This class will meet for four consecutive Monday evenings at the same time--one registration gets you into all four sesssions. Greek philosophy was important to the early Christians as they developed their understanding of God. Our goal will be to better understand why Christians thought pagan philosophers had insights worth weaving into their theology, which is a fundamental building block of ressourcement theology. Laurie Johnson will introduce participants to some of the major ideas and imagery in ancient philosophy, focusing on the works of Plato. Short readings will be supplied, but reading ahead of time is not necessary, and this course is suitable for those who have had no prior exposure to Plato or just want to learn more. There will be time for questions and open discussion.
Laurie M Johnson is a Professor of Political Science specializing in the history of political philosophy. She teaches ancient political thought regularly and has a strong interest in political theology. She is the author of 7 books. Her next book, The Gap in God’s Country: A Longer View on Our Culture Wars (Wipf & Stock), should be in print in late Summer of 2024.
