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Christian Philosophy Conference to Discuss ‘Divine Communication’

April 2, 2009


Plenary session speakers at the event include Sandra Menssen and Thomas D. Sullivan, whose presentation is titled "Giving Revelation Its Due;" Jonathan Kvanig, whose presentation is titled "Religious Pluralism and the Buridan's Ass Paradox;" and Thomas Crisp, whose presentation is titled "On Believing that the Bible is Divinely Inspired."

"The SCP is a national organization that exists to promote fellowship among Christian Philosophers and to stimulate study and discussion of issues which arise from their Christian and philosophical commitments," said Dr. John Mullen, OBU assistant professor of philosophy. "Keynote speakers will explore some philosophical implications of the Christian doctrine that God has communicated to humanity by revealing Himself specially in Christ and in Scripture. This is a topic of general interest to all Christians, so non-philosophers are encouraged to attend."

The event will also feature papers presented by society members. Though the plenary sessions are focused on the epistemology of divine revelation, the conference theme is intended to refer to communication in both directions; prayer and its efficacy, and hermeneutical issues, also will be discussed.

The public is invited to attend the first and second plenary sessions on Thursday from 7:30-9 p.m. and Friday from 1:30-3 p.m. in Bailey Business Center's Tulsa Royalties Auditorium. Other sessions are reserved for conference registrants.

An ecumenical chapel service is planned for 5:45 p.m. on Friday, April 24, in Stubblefield Chapel on Bison Hill. The service will be led by Dr. Randy Ridenour, OBU associate professor of philosophy. Other plans include a Friday evening banquet and a Saturday panel discussion featuring the plenary session speakers.

The plenary session speakers represent different universities and a variety of philosophical topics. Sandra Menssen is professor of philosophy and chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Thomas D. Sullivan is professor of philosophy and Aquinas Chair in Philosophy and Theology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Menssen and Sullivan co‑authored "The Agnostic Inquirer: Revelation from a Philosophical Standpoint" (Eerdmans, 2007).


Jonathan Kvanvig is distinguished professor of philosophy at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is the administrator of Certain Doubts, a weblog devoted to epistemological issues, and the editor of "Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Religion," a series of volumes of original essays in the philosophy of religion.

Thomas Crisp is associate professor of philosophy at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif. He is the co-editor of "Knowledge and Reality: Essays in Honor of Alvin Plantinga" (Springer, 2006).

The Society of Christian Philosophers was organized in 1978 to promote fellowship among Christian philosophers and to stimulate study and discussion of issues which arise from their Christian and philosophical commitments. The Society is open to anyone interested in philosophy who considers himself or herself a Christian. Membership is not restricted to any particular "school" of philosophy or to any branch of Christianity, nor to professional philosophers.

Registration for The Society of Christian Philosophers' Midwestern Regional Meeting is $90; Student registration is $45. Checks may be sent to: Janet Burns, School of Christian Service, Oklahoma Baptist University, 500 W. University St., Shawnee, OK 74804. To register online, go to www.obuphilosophy.com/obu/scp.html and select "Registration."