Baylor to Host Philosophy of Religion Conference

by Jaime Bates, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

Baylor University will host the Fourth annual Philosophy of Religion Conference Feb. 5-7. There will be two keynote presentations open to the public, in addition to regular conference sessions.

The conference is a small, research-oriented workshop focusing on a variety of topics in the philosophy of religion. The topics of the sessions are chosen by the presenters, selected for their reputation within the academic discipline.

Dr. Paul Moser will give the first keynote presentation, "God as Cognitive Ground: Doing Without Natural Theology," from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, in the Treasure Room of the Armstrong Browning Library on the Baylor campus.

Moser received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Vanderbilt University in 1982. He is the editor of American Philosophy Quarterly and is currently a professor and chairperson of philosophy at Loyola University, Chicago. Moser has authored and edited numerous books and articles including his latest book, The Elusive God: Reorienting Religious Epistemology. Moser specializes in the theory of knowledge and the philosophy of religion.

Dr. John M. Fischer will give the second keynote presentation, "Stories, Freedom, and the Meaning of Life," from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, also in the Treasure Room of Armstrong Browning Library.

Fischer is a professor pf philosophy at the University of California, Riverside. He received his Ph.D. in 1982 from Cornell University. Fischer specializes in metaphysics and philosophy of religion. He is the author of several books and articles, including Responsibility and Control: A Theory of Moral Responsibility, which he co-authored with Mark Ravizza. Recently, Fischer contributed to Four Views on Free Will, in Blackwell's Great Debates in Philosophy series.

"These conferences are essential for putting Baylor on the map as a major research university," said Dr. Jonathan Kvanvig, Distinguished professor of Philosophy at Baylor who organized the conference. "The best philosophers of religion come to campus and see the quality of work being done here and the quality of people who work here."

Other presentations include:
Dr. Daniel Bonevac - TBD
Dr. John M. Fischer - "Stories, Freedom, and the Meaning of Life"
Mr. Luke Gelinas - "Reactive Attitudes and Models of God"
Dr. Neal Judisch - "Sanctification, Satisfaction, and the Purpose of Purgatory"
Dr. Paul Moser - "God as Cognitive Ground: Doing Without Natural Theology"
Dr. Yujin Nagasawa - "God and Universal Value Commensurability"
Dr. Samuel Newlands - "Theodicies, Adams, and the Recognition of Goodness"
Dr. Erik Wielenberg - "Skeptical Theism and Divine Lies"
Dr. Stephen Wykstra - "CORNEA 1984-2009: In Memoriam?"

To take part in the sessions, contact Kvanvig by phone at (254) 710-6364 or by email at Jonathan_Kvanvig@baylor.edu.