Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion Welcomes Stephen Post

November 8, 2013
Stephen Post

Stephen Post courtesy photo.

Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMediaCom
Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Nov. 8, 2013) - Is it really better to give than to receive? That question, along with many others, will be discussed at a lecture hosted by the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion and presented by Stephen Post, Ph.D., at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Kayser Auditorium of the Hankamer School of Business.
Post, professor of preventive medicine and founding director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, will speak on the topic of giving. He will discuss whether or not doing so has a positive effect on one's health and answer the question, "is it really good to be good?"
Byron Johnson, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences and director of the Institute for Studies of Religion, said Post is a notable guest.
"We try to bring top scholars in their fields to campus all the time," he said. "Dr. Post just happens to be one of the most recognized and respected scholars we've ever had speak at Baylor."
Post has written nearly 200 articles and eight books on altruism, compassionate care and love. His 2011 book "The Hidden Gifts of Helping" was named a best-seller by the Wall Street Journal and he is the lead author of the popular trade book "Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Happier, Healthier Life by the Simple Act of Giving."
Post's work has been featured in periodicals such as Parade Magazine, the Oprah Magazine, and on such television shows as The Daily Show, 20/20 and Nightline.

Johnson said "anyone with a pulse" would enjoy the lecture and attendees will be impressed with Post's presentation.

"The audience will probably leave wondering how anyone can be that smart, funny, articulate and inspiring at the same time," he said.

The Hankamer School of Business is located at 1428 S. Fifth St. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Institute for Studies of Religion at (254) 710-7555.
by Kristen Bennett, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDIES OF RELIGION

Launched in August 2004, the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) exists to initiate, support and conduct research on religion, involving scholars and projects spanning the intellectual spectrum: history, psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, political science, epidemiology, theology and religious studies. The institute's mandate extends to all religions, everywhere, and throughout history, and embraces the study of religious effects on prosocial behavior, family life, population health, economic development and social conflict. While always striving for appropriate scientific objectivity, ISR scholars treat religion with the respect that sacred matters require and deserve. For more information, visit www.baylorisr.org