Economics and Christian Desire
Black Friday, Occupy Wall Street, economic instability – these topics are front and centre in public discourse – and front and centre at this season’s King’s University College’s semi-annual Interdisciplinary Studies conference as well. Our theme is “You’re Richer WHEN you Think” – a play on the popular Scotiabank slogan. Globally, we are the 5%, not the 99%, and because of this often spend money too freely – buying anything we please without much thought. This conference will practically challenge students to see their spending choices as a voice that reflects their own Christian values. There will be plenary sessions as well as several breakout sessions ranging from topics of fair trade to personal budgeting. Other events include a Fair Trade Fair and Open Mic Night. Admission is free of charge and open to the public.
WHAT IS THE I.S. CONFERENCE?
The I.S. Conference is King’s unique, semi-annual, all-campus event. Regular classes are suspended in favor of presentations by special guests, workshops, films, concerts, break out sessions and more. All this is intended to encourage an exploration of a particular topic from multiple perspectives.
WHY A CONFERENCE
Because some topics are so important and have so many interesting angles of discovery, that the best way to approach them is in a conference setting.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE CONFERENCE?
Everyone who wants to be illuminated, exhilarated, emancipated,
elucidated, inspired, wisened, treated royally … And everyone who
wishes to graduate, because in order to graduate from King’s you need 3
credits of I.S. and you can earn these by simply attending conferences.
If
you are a full-time student (not in the B.Ed. after-degree program)
taking three or more courses, you MUST attend and should already be
registered for the I.S. conference.
This conference is free of charge and open to the public. All are encouraged to attend.
WHAT NEXT: 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD STEPS
Step 1. You need to register for the conference. You have
already registered during the general registration, but on Tuesday, January 17, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. show up at the registration table (in the
hallway by the cafeteria Tuesday, or by the Gym Wednesday morning) get
signed in and pick up your registration packet.
Step 3. Complete the assignment as described in your registration packet.
If you have any questions about this information, please contact Roy Berkenbosch, roy.berkenbosch@kingsu.ca or 780-465-3500 ext. 8070
MAIN SPEAKERS
Scott Bader-Saye
Scott Bader-Saye is Professor of Christian Ethics and Moral Theology at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. A graduate of Davidson College (A.B.), Yale Divinity School (M.Div.), and Duke University (Ph.D.), he teaches and writes in the areas of politics, economy, culture, and Jewish-Christian-Muslim dialogue. His publications include Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear and Church and Israel After Christendom. He also serves as Theologian in Residence at St. Julian of Norwich Episcopal Church, a mission in northwest Austin.
William Cavanaugh
William Cavanaugh is Professor of Catholic Studies and Senior Research Fellow, CWCIT DePaul University.
He received a B.A. in theology from Notre Dame in 1984, and an M.A. from Cambridge University in 1987. After working as a lay associate with the Holy Cross order in a poor area of Santiago, Chile, Cavanaugh worked at the Center for Civil and Human Rights at the Notre Dame Law School. He then studied at Duke University, where he received a Ph.D. in religion in 1996. Cavanaugh specializes in political theology, economic ethics, and ecclesiology. In addition to many journal articles, he has published the following books: Torture and Eucharist (Blackwell, 1998), Theopolitical Imagination (T. & T. Clark, 2002), Being Consumed (Eerdman, 2008), and The Myth of Religious Violence (Oxford University Press, 2009). He is a popular speaker, having given invited talks at dozens of universities in the United States, as well as in Australia, Canada, England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Sweden.
Aiden Enns
Aiden Enns is the co-founder and editor of Geez magazine, a quarterly 80-page magazine based in Winnipeg which has won numerous awards. It strives for "holy mischief in an age of fast faith."
To challenge our consumer habits, every winter he volunteers with a little campaign called Buy Nothing Christmas. He has previously been on the "100-mile Diet" -- for 100 days you eat food grown within 100 miles -- and discovered it's a lot easier with a strong supportive community.
He holds graduate degrees in journalism (from UBC) and religion (from University of Manitoba), is a sessional instructor at Menno Simons College (affiliated with the University of Winnipeg), and is a former managing editor of Adbusters magazine and letters editor at the Vancouver Sun.