Sarasota News Leader
January 24, 2014
Page 124
WESTAR RELIGIOUS LITERACY SEMINAR SET FOR FEBRUARY
The 19th Annual Westar Religious Literacy
Seminar in Sarasota will be held Feb. 7-8 at the
Unitarian Universalist Church on Fruitville
Road in Sarasota with the theme Does God
Have a Future? Why It Matters Now.
Jesus: How Three Historic Quests Changed
Theology for the Better (2013).
Joseph A. Bessler is the Robert Travis Peake
associate professor of theology at Phillips
Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK, where
he also serves as associate dean, the release
notes. He is the author of A Scandalous
Single session fees are $20 for the Friday lecture; $20 for the Saturday morning workshop;
and $30 for the Saturday afternoon workshop.
David Galston is a university chaplain and
adjunct professor of philosophy at Brock
University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada,
The church, which has a welcoming congre- and academic adviser to the SnowStar
gation, is located at 3975 Fruitville Road in Institute in Canada, the release explains.
He is the author of Embracing the Human
Sarasota, a news release says.
Jesus: A Wisdom Path for Contemporary
"The early church relied on Plato, not Jesus, Christianity (2012).
to talk about God," a news release points out.
The organizer of the seminar is Westar
"How did this come about? Religious studies
Institute. The program will be sponsored by
scholars Joe Bessler and David Galston will
the Advocates for Religious Literacy at the
explain [the answer] and show how later genUnitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota
erations came to challenge the classical model in cooperation with Advocates for Religious
of God," the release continues. "Participants Literacy in Florida.
will learn about new language for God, assess
recent attempts to accuse or defend God" The fee for all events is $60 if paid by Jan. 24,
and attempt to answer the pressing question, the release notes. After that date, the cost will
"Does God have a future?" the release adds. be $75.
For more information, call David Ryan at 3654027 or email d2mryan@verizon.net.
TEMPLE EMANU-EL TO HOST SHABBAT DINNER ON JAN. 31
Temple Emanu-El, located at 151 McIntosh
Road in Sarasota, invites members of the
community to a Shabbat dinner on Friday,
Jan. 31, at 6 p.m., with Shabbat services following at 7:30 p.m.
a news release says. Chicken and vegetarian options will be offered, along with side
dishes, salad and dessert. The cost is $18 per
adult and $8 per child ages 6 to 12; children
ages 5 and under will be admitted free.
This festive meal will welcome Temple mem- Reservations are required by Jan. 27. For
bers and community guests "for delicious more information or to make a reservation,
food in a warm and friendly atmosphere," call Ethel Gross at 388-7899.
SarasotaNewsLeader.com
