The Truth about Easter - John Dickson Videos

Last week Dr John Dickson visited UWS Bankstown at the invitation of the department of Social Science to speak about Humility. In these videos he looks at the reasons to believe the Easter story in the Bible is historically reliable.



Reasons to believe Part 2:



To talk more about this topic come to CBM (especially in Easter week): Tuesday 1-2pm in 1.1.223 and Thursday 1-2 pm in 1.1.081

HUMILITAS - Open Lecture at UWS Bankstown by John Dickson - 29th March

Just letting you know about an event being held at Bankstown on March 29th:

UWS School of Social Sciences and Psychology

Social Work, Community Welfare and Therapy Studies Group

Presents

“HUMILITAS - Holding power for the good of others”

A public lecture on the origins and meanings of humility, by

Dr John Dickson

Senior Research Fellow, Dept of Ancient History, Macquarie University

Director, Centre for Public Christianity

Thurs March 29th, 4pm to 6pm

UWS Bankstown

Bullecourt Ave, Milperra

Room 01.1.106 (LT01)

For UWS staff, students, human services practitioners and general public

Enquiries: Dr Neil Hall n.hall@uws.edu.au or 9772 6591

R.S.V.P.: ssap-field@uws.edu.au

“Dr John Dickson specialises in the big ideas that have shaped our world and inspired men and women to live beyond themselves. His journey has been an eclectic one: from fulltime musician to professional speaker, author, biblical historian, TV presenter and director of a multi-media think tank. He began his career as singer/songwriter for Aussie rock band In The Silence, touring and recording for seven years before temporarily giving music away to focus on academic studies and a wide-ranging career as a speaker and author. With an honours degree in theology and a PhD in ancient history John is also a Senior Research Fellow of the Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University. He is committed to delivering creative, engaging content grounded in careful thought.” (johndickson.org/bio)

Atheism for the Incorrigibly Religious

Alain de Botton  is a Swiss Philosopher currently in Australia promoting he latest book: On Religion for Atheists. Dan (who is a philosophy graduate and studying for his Ph D.) went to hear him speak at the Sydney Opera House. Do check out his brilliant review here: Papermind/atheism-for-the-incorrigibly-religious/.


Here is an excerpt:

The reason that religions have much to teach atheists, according to De Botton, begins with the insight that humans are basically ‘not ok’: the basic human condition is one of vulnerability, fragility, lostness. For De Botton, this is the fundamental truth behind the Christian doctrine of original sin. And it’s a truth that New Atheism, proclaimed from the High Tables of Oxbridge, abjectly fails to reckon with. The modernist humanistic project has been altogether too quick to leave us to our own devices and what is needed is a thoroughgoing reappraisal of our need for an education in the disciplines of living well. Religions understand this, they understand that education is not about skilling people for tasks, but a process of moral formation and guidance to help us navigate the twin uncertainties of our world and our hearts. The rationalist education produces better hairdressers; the religious, better people.

De Botton’s sampling at the bain-marie of religion is guided by his desire to introduce atheists into these effective practices of moral formation. . . .