VCU Libraries 24th Annual Brown-Lyons Lecture
"What's So Bad About Atheism?"
Presented by Dr. Jack D. Spiro
Thursday, March 19, 2009
7:30 p.m.
W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts
922 Park Avenue
Free and open to the public. Parking is available for a fee in the West Main Street and West Cary Street parking decks. If special accommodations are needed, please call (804) 827-1165 or (804) 828-4640 prior to March 17.
The 24th Annual Brown-Lyons Lecture is sponsored by the VCU Friends of the Library, the VCU Center for Judaic Studies, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, the Richmond Jewish Foundation, and the Weinstein JCC.
"In God We Trust" is the national motto of the United States. During the Cold War, Americans believed one of the greatest perils of communism was its atheistic canon. A spate of books has recently appeared attacking beliefs in God and supporting atheism. Why this rancorous response? What's so bad about atheism? How does Judaism respond to the atheists' arguments? What is unique in Jewish thought that atheists may find irrefutable? What is the Jewish thought that atheists may find irrefutable? What is the Jewish response to religions that believe in two, many, or no gods?
Dr. Jack D. Spiro holds the Harry Lyons Distinguished Chair in Judaic Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also director of the VCU Center for Judaic Studies and editor of its online publication, Menorah Review. He has earned two doctorates from the Hebrew Union College and the University of Virginia. He has authored, co-authored, or edited over 20 books and written over 40 articles.