Faith and Citizenship in a Global Context

Faith and Citizenship in a Global Context

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In this panel discussion led by Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh, activists, academicians and former diplomats covered subjects that included the international community’s inability to intervene in Darfur, citizenship in the face of globalization, and to what extent religion informs U.S. foreign policy. Panelists included Jennifer Butler, Executive Director, Faith in Public Life; Heidi Hadsell, President, Hartford Seminary; James Joseph, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, 1996-99 and Professor of the Practice of Public Policy, Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University ; Paul Lakeland, Professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University; James Laney, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, 1993-97; and Emilie Townes, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of African American Religion and Theology at Yale Divinity School. (May 4, 2007)

Faith and Citizenship in America

Faith and Citizenship in America

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In this panel discussion led by Yale Law School Professor Harlon Dalton, academicians, journalists and activists examined the intersection between faith and politics in American life. Panelists included Randall Balmer, Ann Whitney Olin Professor of American Religion, Barnard College; Serene Jones, Titus Street Professor of Theology, Yale Divinity School ; Michael Kieschnick, President and Co-founder, Working Assets; Peter Laarman, Executive Director, Progressive Christians Uniting; David Price, Democratic U.S. Representative, North Carolina; and Amy Sullivan, Contributing Editor, The Washington Monthly. (May 4, 2007)

Pastoral Care versus Inappropriate Religious Proselytizing

Pastoral Care versus Inappropriate Religious Proselytizing

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Kristen Leslie, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Yale Divinity SchoolKristen Leslie, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care & Counseling at Yale Divinity School, discusses sexual assault in the United States Air Force Academy and the subsequent religious intolerance of chaplains at the Academy.

24 – The Multiverse and Theories of Everything

24 – The Multiverse and Theories of Everything

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Professor Bailyn begins the class with a discussion of a recent New York Times article about the discovery of a new, earth-like planet. He then discusses concepts such as epicycles, dark energy and dark matter; imaginary ideas invented to explain 96% of the universe. The Anthropic Principle is introduced and the possibility of the multiverse is addressed. Finally, biological arguments are put forth for how complexity occurs on a cosmological scale. The lecture and course conclude with a discussion on the fine differences between science and philosophy.

26 – Suicide, Part III: The Morality of Suicide and Course Conclusion

26 – Suicide, Part III: The Morality of Suicide and Course Conclusion

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The lecture begins by examining the consequences a suicide has on both the person committing it and those around this person. The question is raised, however, whether this factor is the only that counts morally, as utilitarians claim, or whether other factors matter morally as well, as deontologists claim. The moral relevance of a deontological prohibition against harming the innocent is considered. A concluding summary of the course is offered.

23 – Other Constraints: The Cosmic Microwave Background

23 – Other Constraints: The Cosmic Microwave Background

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Reasons for the expansion of the universe are addressed at the start of this lecture, focusing especially on the acceleration of dark energy. Supernovae were the first evidence for the existence of dark energy. Two other proofs are presented. The first is the Cosmic Microwave Background, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is perfectly smooth and equal in all directions. It firmly supports the Big Bang theory. Projects attempting to measure it, such as COBE and WMAP, are discussed. Secondly, Large-Scale Clustering is introduced: by measuring the degree of clustering, astronomers hope to advance their understanding of dark energy and dark matter. Computer simulations of the evolution of the universe are shown.

25 – Suicide, Part II: Deciding under Uncertainty

25 – Suicide, Part II: Deciding under Uncertainty

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The discussion of suicide continues. A few more cases are introduced to consider circumstances under which it might be rational to end one’s life, and more graphs are drawn that show relevant variations in the quality of one’s life. A question is then posed about how one should make a decision about continuing or ending life, given that one cannot know the future with certainty. Finally, two quick moral arguments concerning suicide which rest on theological premises are presented.

22 – Supernovae

22 – Supernovae

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Professor Bailyn offers a review of what is known so far about the expansion of the universe from observing galaxies, supernovae, and other celestial phenomena. The rate of the expansion of the universe is discussed along with the Big Rip theory and the balance of dark energy and dark matter in the universe over time. The point at which the universe shifts from accelerating to decelerating is examined. Worries related to the brightness of high redshift supernovae and the effects of gravitational lensing are explained. The lecture also describes current project designs for detecting supernovae at high or intermediate redshift, such as the Joint Dark Energy Mission (JDEM) and Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).

24 – Suicide, Part I: The Rationality of Suicide

24 – Suicide, Part I: The Rationality of Suicide

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This is the first of a series of lectures on suicide. Two very distinct contexts are presented in which the subject can be further explored. The first is rationality and the question of under what circumstances it makes sense to end one’s own life. The second is morality and the question of whether we can ever ethically justify resorting to suicide. The lecture’s focus is on the rational requirements of suicide, and Professor Kagan introduces a number of cases which demonstrate that ending one’s life, in certain instances, may be rationally sound.

21 – Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe and the Big Rip

21 – Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe and the Big Rip

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Class begins with a review of the mysterious nature of dark matter, which accounts for three quarters of the universe. Different models of the universe are graphed. The nature, frequency, and duration of supernovae are then addressed. Professor Bailyn presents data from the Supernova Cosmology Project and pictures of supernovae taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery of dark energy is revisited and the density of dark energy is calculated. The Big Rip is presented as an alternative hypothesis for the fate of the universe.