Sunday, November 15, 2009

Two RPS Events This Week: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November at U of T

In case you are interested:

RPS Lunchtime Reading Group: Thursday 19 November, 12:00-1:30pm
Room JHB318, Jackman Humanities Building, 170 St. George Street
Free pizza lunch will be provided

This Thursday’s book for discussion is Why I Am Not a Secularist, by William E. Connolly. Religion's influence in American politics is obvious in recent debates about school prayer, abortion, and homosexuality. Many liberal secularists decry this trend, rejecting any interaction between politics and religion. But distinguished political theorist William E. Connolly argues that secularism, although admirable in its pursuit of freedom and diversity, too often undercuts these goals through its narrow and intolerant understandings of public reason. In response, he crafts a new model of public life that more accurately reflects the needs of contemporary politics.

Discussion facilitator: Prof. Melissa Williams, Political Science/Director, Centre for Ethics
Reading available at: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/rps/news.html#readgroup



RPS Interchange event: Friday 20 November, 10:00-11:30am
Room JHB318, Jackman Humanities Building, 170 St. George Street

"Do We Need Religion?" With Prof. Hans Joas, Director of the Max Weber Center for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies at the University of Erfurt and Professor of Sociology and a Member of the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. Join us for a conversation with Prof. Joas about his research, which includes the book Do We Need Religion?: On the Experience of Self-Transcendence.

Reading available at http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/rps/news.html#readgroup

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