Addenda
A monthly e-mail newsletter from MARS HILL AUDIO
April 15, 2006 v Number 26
"Whatever claims North Americans make about the sincerity of their religious beliefs, we remain remarkably pragmatic people, more obviously concerned with the results of certain practices than with their meaning."
-- Joel Shuman & Brian Volck, M.D., Reclaiming the Body: Christians and the Faithful Use of Modern Medicine (Brazos Press, 2006)
New on our desks
Celebrating Mozart
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart, and Volume 80 of the Journal will feature an interview which explores the nature of the attractiveness in Mozart's music, especially among certain theologians. Meanwhile, whether you know Mozart's music well or not at all, you will learn a great deal (and delight a great deal) in listening to insightful discussions of Mozart's music on the BBC's Discovering Music program (or, to be more culturally sensitive, "programme"). [Read more on Celebrating Mozart]
Essays from Robert Jenson
On Volume 78 of the Journal, we featured an interview (with Mark Bauerlein) about the problem of university students disengaged from their studies. In my script, I argued that the Church should not accept (and adapt its ministry around) the various disorders of higher education, but should call the academy (as it calls government and other institutions) to fulfill its own peculiar excellence. [Read more on Essays from Robert Jenson]
Marcel Gauchet, The Disenchantment of the World: A Political History of Religion, trans. Oscar Burge (Princeton University Press, 1997)
On Volume 57 of the MARS HILL AUDIO Journal, sociologist Steve Bruce discussed his book God Is Dead: Secularization in the West; he asserted that while many people believe in some sort of religion, religion no longer shapes the body politic. His understanding of secularization is one supported by French author Marcel Gauchet, who was interviewed for the daily Le Monde in March, 2006. [Read more on Marcel Gauchet]
Coming Soon . . .
For those who have been wondering when MARS HILL AUDIO is going to offer more of its material online, we have good news: coming soon is an MHA online mp3 store. Not only will subscriptions to the Journal be available as zip files for downloading, but many of MHA's back issues and other products will also be accessible as such. [Read more on Coming Soon . . .]
John Henry Newman
On Volume 52 of the MARS HILL AUDIO Journal, guest Ian Ker discussed his book The Achievement of John Henry Newman. Those who took a particular interest in this interview will be pleased to know about the "Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman" web page, a veritable treasure trove of links to articles by and information about Newman. The dozens of resources available include biographies and bibliographies of both primary and secondary works.
Language and a Ramified Christianity
"Word and language form the medium that sustains the common existence of the human spirit as such. The reality of the word in eminent ways makes existential interaction happen. And so, if the word becomes corrupted, human existence itself will not remain unaffected and untainted." This statement by Josef Pieper, taken from Abuse of Language, Abuse of Power, underscores the centrality of language for our identity as human beings; we could not be human without it. What are the characteristic ways in which language is used or abused in our time? In what ways has the Church been complicit in abuses of language? How might it be a better steward of this the gift of language?
Ken Myers addresses these and other themes in the Spring 2006 fundraising letter that will soon be sent out to subscribers. You may access this essay on language online, rather than wait for your copy to arrive in the mail. And if you are likewise impatient to wait for the contribution form to arrive in the mail, you may make a contribution to Mars Hill Audio using our secure server. Contributions account for around 25% of our annual income, so we are very grateful to all who give to us in addition to purchasing a subscription.
Neuroethics: The New Frontier
The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity presents its 13th Annual Conference on Bioethics July 13 through 19, 2006, at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. "Neuroethics: The New Frontier" is described as a "major international conference on the ethical implications of neuroscience." Speakers, presenters, and session leaders include John F. Kilner, J. P. Moreland, Susan Haack, and Edmund Pellegrino.
For further information see the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity website (www.cbhd.org) or call 1.888.317.8101.
Subscriber Update
Volume 79 (March/April 2006) of the MARS HILL AUDIO Journal is being duplicated and will be in the mail by the end of April. You may view this issue's guestlist online; and you may listen to the CD bonus track (scroll to the bottom of the page), which features Roger Lundin, on the necessity of humility in the writing of biographies.
Various Details, Disclaimers, Etc.
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Copyright 2006 MARS HILL AUDIO, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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