Methodist University Department of Philosophy and Religion

Lecture Series

Bullard-Templeton Lecture Series
This series, originally begun in 2000 under a Templeton grant, was renamed in 2006 after Howard A. Bullard, Jr. and Marta Bullard. Their generosity has helped establish an endowment at Methodist University that funds this ongoing annual lecture series. These lectures are offered to the Methodist University and larger Cumberland County communities and is designed to explore the relationship between science and religion.

Recent Lectures

2008: "On Space and Spirit: God, Physics, and the Culture Wars" by Margaret Wertheim
2007: "Anti-evolution in America: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design" by Ronald Numbers
2006: "The Beginning and End of the Universe" by William Lane Craig
2005: "Galileo Still Haunts the Church" by George Coyne
2003: "Has Science Discovered God?" by Michael Corey
2002: "Creation and Evolution in America: From Natural Selection to Intelligent Design" by Ronald Numbers
2001: "God and Physics: A Brief History" by Margaret Wertheim
2000: "When the Sacred Cows of Religion and Science Meet" by George Coyne

Wesley Heritage Celebration
The Wesley Heritage Celebration's benefactors, Dr. L. Elbert Wethington and his wife, Lois, have graciously provided the endowment for the Wesley Heritage programs, which is administered through the United Methodist Foundation. The monies from this endowment can be used for lectures, dramas, library resources, workshops, special faculty studies, ecumenical conversations, course offerings, a visiting Wesley scholar, or other approved projects.

Dr. Wethington was an educator in the US and the Philippines for many years and since 1990 has served as president of the Wesley Heritage Foundation. Through the years, he and his wife have donated several books and collections to Methodist University, including Mrs. Wethington's book, Visual Poetry: My Journey into Chinese Painting and a set of John Wesley's works in Spanish entitled Obras de Wesley, 14 volumes.

Recent Events

2006: "The Whole Wesley's Mission of Holistic Salvation: A Model for Today" by Randy L. Maddox
2005: "Sweet Singer: A musical play about Charles Wesley, the Sweet Singer of Methodism" by Steven Kimbrough with Timothy E. Kimbrough
2004: "A Matter of Heart and Life: John Wesley's Protestant Course-Correction" by David Lowes Watson
2004: "Afternoon Tea with John Wesley" by Denny Wise

Womack Lecture Series
This endowed, annual lecture series intends to promote public awareness of religious scholarship by bringing an expert in the field of religion, philosophy, or ethics to Methodist University to deliver two scholarly lectures. The series recognizes the university's commitment to religion and its ecumenical spirit. The series broadens student's liberal arts education, raises moral and spiritual issues in the public consciousness, and provides an educational and cultural service to the community. The lecture is named for and honors Dr. Samuel J. Womack and Mrs. Norma Womack.

Dr. Samuel J. Womack was Methodist University's first instructor in religion and a member of the original faculty of the college in 1960. He organized the Department of Philosophy and Religion and began its operations. He was the college's first chaplain and the first chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion. In 1965 he became Academic Dean. He served in that capacity for fourteen years while continuing to teach religion courses. In 1979 he left the Office of the Dean and returned to full-time teaching in philosophy and religion until his retirement in 1984.

Mrs. Norma Womack was a Methodist University graduate. She became a college librarian in1965 and head librarian in 1979. She retired in 1988.

Recent Lectures

2008: "Alternative Religious Movements in American History" and
"Reflections on the Globalization of American Religion" by Stephen Stein
2007: "The Golden Rule on Classical Judaism" and "Resources of Religious Toleration in Formative Judaism" by Jacob Neusner
2006: "Walls Come Tumblin' Down: American Protestants and the First Amendment" and "Creationism by Design: The Religious Right's Quest for Academic Legitimacy" by Randall Balmer
2005: "Capturing Jesus on Film: Pictures We Like to See" and "Being the Perfect Audience" by Clayton Jefford
2005: "When Religion Becomes Evil" by Charles Kimball
2004: "All About Eve" and "Hidden Power: Women's Religious Culture in Ancient Israel" by Carol Meyers
2003: "The Advantages of Virtues: Practical and Theoretical" and "Races and Persons" by Jorge L. A. Garcia
2002: "'God the Father': A Critique," "'The Trinity': A Recasting" by Ferederick Ferré
2001: "Human Spirit in the Third Millennium" and "Common Vision of the World's Religions" by Huston Smith
2000: "The Medieval Stained Glass and Sculpture of Chartres Cathedral" by Malcolm Miller
2000: "Jesus in the Culture Wars" and "Why the Humanity of Jesus is Important" by Luke Timothy Johnson
1999: "Solomon and the Global Economy" and "Thinking Otherwise: Elijah's Wild Card" by Walter Brueggemann
1998: "Dying as a Christian in a Post-Christian Age" and "Re-Thinking American Health Care" by H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr.
1997: "The Dead Sea Scrolls Revisited" and "Luke and Scripture" by James A. Sanders
1996: "The Ethics of War: Realism Reconsidered" and "Pacifism Reconsidered" by Stanley Hauerwas
1995: "Denominationalism: End or Beginning" and "Reforming the Connection" by Russell Earle Richey
1995: "Albert Schweitzer and the Historical Jesus" and "From Schweitzer to the Jesus Seminar" by Walter Weaver

Department of Philosophy and Religion