The Humanitas Forum – The Humanizing Spirit

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.

The Humanitas Forum

on Christianity and Culture

The Humanizing Spirit:

A Spirituality for Real People

Dr. Steven Guthrie

Friday, February 8, 2013 — 7:00 p.m.

Peachtree Learning Center, Cookeville, Tennessee

Steven 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).

Q&A Follows Each Lecture

Admission: Free

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

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