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Seton Hall University

The Grand Tradition of Faith and Reason  

The Department of Catholic Studies is proud to present the Third Annual Archbishop John J. Myers Lecture Series on Law, Society and Faith entitled: "The Grand Tradition of Faith and Reason" by Dr. Robert Royal. The event will be held on Tuesday, April 12 at 5 p.m. in the Jubilee Hall Auditorium.

All are welcome and admission is free; guests are encouraged to R.S.V.P. Online or to Gloria Aroneo at [email protected] or (973) 275-2808.

About the Lecture:

One of the distinctive marks of Catholicism has always been its embrace of both faith and reason. From the earliest days of its spread into the ancient world, the Church has sought to make use of the best available cultural tools - philosophy, literature, art, music, law - both to understand revealed truths and to teach how they may be lived out in everyday life. Though in recent decades there has been a great deal of turmoil in the Church, modern Catholicism still represents a remarkably fertile marriage of faith and reason. In this lecture, noted author Robert Royal will offer a comprehensive view of this "Grand Tradition" in several disciplines and contemporary culture.

About the Lecturer:

Dr. Robert Royal is the founding president of the Faith & Reason Institute in Washington D.C. and the editor-in-chief of the online magazine The Catholic Thing. His articles have appeared in many scholarly and popular publications including First Things, Communio, The Catholic Historical Review, Image, Wilson Quarterly, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, among others. His most recent book is "A Deeper Vision: The Catholic Intellectual Tradition in the 20th Century." He speaks and writes frequently on questions of religion and culture, and has lectured in more than a dozen foreign countries.

About the Department of Catholic Studies:

Established in 2012-- the Year of Faith and the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II -- the Department of Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University, America's oldest diocesan university, fosters Seton Hall's Catholic identity and mission by exploring the relationship of Catholicism with all areas of culture and learning. Since its focus is the Church's encounter and dialogue with society or the Church in the world, Vatican II designated a special place for Catholic Studies as a discipline in academic life. As a result, Catholic Studies is a dialogue between Catholicism and culture that occurs in a special way at Catholic universities. While respecting other disciplines, Catholic Studies explores theology and philosophy in relation to culture, humankind and the world. This methodological approach opens up a place for all other disciplines; these enrich Catholic Studies and are enriched in return. Catholic Studies builds upon and develops the themes and questions addressed in the University Core Curriculum and is complementary to other disciplines. A bachelor's degree in Catholic Studies is an interdisciplinary, liberal arts degree -a major that enhances every other major.