Religious activist to speak about pacifism, gun violence

Both students and faculty express excitement for the upcoming lectures by a religious activist and author.

Shane Claiborne will visit campus on Oct. 17 as a part of the Willson Lecture Series. He will be giving three lectures in the afternoon and evening, all of which are open to the campus community. The event will be in Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel, with lectures occurring in both the Chapel Sanctuary and Watson Lounge. 

There are plans for three separate lectures throughout the day on Oct. 17. The 1 p.m. lecture will be a part of the regularly scheduled chapel service in the Chapel Sanctuary in the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. The 2:30 p.m. lecture will be in Watson Lounge in the basement of the Chapel. The final lecture at 7 p.m. will also be in the Chapel Sanctuary.

Taylor Downey, youth ministry junior, said she plans to visit the 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. lectures. Downey said she enjoys the Willson Lecture series as a whole.

“I’ve attended every other Willson Lecture because the School of Religion does encourage its students to go, and every time my expectations are always exceeded. It’s always well worth my time; I learn something new,” Downey said.

Claiborne is a writer and public speaker based primarily in Philadelphia, whose most recent book “Beating Guns: Hope for People Who Are Weary of Violence,” co-written with Michael Martin, focuses on working against gun violence in the world, a view that aligns with Claiborne’s stance on pacifism and non-violence. Elizabeth Horton-Ware, director of Religious Life, said Claiborne could be a good influence for students. 

“I think that Shane Claibourne has an interesting view on the world and interacts with his Christian faith in our society in unique ways. For students and community members who aren’t sure how to bridge those gaps, faith and action, he can be a good example to look to,” Horton-Ware said. 

Looking to the future of Willson lectures, Downey said she would be interested in seeing people from all over the world come in to speak. 

“It might be a big task, but I think it would be interesting to get a global perspective on campus,” Downey said.