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Boston College

Boston College is a coeducational university with undergraduate and graduate students hailing from every state and more than 95 countries. Founded in 1863, it is one of the oldest Jesuit, Catholic universities in the United States.

Since its founding in 1957, the Lowell Humanities Series has brought distinguished writers, artists, performers, and scholars to Boston College. Follow the series on Twitter at @BCLowellHS .

http://www.bc.edu

Faith and the Future of American Religion

Tue, Nov 4, 2003

Five journalists and scholars explore the changing landscape of American faith, using as a starting point two recent books: *A People Adrift: The Crisis of the Catholic Church in America*, by *New York Times* religion correspondent and former *Commonwealth* editor Peter Steinfels; and *The Transformation of American Religion: How We Actually Live Our Faith*, by Boston College political science professor and Boisi Center director Alan Wolfe. Steinfels and Wolfe are joined on the panel by R. Scott Appleby, director of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and professor of history at Notre Dame; David Brooks, a columnist for *The New York Times*; and Wendy Kaminer, contributing editor of *The Atlantic Monthly*. The panel is introduced by moderator Ben Birnbaum, special assistant to the president and editor of *Boston College Magazine*.

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Politics of Sexual Knowledge: The Carrigan Report

Mon, Sep 22, 2003

Professor James Smith of Boston College's English department discusses the beginnings of an "architecture of containment" in Ireland, constructed to silence those whose sexual behavior or family circumstances contradicted an emerging image of Irish Catholic identity. James O'Toole, history professor at Boston College, responds. This talk is the second in the series "Ireland Before the Republic: Culture and Politics 1922-1949." Smith is introduced by Robin Lydenberg, English professor at Boston College.

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Meet the Poet: Naomi Shihab Nye

Mon, Feb 9, 2004

Naomi Shihab Nye, award-winning author of poetry for adults and children, reads from her work, which includes 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, Fuel, and Red Suitcase. Nye is introduced by Susan Roberts of the Boston College English department.

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Is America a Christian Nation?

Fri, Feb 6, 2004

Hugh Heclo, the Clarence J. Robinson professor of public affairs at George Mason University, discusses the role of Christianity in American law, public institutions, and culture. Boston College professor of political science Dennis Hale provides the introduction.

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Alan Keyes on the Challenge of Gay Marriage

Tue, Mar 9, 2004

Alan Keyes, former US representative to the United Nations, and two-time candidate for the Republican nomination for president, offers an argument in opposition to gay marriage. Keyes bases his argument on a biblically-derived Christian understanding of marriage as sacrament, and a social understanding of heterosexual marriage as a necessary foundation for society. Keyes is introduced by Luke Howe, a UGBC executive and a sophomore in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. This lecture is sponsored by the Undergraduate Government of Boston College and the College Republicans of Boston College

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Christian Appy: Vietnam War From All Sides

Tue, Apr 22, 2003

Christian Appy, associate professor of history at MIT and author of Working-Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam, reflects on various American interpretations of the Vietnam War. Appy is introduced by Carlo Rotella, professor of English at Boston College.

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Lessons from the Holocaust

Thu, Nov 6, 2003

Alan Berger, the Raddock Chair of Holocaust Studies at Florida Atlantic University, talks about educating students for altruism, and the lessons that can be learned from Holocaust rescuers. Berger is introduced by Philip Cunningham, executive director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning.

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Frankenstein: Protestant, Catholic, Atheist

Wed, Feb 26, 2003

Judith Wilt explores Protestant and Catholic themes in the famous Gothic fable by atheist Mary Shelley. Wilt also reviews various critical views of Frankenstein, from the 1950s through the present day. Wilt is introduced by Dennis Taylor, editor, Journal of Religion and the Arts. **Judith Wilt** holds the Newton College Alumnae Chair in Western Culture at Boston College.

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Religion and Faith-Based Initiatives in Urban Communities

Tue, Oct 21, 2003

Former Indianapolis mayor Stephen Goldsmith, special advisor to President Bush on faith-based and not-for-profit initiatives, keynotes a panel discussion on the role of religion in American cities. The panel also includes Boston College political science professor Marc Landy, Thomas Massaro, of the Weston School of Theology, and Lynch School of Education Interim Dean Joseph O'Keefe. Boston College political science professor Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center, moderates. Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, Joseph Quinn, provides the introduction.

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State of the Urban Environment

Wed, Jul 28, 2004

Delivering the Urban Ecology annual keynote address, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks about the importance of urban ecosystems in a healthy environment. He explains how the straining effects of suburban sprawl and urban populations threaten the economy, ecology, and public health in cities in New England.

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