'University and Distinguished Professors Lecture Series' Honors Baylor Faculty

by Lillyan Baker, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
Dr. Ralph C. Wood, University Professor of Theology and Literature at Baylor University, will present "G.K. Chesterton and the Perennial Appeal of Christian Humanism" as part of the University and Distinguished Professors Lecture Series at 3:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10, in Miller Chapel in the Tidwell Bible Building on the Baylor campus. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.
In his lecture, Wood will discuss G.K. Chesterton's book, Orthodoxy, and the idea that "divine grace does not destroy but completes and perfects nature." Wood will examine the, "two forms of 'madness' that, for Chesterton, characterize our world: the insane rationalism that reduces the universe to material causation, and the equally insane irrationalism that denies all universal truth claims." Wood will conclude his lecture with Chesterton's solution which is found in Christian faith.
Wood has earned his title as University Professor through his many accomplishments, including a position as a board member of the Conference on Christianity and Literature, editor-at-large for the Christian Century and book review editor for Perspectives in Religious Studies.
As an author, Wood has written several faith-based books, including The Comedy of Redemption: Comic Vision and Christian Faith in Four American, Contending for the Faith: The Church's Engagement with Culture and The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-earth. He also has published more than 60 articles in several journals, including Modern Theology, Pro Ecclesia, Image, Christianity and Literature and Anglican Theological Review.
The lecture series was created to showcase faculty members who have given intellectual contributions to Baylor and beyond. Wood said he hopes for the lecture series is to highlight how University and Distinguished professors incorporate their Christian faith throughout their education.
For more information about the Lecture Series, please contact Ruth Prescott at (254) 710-6187.