Conferences

Fall 2024

Colloquium: Politics of Knowledge and Disciplinary Challenges in Ancient Mediterranean Studies

Thursday, October 24, 2024 - Saturday, October 26, 2024

This colloquium will explore the varied epistemologies and tangible practices across the ancient Mediterranean world, as well as their suppression within ancient political contexts and modern disciplinary practices. The participants, professors in Classics and Biblical Studies, will scrutinize assertions of power and expressions of resistance, as well as the hegemonic processes, ancient and modern, of silencing and appropriating those expressions.  

Tat siong Benny Liew, Class of 1956 Professor in New Testament Studies, organized this workshop-style colloquium. Unless otherwise noted, all events are open to the public. View the schedule here. 

Colloquium Keynote: All the World’s Pasts: The Case for a New Field

Thursday, October 24, 2024
4:30 p.m., Rehm Library, Smith Hall

As ancient texts, artifacts, and images circulate on the internet, there is a need to ask new questions and sharpen needed skills. Joy Connolly, President of the American Council of Learned Societies and renowned Classics scholar, will argue that creating a new field of global ancient studies is the most effective way forward to study the world’s premodern cultures. This new field would focus on improving mutual understanding between peoples, interpreting evidence using various disciplines, and studying the full plurality of human activity, including under-studied periods and regions. 

Spring 2024

Thirty Years Beyond the Genocide: Lessons for the Global Church

Thursday, April 18 - Friday, April 19, 2024

April 7, 2024 marks the 30th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. In solidarity with Rwandans, this two-day symposium gathers international scholars to unpack the complex role of the Catholic church in the genocide and its aftermath, as well as explore broader implications for the global church today. View the schedule here. 

Conference Keynote: Theology and Ecclesiology from Wounds of the Genocide 

Thursday, April 18, 2024
7:00 p.m., Rehm Library, Smith Hall

How does a compromised church rise from the wounds of the genocide? Rev. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, a genocide survivor, considers the historical, social, political, and theological circumstances that led to the genocide and proposes a different way forward. Uwineza is the Principal of Hekima University College in Kenya, a Jesuit School of Theology and Peace Studies. 

This Catholics & Cultures conference is organized by Audrey Seah, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies. The talks will result in an upcoming issue of the Journal for Global Catholicism. 

Spring 2023

Bringing the Holy Land Home: The Crusades, Chertsey Abbey, and the Reconstruction of a Medieval Masterpiece

Saturday, March 25, 2023

In conjunction with the Cantor Art Gallery exhibition curated by Amanda Luyster, this symposium explores the impact that the Crusades had on medieval western Europe. The Crusades were marked both by brutal violence, much of which was directed against people who were not European (Latin) Christians, and by sustained cross-cultural encounters which, for many Europeans, affected their sense of self for centuries to come. It can be difficult to process both of these truths simultaneously, yet essential to develop this more complex and more accurate understanding of the Crusades. The symposium will be held under the auspices of the New England Medieval Consortium and is supported by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and the McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture.  View schedule and registration»

The Medieval Academy of America, the largest organization in America promoting medieval studies, has awarded this exhibition the 2024 Monica H. Green Prize for Distinguished Medieval Research. This Prize is awarded "for an exceptional project that shows the value of medieval studies in our present day."

Freedom, Controversy, and Respect on Campus: Advancing Liberal Arts Inquiry in Contested Times

April 18-20, 2023

Incidents involving free expression on campus are riling campus communities and pitting against each other pedagogical perspectives about whether students learn best in contexts where discussion of ideas is completely unfettered, or whether some topics and ideas make students feel under attack and inhibit opportunities for learning. How do we balance the needs of protecting our students from harmful and incendiary views and helping them confront difficult and often divisive material? How do we model respectful dialogue in the interest of intellectual inquiry? The College of the Holy Cross is convening a cohort of 30 scholars, administrators and leaders, representing a range of perspectives, disciplines and roles on campus, to clarify the challenges and imagine pedagogical responses in the classroom and across campus. This conference will help us identify the distinctive tensions facing private, liberal arts educational contexts and how best to address them in order to promote a healthy campus climate and well-educated citizenry. The conference is made possible with the generous support of the John and Laura Broderick Family Foundation. View the schedule»

Conférence Internationale: Les Communautés Nouvelles Comme Lieu Theologique

International Conference: New Communities as a Theological Setting
April 28-30, 2023

In Côte d'Ivoire, hundreds of charismatic Catholic lay communities have transformed Catholic life. This conference drew hundreds of leaders of those communities to engage with theologians and to think together about how those leaders are prepared and can benefit from ongoing theological education. Co-sponsored with Institut de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus, Abidjan. 

Past Conferences:

March 13-14, 2021
The Intelligentsia in Russia: Spiritual and Moral Values—In preparation of their edited volume, "The Intelligentsia in Russia: Myth, Mission, Metamorphosis," Olga Partan, Associate Professor of Russian at Holy Cross, and Professor Sibelan Forrester of Swarthmore College virtually convene the book's contributors to present and solicit feedback on their draft work. The volume offers a multidisciplinary approach to addressing spiritual and moral missions of the Russian Intelligentsia, tracing its evolution over time from the 18th century to the post-Soviet era.

November 6-8, 2020
Divided Worlds? Contexts of the New Testament Then and Now—This virtual conference seeks to bring together scholars from two disciplines that have much in common but that have seldom been in conversation in recent times—New Testament studies and Classics. Sessions examine if and how the New Testament, an ancient collection of texts with its own distinctive set of religious, social, and rhetorical strategies, can serve as a helpful resource in understanding our obligations to take moral stands on issues that are dividing our world with increasing fury. Organized by Religious Studies and Classics faculty with support from the McFarland Center.

April 2-3, 2019
Readings from the Roots: Bible Translation and Its Impact — This two-day conference highlights a new, historically-sensitive translation of the Revised Common Lectionary intended to reduce the potential for anti-Judaism by enriching Christianity through its roots in Judaism. The conference will provide an opportunity for clergy and scholars to engage with the translation team and will feature talks by Taylor Burton-Edwards, Chair of the Consultation on Common Texts; Everett Fox, the Allen M. Glick Professor of Judaic and Biblical Studies at Clark University; Adèle Reinhartz, professor of classics and religious studies at the University of Ottawa; and a keynote by Mary C. Boys, vice-president of Academic Affairs and dean and the Skinner & McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology at Union Theological Seminary, on "Seeing Judaism Anew: Jewish Christian Dialogue." The conference is supported by the Kraft-Hiatt Program for Jewish-Christian Understanding.

April 11-12, 2018
Francis the Pilgrim: From Personal Devotion to Papal Diplomacy — This conference explores Francis’ own devotional life, as demonstrated through his pilgrimages and the symbols he chooses to surround himself with, as a starting point to interpret the papacy of Francis in its goals, objectives and outcomes. Speakers include Austen Ivereigh, London-based Catholic journalist and author of "The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope" (Henry Holt, 2014); Inés San Martín, an Argentinean journalist who covers the Vatican in Rome; Rev. Thomas Reese, S.J., senior analyst at Religion News Service and former editor-in-chief of the weekly Catholic magazine America; and Elise Harris, Rome correspondent for the Catholic News Agency.

Friday, March 16, 2018
Between the Sacred and the Profane: Love and Desire in Premodern China — This one-day conference focuses on the intersection of religion, literature, and the arts through examination of various circumstances by which the discourse of love and desire is represented, transmitted, transformed, and re-contextualized in traditional China. Held in conjunction with the Worcester Art Museum exhibition, “Dangerous Liaisons Revisited: Art and Music Inspired by the Chinese Tang Court." Co-sponsored with Asian Studies.

March 9-10, 2018
International Conference: Lived Catholicism from the Balkans to the Baltics — Europe’s history is permeated with the rich array of rituals and world views of Catholicism. On a local level, this history continues to inform the ways individual Catholics experience and understand the diverse practices and values that define Catholicism in various communities. This conference, held at Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest, Hungary, offers scholars and observers an opportunity to attend to and study the diversity of Catholic practices in this region of Europe, from the Balkans to the Baltics, as well as the meaning of Catholicism in its various relationships with cultures. This conference is part of the McFarland Center's initiative on Catholics & Cultures. Learn more»

November 15-17, 2017
Religion, Protest, and Social Upheaval — The recent proliferation of social, political, and economic protest and populist expression, from Black Lives Matter to Hindu Nationalism, invites renewed exploration of religion's age-old power to fuel and shape cultural change. This conference brings together a diverse group of scholars across national and religious divides to examine the impact of religion on various social and political movements. Organized around six themes — nationalism, immigration, race, gender, ecological concern, and economics — the conference aims to illuminate the complex dynamics of religion in protest and social upheaval. Co-sponsored with Religious Studies.

October 19-21, 2017
Rethinking the Afropolitan: The Ethics of Black Atlantic Masculinities on Display — Images, articles, and even a Guinness commercial about Congolese men known as sapeurs (the Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People) raises new ethical questions about how we read race, gender, and identity in images and texts. Sapeurs appear to be the epitome of  the "black dandy." However, these extravagantly dressed men also engage in friendly fashion competitions and do so against bleak West Central African urban landscapes. The conference aims to examine the intersections of  gender, race, and visual culture, in the Atlantic, spanning Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe from the 16th century to the present.

April 21-22, 2017
Tolstoy and Spirituality — This conference explores Leo Tolstoy's controversial quest to re-examine and revitalize Christianity. His highly original, almost paradoxical view defended the moralizing mission of Christianity, maintained the innocence of nature, and blamed social institutions such as the State and Church for the "fallen" nature of our sins. Supported by the Rehm Family Fund.

March 24-25, 2017
The Globalization of Science in the Middle East and North Africa, 18th-20th Centuries — This conference brings together scholars to explore important issues related to the history of science in the Middle East and North Africa region during the 18th-20th centuries — a critical period of change and modernization when Middle Easterners were concerned about rising power of European states and societies and the relative weakness of Islamic ones. All conference sessions are free and open to the public. Supported by the Rehm Family Fund.

April 9-10, 2016
The Future of Scholarship on the Quran — What does it mean to study the Quran? This two-day workshop explores the relationship of traditional Islamic scholarship to Western academic study, considering matters such as who should interpret the Quran, what standards for scholarship should be set, and how scholarship can inform public conversation on the Quran. Featuring a keynote address by Ingrid Mattson, London and Windsor Community Chair in Islamic Studies at Huron University College at the University of Western Ontario.

January 18-20, 2016
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 
From Cradle to the Grave: Catholicism and Stages of Life in the Philippines — A rich variety of religious and cultural practices mark different steps in the journeys of Filipino Catholics here on earth. Such practices prepare us for important transitions in our lives and give us ways to express our hopes, gratitude, fears and faith. This conference is an opportunity to describe these diverse practices, to explore what they mean to the people who celebrate them, and to examine how they relate to the particular social and cultural contexts that give them meaning. Part of the Catholics & Cultures initiative, this conference was sponsored by the College of the Holy Cross and the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, where the conference was held. Learn more.

January 12-15, 2015
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP
Catholic Cultures, Indian Cultures: A workshop on rites, religiosity, and cultural diversity in Indian Catholicism - India is a multicultural society and home to three rites (Roman, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara) within the Catholic Church. This unique combination has created a particularly rich and diverse context for Catholic religious life. This workshop will examine how Catholic life is practiced in India’s different cultural and Catholic contexts. The intent of the workshop is to move away from the often contentious jurisdictional issues surrounding the rites and instead focus on the perspectives gained from considering the lived experience of ordinary Catholics. Sponsored by Dharmaram Vidhya Ksetram and the College of the Holy Cross. Learn more.

November 14-15, 2014
Moral Sentimentalism and the Foundations of Morality — In recent years there has been a tremendous resurgence of philosophical interest in moral sentimentalism, an ethical and meta-ethical tradition first articulated in the context of the Scottish Enlightenment and particularly associated with David Hume and Adam Smith. This renewed interest in moral sentimentalism is best understood as being due to the convergence of a vigorous philosophical debate about the nature of and interdisciplinary research into the psychological mechanisms underlying our capacity for moral judgment and moral agency. The speakers highlight both the promises and potential pitfalls of moral sentimentalism and suggest ways of thinking through its problems. Co-sponsored with the Department of Philosophy.

April 3-4, 2014
Adam Smith: Moral Philosopher and Economic Theorist — This two-day event explores the ethical, political and economic thought of Adam Smith, the 18th century Scottish moral philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. Keynote speakers are Charles Griswold, Jr., a prominent Smith scholar and professor of philosophy at Boston University, and Ryan Patrick Hanley, associate professor of political science at Marquette University. Part of the Charles Carroll Program, this event is co-sponsored with the Department of Political Science and the McFarland Center.

March 28-29, 2014
Celebrating Philosophy: A Dialogue on the Nature of of Morality, Reality and Knowledge — This two-day undergraduate conference, sponsored by the McFarland Center, the Office of the Dean, and the Department of Philosophy, explores themes such as Divinity & Morality; the Rationality of Religious Belief; Mind, Perception & Knowledge; Art, Morality & The Social Sphere; Forgiveness and Repentance; Philosophy & The Arts; and finally, Vernunft! Owen Flanagan, the James B. Duke Professor at Duke University gives the keynote address on the “Varieties of Moral Possibilities."

March 22-23, 2012
The Other America: Then and Now — This conference marks the 50th anniversary of The Other America, a seminal analysis on poverty in the United States by Holy Cross alumnus Michael Harrington '47. Speakers including Harrington's biographer Maurice Isserman, David O'Brien, Thomas Sugrue, Peter Dreier, and Alan Wolfe explore the impact of Harrington's book during the 1960s and '70s and its influence on the development of Great Society programs. On the second day of the conference, events focus on the "other America" of today - including policies to address poverty, mass incarceration, child farm workers, marginalized men, and youth and education - featuring a keynote address by Harvard sociologist William Julius Wilson, and with guest speakers including Annette Lareau, Bruce Western, Timothy Black and Zama Coursen-Neff.

April 1-2, 2011
"Let Justice Roll Down" - A Conference on the Practice and Pedagogy of Organizing in the 21st Century — This conference examines community organizing as a strategy for addressing poverty and inequality in the United States. Leading scholars and practitioners come together to consider how community leadership development can impact local and national policy, and what pedagogical tools are best suited to train a new generation of organizers. The conference seeks to pull together new ideas from scholarship, field organizing work, and policy leaders to best respond to 21st century political, social and economic challenges.

January 27-28, 2011
Framing Mary: The Mother of God in Modern Russian Culture—This working symposium offered in partnership with the Museum of Russian Icons will bring together scholars of Russian literature, religious history and art history to focus on the various ways the iconic image of Mary has been used to frame and shape Russian national, cultural and spiritual self-expression. The symposium will result in a volume on the Mother of God in modern Russia to be edited by Amy Adams, associate professor of Russian literature at Holy Cross, and Vera Shevroz, associate professor of religion at Smith College.

December 3, 2010
Religion and Reason in the American Founding—This one-day conference explores the confluence of biblical and enlightenment ideas that the American founders wrestled with to shape American polity and civil society. Jonathan Israel, professor of modern European history at the Institute for Advanced Study and one of the world's leading historians of the Enlightenment, will give the keynote address. Other speakers include: Carla Mulford, associate professor of English at Pennsylvania State University; Vincent Phillip Munoz, associate professor of political science at Notre Dame; and Robert Faulkner, professor of political science at Boston College. View the publication.

March 18-19, 2010
Biological Foundations of Morality? Neuroscience, Evolution and Morality—This two-day conference considers the latest developments in neuroscience to approach discussions on morality. How does what we are learning about the brain influence how we ought to think about ethics? Speakers include Michael Gazzaniga, director of the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind at the University of California Santa Barbara; Patrick Haggard, a researcher at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London; ethicist Robert Kane '60, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, University of Texas at Austin; James Blair, chief of the Unit on Affective Cognitive Neuroscience in the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health; and others.

April 10-12, 2008
Art, Creativity, and Spirituality in Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov - A conference organized by Professor Predrag Cicovacki, Department of Philosophy.
Learn more. See the publication.