Fall Philosophy Forum Series Kicks off Sept. 14 with Dr. Matthew Halsted

Oklahoma Baptist University kicks off its 2018-19 Philosophy Forum series beginning Friday, Sept. 14. The first event features guest speaker Dr. Matthew Halsted, pastor of First Baptist Church of McLoud, Oklahoma. His lecture titled “The Value of Philosophy in Theological Studies” will take place in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in Bailey Business Center from 4-5:15 p.m.

Halsted began serving as the pastor of FBC, McLoud, in 2012. He graduated from Rose State College and the University of Central Oklahoma with degrees in international studies and philosophy. He also holds a Ph.D. from the London School of Theology/Middlesex University (UK) for his research on biblical intertextuality and philosophical hermeneutics.

The second Philosophy Forum event will take place Friday, Oct. 12. This forum will likewise be held in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in Bailey Business Center from 4-5:15 p.m. The announcement for the guest speaker is pending.

OBU’s own Dr. Tawa Anderson, associate professor of philosophy and director of the honors program, will speak at the November forum Friday, Nov. 9. His lecture is titled “Pascalian Prudence, Virtue, and the Necessity of A-Apatheism.” Apatheism is apathy (laziness or unconcern) about theism (the existence, nature, and expectations of God), and characterizes an increasing segment of post-Christian Western society. Anderson will discuss the issue and present a responsive paper from Dr. Randal Rauser, professor of theology and culture at Taylor Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta. The forum will take place in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in Bailey Business Center from 4-5:15 pm.

To wrap up the fall Philosophy Forums, a mock debate on the question, “Does God Exist?” will be held Friday, Dec. 7. The debate will feature Anderson in the negative and senior biblical languages major Jonathan Knox in the affirmative. The debate will take place in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in Bailey Business Center from 4-5:15 pm.

To kick off the 2019 portion of the Philosophy Forum series, OBU will host Dr. Gary Habermas in January. Habermas is a research professor of philosophy at Liberty University and one of the world’s leading scholars on the resurrection of Jesus. He will be on campus for the Christian Worldview plenary lectures and will present five lectures that are open to the public. These lectures will take place Monday, Jan. 14, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 7 p.m., as well as Tuesday, Jan. 15, at both 9 and 11 a.m.