Conference Info > Blessed Brutalities
Mark your calendar for this Special FREE Seminar!
Jon Pahl of Luther Theological Seminary
Blessed Brutalities
The Religious Origins of American Violence
March 14, 2009 10am-4pm
Landisville Mennonite Church Landisville, PA
- Can America be considered a peacemaking culture or are we a culture embedded in violence?
- How can we understand the relationship between religion and our legitimizing of violence in America?
American history is replete with examples of violence. Early religious traditions grounded political violence in theological systems. American religion has thus come to justify sacrifice and violence as a “Christian” way of life. This seminar will look at examples from American history where the theme of sacrifice has played out against youth, race, gender and sexual orientation and offer an alternative narrative that can be lived out in the church when we follow the Prince of Peace.
Click the above image for a printable flyer.
Light lunch is included. An offering will be gratefully received.
Session Topics followed by Q and A will include:
- Rethinking Religion and Violence in America
- Sacrificing Youth: From Reefer Madness to Hostel, 1936-2007
- Sacrificing Race: From Jarena Lee to Spike Lee
- Sacrificing Sex: From Abigail Abbot Bailey to DOMA Laws
- Sacrificing Humans: From Mary Dyer to Dead Man Walking
- American Sacrifices: Innocent Domination from Puritan Boston to Bush’s Baghdad