The Humanitas Forum

Mark your calendar!

Here’s the schedule for the upcoming winter/spring Humanitas Forum on Christianity and Culture.  Please note that we will be meeting at a new location.  The Peachtree Learning Center is located at 402 North Walnut in Cookeville.  Go here for a map.

The Humanitas Forum

on Christianity and Culture

Winter/Spring 2013

February 8, 2013 ~ Dr. Steven Guthrie

The Humanizing Spirit:

A Spirituality for Real People

The title of one of Friedrich Nietzsche’s books complains that we are “human, all too human.” Interestingly enough, on this score Christians often agree with the great atheist philosopher. We feel that if we weren’t so “human” we could be far more “spiritual.” Against this line of thinking, Dr. Steven Guthrie will argue that our problem is not that we are far too human, but that we are not nearly human enough. What is more, one appropriate and biblical way of describing the work of the Holy Spirit is as “the humanizing Spirit.” Drawing on his recent book, Creator Spirit: the Holy Spirit and the Art of Becoming Human, Dr. Guthrie will discuss how these themes are especially illuminated by a consideration of art and beauty.

Steve Guthrie is Associate Professor of Theology at Belmont University in Nashville, where he leads Belmont’s major in Religion and the Arts. Before coming to Belmont, Dr. Guthrie was Research Fellow, and then Lecturer in Theology, at the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland. Dr. Guthrie earned an undergraduate degree in Music Theory from the University of Michigan, and worked for several years as a musician. In fact, he continues to work as a musician—on weekends you will find him regularly gigging with the band “SixtyFour” (on keyboards, vocals, and percussion).

April 5, 2013 ~ Dr. Kelly Kapic

Since We’re All Theologians…

Reflections on Why and How to Study Theology

“Whenever we think or hear or read or say anything about God, we are doing theology.” Working from this assumption, Dr. Kelly Kapic will lead us in a discussion about what theology is and why it matters. Not only concerned with content and method, he will explore the skills, attitudes and spiritual practices needed as we seek to know God and learn how to serve him. As Kapic says, “Theology is about life. It is not a conversation our souls can afford to avoid.”

This talk will examine several of the themes in Dr. Kapic’s most recent book, Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology. Chapter 1 is available online.

Kelly M. Kapic is professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. He earned a Ph.D. in systematic and historical theology at King’s College, University of London and an M.Div. at Reformed Theological Seminary. Dr. Kapic’s articles have been published in the International Journal of Systematic Theology and Westminster Theological Journal. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of several books, including a modern edition of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation, co-edited with Justin Taylor.

Q&A Follows Each Lecture

Admission: Free

Location: Peachtree Learning Center, 402 North Walnut Street, Cookeville, Tennessee

Map: Go here.

Time: 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Contact: Michael Poore, Director, The Humanitas Forum, (931) 239-8735,

mpoore@humanitas.org

Website/Blog: www.humanitas.org