Company of Disciples: Can God Be Trusted?

Date/Time
Date(s) - June 3, 2014
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Location
The Vancouver Club

Categories No Categories


In a world riddled with disappointment, malice and tragedy, what rationale do we have for believing in a benevolent God? In this lunch, John Stackhouse explores how great thinkers have grappled with this question–from Buddha, Confucius, Augustine, Hume and Luther to C. S. Lewis. He suggests that perhaps instead of asking the question, “Why does God allow evil and suffering,” we should instead ask “Can God be trusted to be good and do good, even when appearances are strongly to the contrary?” 

Without brushing aside the serious problems posed by a God who allows incurable diseases, natural disasters and senseless crimes to bring misery into our lives, Stackhouse boldly affirms that this world is the world we actually need. Finally, he points to Christian revelation which promises the transformation of suffering into joy as the best guide to God’s dealings with the world. Join us for this exciting, one-time opportunity to learn and engage with one of the world’s top scholars, Dr. John Stackhouse. Cost: $35 online or $50 at door. Includes Lunch Buffet.  

Who is Dr. John Stackhouse?

Born in Canada, and raised in southwestern England and northern Ontario, John Stackhouse was educated in history and religious studies at three of North America’s leading institutions: Queen’s University in Ontario (B.A., First Class Honours), Wheaton College Graduate School in Illinois (M.A., with Highest Honors), and The University of Chicago (Ph.D.).

Formerly a professor of European history at Northwestern College in Iowa and a professor of religion at the University of Manitoba, currently John holds the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Chair of Theology and Culture atRegent College, an international graduate school of Christian studies at one of Canada’s premier universities, the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver. He has served also as Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies at McGill University and UBC, responsible for supervising Ph.D. students.

John is the author of seven books, the editor of four more, and the author of over five hundred articles, book chapters, and reviews in academic publications, major newspapers, and magazines. His writings range over history, sociology, philosophy, theology, ethics, and comparative religion. He has spoken throughout North America, in the United Kingdom, and in China, India, Israel, Korea, and Malaysia. His commentary on religion and contemporary culture has been sought by major broadcast and print media as diverse as The New York Times, The Atlantic, ABC News, CBC Radio, Time, and Reader’s Digest.

Married for more than thirty years and the father of three sons, John enjoys skiing and hiking the Vancouver-area mountains with his family and hitting the road on the motorcycle he inherited from his father. He is also a jazz musician, and gives the occasional performance on piano, guitar, trumpet, or electric bass. (His instruments include a Grotrian piano, Martin D-35 flat-top guitar, Godin electric guitar, Olds Super trumpet, and Fender 5-string electric bass.)

More information can be found in Canadian Who’s Who (University of Toronto Press), the Directory of American Scholars, and Contemporary Authors.

http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/can-god-be-trusted-lunch-buffet-talk-35-online-50-at-door-tickets-10548554009

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