Past Events
Earlier Rothermel Programs
2022
February 27, 2022, Dr. Jennifer Wiseman: (Click on her last name for her Bio): Program: "Stars, Galaxies, Planets, and Black Holes: Exploring a Universe of Mystery and Awe".
Abstract:
Modern telescopes are revealing an incredible, active universe. Stars continue to form within colorful nebulae they energize. Black holes lurk in the centers of nearly all galaxies. And mysterious dark matter and dark energy play “tug of war” on the ever-expanding fabric of space. Where does life and purpose fit in this incredible cosmic drama? This talk will showcase incredible astronomical images and discoveries which enrich our contemplation of life and human significance in an awe-inspiring Cosmos.
2021
October 3, 2021
“Keeping Faith: Experiences in War and Peace”
Rabbi Ronald E. Resnicoff (Click on his name for his Bio and Abstract):
2020: All events cancelled by Covid Pandemic in compliance with national and state regulations.
2019
April 7, 2019
Faces of Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Dr. Carol Colton, Professor in Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine.
October 6, 2019
Sex, Race, and Politics Explaining the Division between the Religious Left and Religious Right
Dr. Daniel K. Williams, Professor of History, University of West Georgia.
2018
April 29, 2018
Immunotherapy Engineering: New Treatments for Cancer
Dr. Gianpietro Dotti, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
October 7, 2018
Concepts of God
Dr. Andrei Buckareff (Associate Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Cognitive Science Program), Marist College.
2017
The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars
Dr. Michael Mann, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science, Director of the Penn State Earth Systems Science Center, Penn State University.
2016
I Shall Not Hate: A Message of Hope, Faith, and Courage
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, Associate Professor, Dala Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, a Palestinian physician, lost his family in the Gaza war. His determination not to hate, but to hope and work for peace was told in his book, I Shall Not Hate, and in this lecture. See the video on this site’s Videos page.
Climate Change: What’s Happening?
Dr. Bruce Wielicki, Senior Earth Scientist, NASA senior project scientist has worked with climate change data for 40 years. His expertise and depth of knowledge made his presentation one of our best received lectures of recent years. Available on the Videos page.
2015
Fracking for Hydrocarbons in North Carolina
Dr. Kenneth B. Taylor, State Geologist of North Carolina, and Dr. Avner Vengosh, Professor of Geochemistry and Water Resources, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University. Available on the Videos page.
Reason, Morality, and the Death Penalty
Michael Tigar, Professor Emeritus, Duke Law School and American University, Washington, School of Law. See Mr. Tigar’s lecture on our Videos page.
2014
New Discoveries in Ancient Galilee
Dr. Jodi Magness, Kenan Distinguished Professor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The Spirit of the Law: Religious Voices and the Constitution in Modern America
Dr. Sarah Barringer Gordon, Arlin M. Adams Professor of Constitutional Law and Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania Law School
The Ethics of Drone Warfare
Dr. John Kaag, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
2013
New Medical Miracles: Promises and Pitfalls
Dr. Ronald M. Green, Eunice and Julian Cohen Professor for the Study of Ethics and Human Values, Department of Religion, Dartmouth College
Soulful Science: An Evolutionary Theology
Rev. Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution
2012
Jesus and Judaism
Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, Vanderbilt University
Troubled Waters: Issues and Politics of Eastern North Carolina’s Waters
I. Clark Wright, Attorney
Chosen for Destruction: A Holocaust Survivor Tells His Story
Mr. Morris Glass
2011
God, Soul, Mind, Brain
Dr. Michael Graziano, Princeton University
Africa: Beyond the Stereotypes
Mr. Jon Sawyer, Dr. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, Dr. James Thomas, Mr. John Beck
2010
New Bern’s Early Religious Communities
Dr. Lauren Winner, Nelson McDaniel, Gwen Bryan, Rev. Msgr. Gerald Lewis
Volcanoes of the Deep Sea
Dr. Richard A. Lutz, Director Center for Deep-Sea Ecology and Biotechnology, Rutgers University at Centenary United Methodist Church
2008
Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Offshore North Carolina: Could it Happen? Should it Happen? Will it Happen?
Dr. Donald F. Oltz; Petroleum Geologist Director (Ret) Alabama State Oil and Gas Board; Dr. B.J. Copeland; Marine Ecologist, Vice Chair, North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission, Dr. Michael F. Orbach, Social Anthropologist, Director (ret.), Duke Marine Laboratory
Climate Change and Polar Ice: Are We Waking Sleeping Giants?
Waleed Abdalati, Ph.D.
The New Dialogue Between Science and Religion
George L. Murphy, Ph.D., M.Div.
2007
Ethics and Embryos: The Issues in Stem Cell Research
Dr. Ronald M. Green, The Eunice and Julian Cohen Professor for the Study of Ethics and Human Values, Dartmouth College
Toward the 21st Century: A Vision of Women in Church & Society
Sister Theresa Kane
2006
Nanotechnology and the Future: The Facts and Some Ethical Concerns
Dr. Vicki Colvin
What Americans Need to Know About Muslims and Islam
George W. Braswell, Jr., D. Min. Ph.D.
2005
Interfaith Dialogue
Mark J. Pelavin
Environmental Health: Life or Half-Life
Dr. Dade W. Moeller
DaVinci Code
Dr. Bart Ehrman
2004
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible
Dr. James C. VanderKam, Ph.D.