Exploring Boundaries…and Beyond (EBB) is a monthly series of presentations that explore ideas and values at the boundaries where our faith meets the rest of the world. The range of topics is intentionally broad, reflecting the scope of interests and concerns within our faith community. Our speakers, all recognized in their fields, are drawn from LCH, the universities, and the wider community. Bring your questions!
EBB takes place on the third Sunday of each month during the school year at 6:00 pm. These evenings are free and open to the public. Please invite your friends and family.
Presentations
Each month’s presentation and discussion will take place in Isenberg Hall from 6:00 until 7:15 pm.
Scheduled presentations for this year include:
| Date | Speaker and Title |
|---|---|
| September 20 | Ayesha Nibbe, Ph.D. in anthropology—Dr. Nibbe a professor at Hawai‘i Pacific University, has lived, worked, and researched in far-reaching areas such as Pakistan, the Amazon, India, Cuba, and Uganda and informs us that “boundaries” are what anthropology is all about—boundaries of class, race, gender, ethnicity, etc. |
| October 18 | Michael Molloy speaks on Religious Pluralism—“Christians and People of Other Faiths”—Christians today often meet people of other religious backgrounds. What can we learn from them? What can they learn from us? Our featured speaker this evening is Mike Molloy, a student, teacher, and practitioner of the great religions of the world. Retired from a long teaching career at Kapi‘olani Community College and author of Experiencing the World’s Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change, a commonly used textbook now in the 6th edition, Mike has traveled the world to personally experience the diverse spiritual beliefs of humankind embodied in religious practice. He will lead us in discussion as we explore ways to honor other faith traditions even as we find greater understanding of our own. |
| November 15 | Patti Epler, editorial director and general manager at Civil Beat—“Ethical Issues in Reporting the News”—Patti began her long career in journalism in 1976, serving newspapers in several states. Some of the events she covered include the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, quality of life for Alaska native peoples, and immigration enforcement practices along the southern US border.
According to her bio on the Civil Beat website, “Patti is an old-school investigative journalist in a new media world. She still values solid relationships with news sources and strong journalistic ethics. Like many of her colleagues, she’s been laid off (more than once) from what were once vibrant and thriving newspapers. She is now a true believer in online journalism and all that the Internet has to offer news operations.” She joined Civil Beat in 2011. The transition from print to digital news is just one of the “boundaries” Patti will guide us across. |
| December 6 | Robert Joseph, Ph.D. in astronomy—“The Star of Bethlehem”—What is it about the Star of Bethlehem that has captivated our imaginations for two millennia? This major feature in the Nativity narratives in Matthew’s Gospel has become an important, mysterious symbol of our faith. The star has fascinated people for two millennia, and efforts to understand the reality behind the phenomenon continue today. No theory has proved satisfactory to all who study this question, but our speaker, astronomer Dr. Robert Joseph, continues his research and has a new theory to share with us.
Dr. Joseph’s illustrated lecture will describe some of the historical interpretations of the Star of Bethlehem and show some of the astronomical events that might have represented the star. Recent research has led to a completely new understanding of the story of the Wise Men from the East and the Star they followed. Dr. Joseph will show how this new interpretation finally makes astronomical, astrological, historical, and textual sense of the events recorded in Matthew’s Gospel. Bob Joseph is an Astronomer in the Institute for Astronomy (IfA), UH Mānoa, where he teaches the general education survey of astronomy, graduate courses in cosmology, and honors courses in science and religion. For many years he served as director of the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea. His research interests are in extragalactic astronomy, especially the astrophysical effects of collisions between galaxies. An active member of Calvary-By-the-Sea (CBTS) Lutheran Church, Bob has chaired their Peace & Social Justice Committee and is on the Council. He also sings baritone in the Symphony Chorus and the CBTS Choir. And, for good measure, Asteroid 7159 was named “Bobjoseph” by the International Astronomical Union. |
| January 17 | Tamara Albertini, professor of Renaissance and Islamic philosophy in the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s department of philosophy—Growing up in Tunisia, Prof. Albertini absorbed the culture, Arabic language, and history of this vibrant Islamic country. She has built her academic career on the study of the great philosophers and philosophical traditions that for centuries have shaped the development of Islam. She also specializes in the interrelationship of Islamic and European Renaissance philosophy, an exchange from which the West gained enormously.
Tamara’s presentation will help explain the difference between today’s purist salafiyya (Arabic for “getting back to the roots”) thinking and the original 19th century salafiyya, which was about rejuvenating, reforming Muslim societies, and bridging differences between Islam and Christianity as well as Sunni and Shi’a Islam. Tamara travelled to Tunisia last summer, and has posted her travel journals in a blog. She shares her reflections at www.travelofadiasporicself.com. This fall, four Tunisians won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for their roles in guiding that country’s 2011 Jasmine Revolution to a peaceful conclusion. This peace is always fragile; Tunisia has experienced violent acts recently but continues to hold together with democratic institutions in place and functioning. |
| February 21 | How Sweet the Sound: An Evening of Spirituals—Exploring Boundaries will not be held so that people may attend the concert at 5::00 pm. |
| March 20 | Mālama Honua: The Spirit of Hōkūle‘a and the Polynesian Voyaging Society by Harrison “Fa’atau” Togia—This presentation focuses on the history and objectives of the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), which include the contribution of knowledge of indigenous peoples to solutions for our global problems of poverty, environment, and sustainability.
Harrison currently teaches courses in physics and geology at the University of Hawai‘i—West O‘ahu. His graduate work at UHM under Dr. Clint Conrad included investigations into the formation of the sea floor around island groups. Harrison is also a training member of the PVS, now known worldwide for the global voyages of the Hōkūle’a and the Hikianalia. |
| April 17 | No Exploring Boundaries for the month of April |
| May 15 | Dr. O’Harrow, Professor of Philology and the Director, Center for Southeast Asian Studies at University of Hawaii at Mānoa—Based on the study of philology (the study of texts, especially early texts, in their historical, social, and archeological contexts), Dr. O’Harrow uses words and concepts from Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic to investigate connections in the early histories between these two great monotheistic religions, Christianity and Islam. He will especially focus on the evolving figure of the Virgin Mary. |
Evening Prayer
Following the presentation, you are welcome to join the evening prayer service from 7:30 to 8:00 pm.
Evening Prayer will be a participatory half-hour service of hymns, prayers, readings, and choir music. The atmosphere will be quiet and meditative. Evening Prayer will be offered on the first and third Sunday of each month at 7:30 pm, unless precluded by another event.