2012 Keynote Speakers
Noted experts come from all over the world to take part in the discussions at The Westminster Symposium. This year's topic, “Religious Experience in a Global Society,” will feature the following keynote speakers:
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Dr. Cliff Cain, Professor of Religious Studies at Westminster College and Chair of the 7th Annual Westminster Symposium Committee (Fulton, MO)
Dr. Cain will give remarks opening the Westminster Symposium on Religious Experience in a Global Society, “framing” the discussion. He is an ordained minister recognized by the Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, and American Baptist. He specializes in world religions, religion and science, and contemporary theology. Dr. Cain is the author of Many Heavens, One Earth: Readings on Religion and the Environment. |
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Dr. J. Baird Callicott, University Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Texas (Denton, TX)
Dr. Callicott is an expert in Asian religions and has been at the forefront of the new field of environmental philosophy and ethics. He will speak about the conversation among all the world religions regarding environmental issues. Dr. Callicott’s research focuses on theoretical environmental ethics; the philosophy of ecology and conservation policy; and biocomplexity in the environment. He is co-Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy and author of books such as In Defense of the Land Ethic and Earth's Insights . Check out his website. |
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Dr. R. Douglas Geivett, Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Biola University (La Mirada, CA)
Dr. Geivett specializes in the areas of epistemology, philosophy of religion, and philosophical theology. He will discuss the existence of God and the role and importance of theism and belief in God. Dr. Geivett is the author of Evil and the Evidence for God and co-editor of Contemporary Perspectives on Religious Epistemology and In Defense of Miracles: A Comprehensive Case for God's Action in History . Read his blog.
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Mr. Dan Barker, Co-President of the Freedom from Religion Foundation (Madison, WI)
Mr. Barker is a former minister and now an atheist. He will argue the grounds for the non-existence of God, the atheist’s perspective, and the belief in atheism. Ordained in 1975, Mr. Barker spent much of his life preaching before announcing his atheism publicly. He has written many books, including Godless and The Good Atheist .
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Dr. David Shaner, Herring Professor of Asian Studies and Philosophy at Furman University (Greenville, SC)
Dr. Shaner is an expert in Zen Buddhism and specializes in Asian philosophy and philosophy of science. Dr. Shaner will speak on religion and ethics in business in a global context. He recently published The Seven Arts of Change: Leading Business Transformation That Lasts . He also holds advanced degrees in the martial arts. Visit his website. |
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Dr. Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education (Oakland, CA)
Dr. Scott is a physical anthropologist and former university professor specializing in the creationism/evolution controversy. She will discuss evolution and creation and how it fits into the context of religious and non-religious worldviews. She is the author of Evolution vs Creationism and co-editor of Not in Our Classrooms: Why Intelligent Design Is Wrong for Our Schools . |