecture series

By Lissette Linares

"Religion, Politics and the 2000 Elections," and capital punishment are some of the topics being discussed at the Virginia Commonwealth University Reason, Wisdom & Spirituality lecture series beginning in February. Now in its fifth year, the series explores issues in philosophy and religious studies with widespread applications and implications.

"We created the series because there are so many issues in this field that have obvious connections to the public, for example, how one lives one’s life," said Peter Vallentyne, VCU chair of philosophy and religious studies. "And there are many knowledgeable professors at the university that can provide some insight into these areas."

This year’s lectures include:

• On Feb. 9 – Reason in Tibetan Buddhism; Daniel Perdue, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, will examine Tibetan Buddhism’s views on the nature of spirituality, the efficacy and limits of reason and the power of wisdom to free one from suffering, death and the cycle of rebirth.
• On Feb. 16 – Tinkering with the Machinery of Death; Barbara Hartung, Esq., a criminal defense lawyer specializing in capital cases, will present reasons why capital punishment should be abolished. By examining its implementation in Virginia, she will argue that capital punishment fails to meet the fundamental requirements of equal treatment and equal justice for those condemned to die.

• Feb. 23 – Science and Religion; Lindon Eaves, Ph.D., a professor of human genetics, will discuss the relationship between scientific and religious world views. He will identify some of the main issues that unite or divide the two and suggest ways in which a more positive conversation can take place.
• March 1 – Religion, Politics and the 2000 Election; Robert Holsworth, Ph.D., professor of political science and public administration and director of the VCU Center for Public Policy, will examine the role religion is likely to play in the approaching presidential and congressional campaigns. He will examine the candidates’ views on the role of religion in public life, analyze the religious issues which may be raised in the 2000 elections and explore the effect of religiously motivated activism on the campaigns.

All lectures will be held at the Jewish Community Center, 5403 Monument Ave., from 7-9 p.m. For details or to register, call Patricia Worley at 828-1831.