Christians have a habit of opposing positive social change, until it occurs, at which point they take credit for it. (Years from now, you can expect them to take credit for legalizing same-sex marriage.)

Many Christian scholars have argued that reliance on Biblical principles eventually led to the abolition of slavery by Western civilization. Our October speaker, Dr. Hector Avalos, will show that it was the abandonment of Biblical authority that had a much greater influence on ending a horrific institution that had lasted thousands of years.

The presentation will focus specifically on how Frederick Douglass, the well known African American abolitionist, represented the shift away from using the Bible, and increasingly toward secular humanism to support abolitionist rationales.

The talk is based on Dr. Avalos’ forthcoming book, Slavery, Abolitionism, and the Ethics of Biblical Scholarship, slated to be published this fall by Sheffield Phoenix Press, one of the premier publishers in Biblical Studies.

Dr. Hector Avalos is a Professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.  This is the sixth October in a row that he has generously given of his time to drive to Minnesota to give us a presentation. There is no one better at methodically dissecting religious arguments. This is an intellectual treat not to be missed!

If You Go...

When:
Sunday, October 16, 2011

Where:
Maplewood Library
3025 Southlawn Drive
Maplewood, 55109
(west side of Maplewood Mall)

Schedule:
1:00-1:15 p.m. – Social time
1:15-1:45 p.m. – Business Meeting
1:45-2:00 p.m. – Break
2:00-3:30 p.m. – Presentation
4:00-whenever – Dinner