Philosophers and theologians gather at McMaster
Four accomplished scholars met recently at McMaster Divinity College for a student organized conference to discuss the current dialogue or lack thereof between philosophy and theology in Canada and around the world.
McMaster's John Robertson, now professor emeritus of religious studies after 35 years, and Gary Madison, professor emeritus of philosophy after 26 years, joined John Russon, associate professor of philosophy at Guelph, and Theodore Plantinga, professor of philosophy at Redeemer University College, in the first annual encounter between two of the world's oldest dialogue partners faith and reason.
Each talk lasted roughly 30 minutes with an equal amount of time given to attendees to throw their own two cents into the ring if they so desired, and they did. Organizers noted how the conference could have gone on much longer had there not been time constraints.
“Next year we'll leave a lot more time for discussion and dialogue between talks,” said David Peck, a masters philosophy student from the University of Guelph. “We had to keep cutting people off in order to move on to the next speaker. The dialogue could have gone on all night.”
Greeted by eager and enthusiastic participants, Peck also commented, “We only advertised locally so we had hoped for a couple dozen people to come out and join in the discussion. We had no idea it would be a full house.”
With no predesignated issues or questions, speakers were able to discuss the current dynamic between philosophy and theology from their own unique background and strengths. It quickly became apparent to students and faculty visiting from across southern Ontario's universities, that they were in for an explosive array of perspectives theologically, religiously, and philosophically. The ensuing dialogue was not only between Christianity, Christian theology and North American Philosophy, but also between Contemporary European Philosophy, i.e., postmodernism, hermeneutics, phenomenology, etc., and religious and theological traditions such as Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Still, even with the diversity of perspectives most of the questions were still shared with great interest. Are theology and religion the same thing? How do we understand theology and philosophy in light of experience, science, belief, and faith? Do philosophy and theology compliment one another or correct the other in anyway? Do they share the future together?
