‘Perspectives on Religion and Society’ Series Set for February and March at Cal Poly

Cal Poly will host three events exploring “Perspectives on Religion and Society” from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 10 and 17, and Thursday, March 5, on campus. 

On Feb. 10, Rabbi Chaim Hillel of San Luis Obispo Chabad will present “Kabbalah: The Mystical Path of Judaism,” in Room 249 in the Frank E. Pilling Building (No. 14). Hillel will discuss Judaism’s mystical tradition of Kabbalah, which has become popular with celebrities such as Madonna and Elizabeth Taylor. Hillel will talk about the tradition’s roots and its contemporary practice among Orthodox Jews.

Reverend Caro Hall will speak on “Gay, With Jesus: Toward a Homosexual Christianity” on Feb. 17 in the Business Building Rotunda (Building 3, Room 213). Hall will explore the contemporary communion between homosexuality and Christianity and will use scripture and traditional theology to examine how gay sexuality is transforming the church. Hall is the author of “A Thorn in the Flesh: How Gay Sexuality is Transforming the Episcopal Church.”

The last event in the series will be a forum on “ISIS: Islam, Violence and America’s Role” on March 5, also in the Business Building Rotunda (Building 3, Room 213). Through short presentations and open discussion, the panelists will examine the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), their current state and future. The panelists will be Stephen Lloyd-Moffett (Religious Studies Program), Jnan Blau (Communication Studies Department), Andrew Magnusson (History Department), and Hill Krishnan (Political Science Department).

Sponsored by the Cal Poly Philosophy Department, the presentations are free and open to the public.