Corban College brings Moreland to Oregon

One of the nation’s most esteemed evangelical philosophers, J.P. Moreland, Ph.D., is set to speak Sept. 13-14 at Corban College in Salem, Ore.

Moreland, professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, Calif., has been selected as guest speaker for the Richard L. Caulkins Lectureship at Corban, the former Western Baptist College. The college’s new name was chosen because it means a gift dedicated to God in the original Hebrew.

“Dr. Moreland is arguably the most highly-regarded evangelical philosopher in the United States today,” said John B. Scott, assistant professor of history at Corban and one of the organizers of the Lectureship, a twice-yearly event to bring the nation’s brightest minds to the campus. “His passion is provoking Christians to move toward intellectual integration – loving God with your mind, not just your heart.”

Moreland is expected to speak on that subject, title of one of his dozen published books, three times while on the Corban campus. The public is invited to hear him at no charge in the college’s new Psalm Center at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, and 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14.

“The faculty started this lectureship four years ago because we saw it was essential that students on this campus get exposed to the greatest thinkers and doers in the Christian world today, that they learn how to respond to the ethical and moral views that are antithetical to Christianity,” Scott said. “Corban is not just about earning a degree; it’s learning how to think as a mature Christian.”

Moreland, who received several “best teacher” awards from students because of his communication skills, is on the cutting edge of lifting the respectability of Christians in non-Christian circles because of his scholarly accomplishments, Scott said. Among his many areas of expertise, Moreland argues for Intelligent Design – that a causative factor is the only thing that explains the complexity of all living things – and against philosophical naturalism –that the physical universe of space and time is all there is.

“Dr. Moreland writes well on a variety of subjects and he’s hard to ignore,” Scott said. “He defends the idea that people have a soul and spirit that evolution cannot account for.

“He’s trying to wake up the Christian church to stand strong in the public square and show the truth of the Christian faith,” Scott continued. “Dr. Moreland shows what can be done when you’re single-minded about serving God with your intellectual capacities.”

Moreland will speak in the Psalm Center, at the east end of the Corban campus circle, on the marks of an authentic Christian thinker at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13. He will speak on the marks of an authentic Christian college at 7:30 p.m.; and on the marks of mature Christian integration and service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14.

“I urge Christians to continue to work hard at developing their minds and loving God with all of it,” Moreland said in an online interview. “Philosophy is a hunger for wisdom, a desire to want to pursue goodness, truth, beauty and reason as best as one can. … I urge Christians to continue to work hard at developing their minds and loving God with all of it.”

Corban College is southeast of the Kuebler exit on Interstate-5. Turn right at Turner Road; left at Deer Park Drive. Free parking is available on the lower (Deer Park) and upper (Warrior Drive) campuses, with an easy 100-yard walk or less to the blue-roofed Psalm Center.

Corban College educates maturing Christians to become competent thinkers, involved citizens and effective communicators. Its 45 accredited majors and programs of study include traditional programs, adult degree programs and a graduate studies program on campus and online.

The college’s motto is “Dedicating heart and mind to God;” its mission: to educate Chrsitians who will make a difference in the world for Jesus Christ.”

--By Karen L. Willoughby