W.L. Lyons Brown Library 

Thomas Merton Center

Bellarmine University

Contemplation in a Technological Era:
Thomas Merton's Insight for the Twenty-First Century

A conference on Merton and Technology

23rd - 24th September 2011

“Can contemplation still find a place in the world of technology and conflict which is ours?”
Thomas Merton, Faith and Violence (1968, p. 215)

Speakers:

Albert Borgmann.

Albert Borgmann  is Regents Professor of Philosophy at the University of Montana In Missoula, where he has taught since 1970. His special area is the philosophy of society and culture with particular emphasis on technology. Among his publications are Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life (University of Chicago Press, 1984), Crossing the Postmodern Divide (University of Chicago Press, 1992), Holding on to Reality: the Nature of Information at the Turn of the Millennium (University of Chicago Press, 1999), Power Failure: Christianity in the Culture of Technology (Brazos Press, 2003), and Real American Ethics: Taking Responsibility for Our Country (University of Chicago Press, 2007).
 

Phillip Thompson.

Phillip Thompson is the Executive Director of the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University. Prior to this appointment he directed the Leadership Certificate Program in the School of Public Policy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has a Ph.D. in the History of Culture from the University of Chicago, a J.D. from the University of Georgia, and an LL.M. in Health Law from DePaul University. His publications are in the fields of religion and science, Catholic social thought, business ethics, legal ethics, bioethics, and medical ethics. His most recent book is Between Science and Religion: The Engagement of Catholic Intellectuals with Science and Technology in the Twentieth Century (Lexington, 2009).

Claire Bararacco.

Claire Badaracco is professor of communication at Marquette University. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and Rutgers University. She has published widely in academic journals including The Merton Annual. Her recent books include Prescribing Faith: Medicine, Media, and Religion in America Culture (Baylor University Press, 2007)  and Quoting God: How Media Shape Ideas about Religion and Culture (Baylor University Press, 2005).

Daniel P. Horan, OFM.

Daniel P. Horan, OFM is a Franciscan friar of Holy Name Province (NY) and an adjunct professor of religious studies at Siena College in Albany, NY.  A former Daggy Scholar, Dan was a 2010-2011 ITMS Shannon Fellow and has delivered academic papers on Merton in both the U.S. and England.  He has also given public lectures on Merton in Boston, Washington, DC, Chicago and New York City.  His work has been published in journals such as America, The Merton Annual, The Merton Journal (UK), The Heythrop Journal, Worship, Spiritual Life, and others. Dan writes regularly at www.DatingGod.org, where you can find more information about him and his work.

Kathleen Deignan, CND.

Kathleen Deignan, CND is Professor of Religious Studies at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY and the founding director of the Iona Spirituality Institute and The Thomas Berry Forum for Ecological Dialogue.  She is President of The International Thomas Merton Society, and sits on the boards of The American Teilhard Association and GreenFaith.  Composer in residence with Schola Ministries, her books include ChristSpirit: The Eschatology of Shaker Christianity, Thomas Merton’s Writings on Nature and Thomas Merton: A Book of Hours.

Gray Matthews.

Gray Matthews is Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Memphis, Memphis, TN.  Gray serves the ITMS as a board member, co-editor of The Merton Annual, coordinator of the Memphis Chapter, and served as site coordinator for the ITMS Tenth General Meeting.

Paul Dekar.

Paul R. Dekar is Professor Emeritus of Evangelism/Mission, Memphis Theological Seminary, and author of Community of the Transfiguration: The Journey of a New Monastic Community, Creating the Beloved Community: A Journey With the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Building a Culture of Peace: Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, the First Seventy Years, and Thomas Merton: Twentieth-Century Wisdom for Twenty-First Century Living (Wipf and Stock, 2011).

Conference Timetable:

Friday 23rd September

Cralle Theater, Bellarmine University