Upcoming Online Events
Westar Institute invites members and the general public into conversation with Westar scholars of religion throughout the year.
Westar Academy Unplugged!
May 11, 2022
7:00 -8:00 PM EDT
Enhanced Member Event
Join us for a session with Dr. Celene Lillie to discuss the new Westar Academy.
This is an Enhanced Member event. Please contact Collin Glavac at [email protected] for the meeting link!
A Westar Awards Event: Honoring Inductees Dr. Joanna Dewey and Dr. John Caputo
May 25, 2022
7:00 -8:00 PM EDT
Join us for this free event as we honor Dr. Joanna Dewey and Dr. John Caputo!
The Westar Academic Program Committee unanimously approved motions to induct Dr. Joanna Dewey into the Order of David Friedrich Strauss and to induct Dr. John Caputo into the Order of Baruch Spinoza. The Strauss award is given to scholars who have rigorously applied the historical critical method to the study of the Gospels and creeds that Strauss pioneered. The Spinoza award is given to scholars who have a history of commitment to Westar, a consistent track record of seminar involvement, or a publication background exhibiting daring, imaginative, and cutting-edge scholarship in the spirit of Spinoza. Congratulations to our newest inductees!
Recent Events
Recordings of all of our events are available on-demand for purchase. Become a “Plus” member at any level and enjoy access to the entire digital archive. Learn more about Westar Membership here.
April 13, 2022
Render Unto Caesar with Dominic Crossan
Dominic Crossan reviews the background materials and details behind his publication, Render Unto Caesar (HarperOne, 2022).
A one-hour PowerPoint presentation with 30 minutes of Q and A.
$20.00
#MeToo in the Bible: A Tale of Two Tamars with Dr. Marti Steussy
In Genesis, Tamar is the daughter-in-law of Judah (twice), and intriguingly, also the mother of two of his children, the twins Perez and Zerah. In the biblical genealogies, Perez is listed as an ancestor of King David and of Jesus.
In Second Samuel 13, another Tamar is the beautiful princess from the tribe of Judah. She grew up in the palace of her father, King David. She was raped by her brother Amnon, David’s first born and heir to the throne.
Ninety minutes with Q and A
$20.00
The Six Biggest Breakthroughs
A review of breakthroughs in After Jesus before Christianity.
Erin Vearncombe, Hal Taussig, and Brandon Scott
$20.00
Three Themes for Theology with Music
Relation, transience, and injustice with focus on Beethoven’s Fifth.
Dirk von der Horst
$20.00
A Night with Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche’s life and philosophy.
David Galston
$20.00
Matthew in Dialogue
Jewish and Christian voices in the Gospel of Matthew.
Alan Culpepper
$20.00
Infinite Canaan: Religion, Science, and the new Space Race
New language about space imitates biblical language about Canaan.
Mary-Jane Rubenstein
$20.00
Intersex Jesus and Gay Marriage
Surprising depictions of an intersexed Jesus and gay marriage in early Christianity.
Ally Kateusz
$20.00