"Dietrich von Hildebrand’s Defense of Beauty Against Its Detractors.”

Retrieving Beauty: This year’s Bitar Event has included a book discussion, as well as a return of Geneva College’s 2015 Bitar Lecturer, Dr. D. C. Schindler, for a special lecture March 19: “Hans Urs von Balthasar on Beauty.” The 2018 Bitar Lecture by John F. Crosby will be held April 9, 7 p.m., in Skye Lounge.

• 2018 Bitar Lecture Schedule

Contact us to receive free Bitar Lecturer Quotation Bookmarks from our annual series.

Dr. Byron I. Bitar Memorial Lecture

Dr. Byron I. Bitar

The Dr. Byron I. Bitar Memorial Lecture in Philosophy was endowed by the William C. Kriner Family in memory of Geneva College′s beloved professor of a quarter-century, in order to continue his legacy and vision for philosophy. The Lecture was inaugurated in 2004, a year after Dr. Bitar′s untimely death. Past Bitar Lecturers include renowned philosophers Stephen Evans, Paul Helm, Alvin Plantinga, Nicholas Wolterstorff, and Linda Zagzebski.

In addition to the lectures, the Bitar event includes a dinner with the lecturer for faculty and invited guests from Geneva and other institutions, to honor the Lectures′ endowing families, the William Kriners and the family of Byron Bitar. It features the announcement of the annual Bitar Cash Prize for best student philosophy paper, a gift from Mrs. Gail Bitar. Also there is a dinner for philosophy majors, and a master class, for all Geneva students, with the Lecture.

Past Bitar Lecturers include:

• 2004-05: Dr. Stephen Evans, Baylor University – “Can Love be Commanded?: Kierkegaard on the Foundations of Moral Obligation”        
• 2005-06: Dr. Paul Helm – “John Calvin′s Big Idea”
• 2006-07: Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff – "Love and Justice"
• 2007-08: Linda Zagzebski – "Self-Trust and Religious Belief"
• 2008-09: Dr. James K.A. Smith – "A Liturgical Phenomenology for a Post-Secular Age"
• 2009-10: R.J. Snell – "Culture of Boredom, Culture of Death"
• 2010-11: Dr. Paul K. Moser – “Expecting a Severe God.”
• 2011-12: Dr. Alvin Plantinga – “Science, Religion and Naturalism”
• 2012-13: Dr. Nancey Murphy – “Human Nature at the Intersection of Science, Religion and Philosophy”
• 2013-14: Dr. Merold Westphal – "Getting from There to Here: From Modernity to Postmodernity"
• 2014-15: Dr. D.C. Schindler – "A Pre-Modern Response to the Post-Modern 'Lonely Mind’"
• 2015-16: Dr. Gregory R. Beabout - "Philosophical Wisdom for Business Savvy: The Character of the Manager"
• 2016-17: Dr. Frances Howard-Snyder - "The Moral Risk of Trust: Learning from Fiction"

For further information:

Philosophy at Geneva College…
“…Engaging the philosophical conversation, honing critical skills and passions, cultivating wisdom, for service, for living; in submission to Jesus Christ the Truth.”

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