Tuesday, November 4th
10:00 a.m–12:00 p.m. | "How Important is Mathematics in Today’s World?" Mike Sequeira and Don Gallagher, Ford 122
Although most often hidden from view, mathematics underpins much of today’s technology. To try and get a sense of that statement we will take a quick look at how computers compute; how data encryption works; and if time, how you can get all those pictures on your digital camera card. And to begin to understand the use and abuse of statistics in today’s news we will also briefly explore the mathematics of probability and whether or not your vote on Measure 90 in today’s election will likely result in a fair election process for Oregon. The story told will include historical and modern vignettes, theoretical and applied problems, everyday and obscure anecdotes. There may even be a tall tale or two! Sequeira and Gallagher are retired professors of mathematics at Central Oregon Community College in Bend. |
1:00–2:00 p.m. | "Veracity - A Dance Concert," Willamette Theater presentation [Deborah Ehlers], Pelton Theatre A new era of dance at Willamette has begun. This season, our production will ascend to a level of personal honesty that will touch and inspire. The concert will include unique student choreography, new faculty works, and collaborations with other artists to produce a body of work that will portray our continuing commitment to integrity. Artistic Director Jessi Fouts and students will present to ICL. |
2:00–3:00 p.m. | "The Story of Human Language Video Series: Language Mixture–Grammar," Prof. John McWhorter [Harvey Reynolds], Ford 122 Scope: Languages also mix their grammars. Yiddish is basically a dialect of German, but it has not only many words but even grammatical features from Slavic languages, such as Polish. Indian Indo-European languages, such as Hindi, place their verbs at the end of sentences, because the other language family of India has the same feature. In some cases, languages mix so intimately that they become new ones, such as Media Lengua in Ecuador, which uses Spanish words with endings and word order from the local Indian language Quechua. There are no languages without at least some signs of grammar mixture. The presentation will be hosted by Harvey Reynolds. |
Thursday, November 6th
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | "Art Potpourri," Host Sharon Wright, Ford 122 ICL members present short topics on Art. Presenters include: • Phil Caudill • Peter Ronai • Jeanette Flaming • Mark Kasoff • Ron Nichols Sharon Wright hosts. |
1:00–3:00 p.m. | "The Lost Way: How Two Forgotten Gospels are Rewriting the Story of Christian Origins," Stephen Patterson [Judy Heltzel], Ford 122 ![]() In this rigorously researched and thoughtful study, a leading Jesus Seminar scholar reveals the dramatic story behind the modern discovery of the earliest gospels, accounts that do not portray Jesus exclusively as a martyr but recover a lost ancient Christian tradition centered on Jesus as a teacher of wisdom. The church has long advocated the Pauline view of Jesus as deity and martyr, emphasizing his death and resurrection. But another tradition also thrived from Christianity’s beginnings, one that portrayed Jesus as a teacher of wisdom. In The Lost Way, Stephen Patterson, a leading New Testament scholar and former head of the Jesus Seminar, explores this lost ancient tradition and its significance to the faith. Patterson explains how scholars have uncovered a Gospel called "Q," that preceded at least three of those in the Bible. He painstakingly demonstrates how historical evidence points to the existence of this common source in addition to Mark—recognized as the earliest Gospel—that both Matthew and Luke used to write their accounts. "Q" contained a collection of Jesus’s teachings without any narrative content and without accounts of the passion, though being the earliest version shared among his first followers—scripture that embodies a very different orientation to the Christian faith. Patterson also explores other examples of this wisdom tradition, from the discovery of the Gospel of Thomas; to the emergence of Apollos, a likely teacher of Christian wisdom; to the main authority of the church in Jerusalem, Jesus’s brother James. The Lost Way offers a profound new portrait of Jesus—one who can show us a new way to live. Stephen J. Patterson came to Willamette in 2010 as the George H. Atkinson Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies. Prior to his arrival here he was for more than 20 years Professor of New Testament at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Dr. Patterson is an historian of religion specializing in the beginnings of Christianity. His research and writing have focused on the Gospel of Thomas, "Q," and various aspects of the historical study of Jesus. Among his books are Beyond the Passion: Rethinking the Death and Life of Jesus (Fortress, 2004), The God of Jesus: The Historical Jesus and the Search for Meaning (Trinity, 1998) and The Gospel of Thomas and Jesus (Polebridge, 1993), as well as the co-authored volumes, The Q-Thomas Reader (Polebridge, 1990), The Search for Jesus (The Smithsonian Institution and the Biblical Archaeology Society, 1994), The Fifth Gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Comes of Age (Trinity, 1998), and The Apocalyptic Jesus: A Debate (Polebridge, 2001). His many essays and reviews have appeared in The Harvard Theological Review, The Journal of Biblical Literature, The Journal of Religion, the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, and Theology Today, among other publications both professional and popular. You will occasionally see Dr. Patterson in various documentaries dealing with biblical subject matter airing on the Discovery Channel and National Geographic. He holds membership in the Society of Biblical Literature and the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas. He is also a Fellow of the Jesus Seminar and leads the Jesus Seminar on Christian Origins, a group of 150 scholars of early Christianity dedicated to disseminating biblical scholarship to the general public. Dr. Patterson is currently at work on a commentary on the Gospel of Thomas for the series Hermeneia (Fortress Press). |
Tuesday, November 11th
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Great Decisions: Energy Independence [Jeanette Flaming], Ford 122
Learn more about energy independence. George Adkins will be our presenter. |
1:00–3:00 p.m. | "Here Bullet" Les Green [Solveig Holmquist], ***Cone Chapel***
He was recently heard on the Premiere of Robert Kyr's A Time for Life with Cappella Romana, as Don Jose in Opera Theater of Oregon's Carmen, as the Evangelist in Heinrich Schutz's St. John Passion with Portland Vocal Consort and as Alfredo in Opera Theater of Oregon's La Traviata. Green originally hails from the Midwest where he received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Ball State University. He resides in Vancouver Washington with his wife, daughter and two beagles. He maintains a thriving private voice studio in Vancouver and teaches voice at Willamette University as well as working with many area high schools and as a clinician and adjudicator. |
Thursday, November 13th
10:00–11:00 a.m. | "World War I: The Western Front," Ken Ash, Ford 122
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of |
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | "World War I: The Eastern Front," Bob Muir, Ford 122
During World War I, the Eastern Front (sometimes called the "Second Fatherland War" in Russian sources) was a theatre of operations |
1:00–2:00 p.m. | World War I: Middle Eastern Theater," Don Gallagher, Ford 122
The Middle Eastern theatre of World War I was the scene of action between 29 October 1914 and 30 October 1918. Click for a PDF file of Don's presentation (26 MB file–broadband connection required). |
2:00–3:00 p.m. | "World War I: Economics," Mark Kasoff, Ford 122 Our presenter is ICL member Mark Kasoff. The Economic history of World War I Click for a PDF file of Mark's presentation (8 MB file–broadband connection required). |
Tuesday, November 18th
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | "How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, Video Lecture: The French Revolution and an Introduction to Beethoven," Dr. Robert Greenberg [Solveig Holmquist], Ford 122
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11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | "Music Potpourri," Solveig Holmquist , Ford 122 ICL members Carolyn Woodman, Pete Byeman, and Priscilla Hibbard will share their favorite musical selections. They will be introduced by Solveig Holmquist. |
1:00–2:00 p.m. | ICL Favorite Books [Erin Hanni], Ford 122 Description TBA |
2:00–3:00 p.m. | Contemporary Literature Discussion: "The Boys in the Boat," Bea Epperson, Ford 122
The following additional information has been provided by Dave MacMillan: Below is a link to the PowerPoint used for this presentation of “The Boys in the Boat.” There are photos and links to related videos in the slides, including the 8 man crew race at the 1936 Olympics in Germany. There was a lot that I wanted to show during the presentation, but did not have time, so please check this out at your leisure. |
Thursday, November 20th
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | "Journeying Towards Water Justice," Susan L. Smith [Judy Heltzel], Ford 122
Education: |
1:00–3:00 p.m. | Great Decisions: Food and Climate, Joe Bowersox [Jeanette Flaming], Ford 122
Learn more about food and climate reform.
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Tuesday, November 25th
THANKSGIVING BREAK, NO CLASSES |
Thursday, November 27th
THANKSGIVING BREAK, NO CLASSES |