Our speaker this month is Tamara Albertini, professor of Renaissance and Islamic philosophy in the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s department of philosophy. Growing up in Tunisia, Tamara absorbed the culture, Arabic language, and history of this vibrant Islamic country. She has built her academic career on the study of the great philosophers and philosophical traditions that for centuries have shaped the development of Islam. She also specializes in the interrelationship of Islamic and European Renaissance philosophy, an exchange from which the West gained enormously.

Tamara’s presentation will help explain the difference between today’s purist salafiyya (Arabic for “getting back to the roots”) thinking and the original 19th century salafiyya, which was about rejuvenating, reforming Muslim societies, and bridging differences between Islam and Christianity as well as Sunni and Shi’a Islam. Tamara travelled to Tunisia last summer, and has posted her travel journals in a blog. She shares her reflections at www.travelofadiasporicself.com.

This fall, four Tunisians won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for their roles in guiding that country’s 2011 Jasmine Revolution to a peaceful conclusion. This peace is always fragile; Tunisia has experienced violent acts recently but continues to hold together with democratic institutions in place and functioning.

Exploring Boundaries begins at 6:00 pm in Isenberg Hall and ends in time for Evening Prayer at 7:30.

What is it about the Star of Bethlehem that has captivated our imaginations for two millennia? This major feature in the Nativity narratives in Matthew’s Gospel has become an important, mysterious symbol of our faith. The star has fascinated people for two millennia, and efforts to understand the reality behind the phenomenon continue today. No theory has proved satisfactory to all who study this question, but our speaker, astronomer Dr. Robert Joseph, continues his research and has a new theory to share with us.

Dr. Joseph’s illustrated lecture will describe some of the historical interpretations of the Star of Bethlehem and show some of the astronomical events that might have represented the star. Recent research has led to a completely new understanding of the story of the Wise Men from the East and the Star they followed. Dr. Joseph will show how this new interpretation finally makes astronomical, astrological, historical, and textual sense of the events recorded in Matthew’s Gospel.

Bob Joseph is an Astronomer in the Institute for Astronomy (IfA), UH Mānoa, where he teaches the general education survey of astronomy, graduate courses in cosmology, and honors courses in science and religion. For many years he served as director of the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea. His research interests are in extragalactic astronomy, especially the astrophysical effects of collisions between galaxies. An active member of Calvary-By-the-Sea (CBTS) Lutheran Church, Bob has chaired their Peace & Social Justice Committee and is on the Council. He also sings baritone in the Symphony Chorus and the CBTS Choir. And, for good measure, Asteroid 7159 was named ”Bobjoseph” by the International Astronomical Union.

Exploring Boundaries begins at 6:00 pm in Isenberg Hall and ends in time for Evening Prayer at 7:30.