America's Best Theologian to Speak at Canisius

BUFFALO, NY - The Canisius University Joseph J. Naples ’41 Conversations in Christ & Culture Lecture and Performance Series presents its 2012 Peter Canisius Distinguished Lecture featuring Stanley Hauerwas, PhD, on Friday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Grupp Fireside Lounge of the Richard E. Winter ’42 Center. The lecture, entitled “Suffering Presence: 25 Years Later,” is free and open to the public. 

Named “America’s Best Theologian” by Time magazine, Hauerwas is the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at the Divinity School of Duke University. He holds a joint appointment at Duke Law School. 

Hauerwas focuses his research and writing on the virtues for understanding the nature of Christian life, the importance of the church, as well as the role of narrative for understanding Christian existence. His largely interdisciplinary work addresses systematic theology, philosophical theology and ethics, political theory, and the philosophy of social science and medical ethics. 

Hauerwas is the author or co-author of more than 30 books. His work, A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic was selected as one of the 100 most important books on religion of the 20^thcentury. Hauerwas recently authored Hannah’s Child: A Theologian’s Memoir and War and the American Difference. 

The Joseph J. Naples Conversations in Christ and Culture Lecture and Performance Series fosters conversations about important issues involving the relationship between Christianity and culture. It promotes cooperation and understanding across religious, gender and ethnic lines. The lecture series is sponsored by the Canisius University Institute for the Global Study of Religion (IGSOR) and the generosity of the ecumenical community of Western New York. 

For more information, contact Timothy Wadkins, PhD, professor of religious studies and director of IGSOR, at 716-888-2824. 

Canisius University is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.