Seminars and Educational Resources Available
for Faith and Community Organization Presentations
The speaker for the following seminars is Dr. Scott B. Key, Vice President for Academic Initiatives, CSLSC.
- An Introduction to the Biblical Worldview – presents the basic contours of historical Christianity and to the concept of worldviews. This discussion uses a PowerPoint and can be adequately covered between 60 to 90 minutes.
- An Introduction to the Chronicles of Narnia – provides “grown-ups” a look at the Narnia volumes as a multi-layered work that illuminates our understanding of the Gospel and our lives as followers of Christ. This discussion uses a PowerPoint and readings from the Chronicles. The length can vary according to the available timeframe.
- Is Theology Poetry? This essay written by C. S. Lewis for the Socratic Club in Oxford seeks to answer a challenge to Christianity. It is an illuminating essay and easily available online or in the collection of essays entitled: The Weight of Glory. Reading the essay prior to the discussion would enliven the discussion but is not absolutely necessary. This discussion can be completed within 60 to 90 minutes.
- Dr. Cornelius and the Call to Virtuous Learning: Prince Caspian and The Abolition of Man – is a brief paper that can be read in 25 minutes and will serve as an introduction to a discussion about Christian centered education, the cultural context in which we live, and the importance of the life of virtue.
- Virtue and Truth: Aristotle in Middle Earth – is a brief paper which introduces the concept of virtue and points to the importance of the virtue of practical reason in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. This discussion can be covered in 60 minutes or less.
- The Problem of Truth – is a PowerPoint based discussion of the nature of truth understood within the contours of the Christian worldview. In addition to introducing the philosophical discussion concerning truth, it leads to very practical application for the Christ follower. This discussion can be covered in 60 minutes.
- The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis – is one of his most challenging works. This discussion seeks to present the basic ideas of the argument and provide the philosophical and theological foundations of this very relevant work. This discussion needs two hours.
- The Importance of Christian Higher Education – offers a brief presentation and discussion of the need for Christian Higher Education in our day. The length of time is variable and depends upon the interest and the discussion.
The Speaker for the following seminars is Brad Davis, Senior Fellow, CSLSC.
- Annotated Poetry Reading – is a reading of Davis’ poems taken from his six books, with discussion of their inspiration, aim, craft, and challenge. The thematic focus for a reading is negotiable for each particular event. Past themes include “Poetry as Digging Out from Under,” “Writing in the World from Faith,” and “Taking In the Horizons of One’s Experience.”
- Sacred Art / Missional Art / Secular Art – presents around recognizable distinctions in literary art particular to its intended audience. As well, this talk takes on the pressure put upon many Christian writers to focus their art on conspicuously (and safely) Christian subjects and themes, “for the edification of the saints.” It discusses the risks and rewards of being an artist of faith and
writing for any and all audiences. - The Poetry of Conversion – is based on thinking and writing begun by Davis during his MFA in Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Looking at the work of such poets as Denise Levertov and John Berryman, this talk considers how a poet’s writing develops as they undergo a worldview sea change—what religious people call “conversion.” Employing Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions for metaphorical scaffolding, it includes selections of the
poets’ work as support for its thesis. - Place & Possibility – assumes the extraordinary wonder of the ordinary, whatever is particular to any place whatsoever, and how place inspires possibility. This talk begins with a sober sense of where we are in the cosmos—“how small it all is from the moon”—and moves into considering implications of the Incarnation for how we understand ourselves and our being here. This talk is easily combined with a creative workshop aimed at generating new work.
- Making Something of It – builds off a quotation by 2011 Nobel Laureate in Literature, Tomas Tranströmer. It introduces a way of preparing to write that first considers the several horizons of one’s world and then outlines a three-fold writing process: improvisation, composition, revision. This talk is easily combined with a creative workshop aimed at generating new work.
- The Strategic Value of Loafing and Dwelling in Possibility – combines Walt Whitman’s line “I loafe and invite my soul” (who never held down a job for very long) with Emily Dickinson’s line “I dwell in possibility” (who neither married nor ever moved out of her father’s house) with Jesus’ imperative “Consider the lilies” (who, unlike foxes and birds, had nowhere to lay his head and died a criminal’s death). This talk understands the terror for a parent when a child displays an artistic temperament, since (of course) an artist’s life is doomed to be lived out on the underfunded margins of society. How to welcome and encourage and support an artistic child whose art may inspire and enlighten and embolden the world toward the good, the true, and the beautiful.
Please contact Dr. Scott B. Key, CSLSC Vice President for Academic Initiatives, at skey@cslsc.org for additional information regarding scheduling any of the above educational, consulting and seminar presentations.