Surprise visit from Dr. J.P. Moreland - Geneva College
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Surprise visit from Dr. J.P. Moreland

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Dr. J.P. MorelandRenowned philosopher, theologian and Christian apologist Dr. J. P. Moreland has committed on short notice to visit Geneva College at 10:10 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2015 in the West Reading Room of Geneva’s McCartney Library to present research to the campus community.

Addressing the perplexing issue of mind-brain relationship from a dualistic perspective, Moreland will argue that physicalist models are inadequate to explain personhood. He will present "Contemporary Dualism and Physicalist Models of the Human Person”  on his way to address the Christian Scientific Society in downtown Pittsburgh Friday evening.

Dr. Moreland is currently Distinguished Professor of Philosophy in the Talbot School of Theology of Biola University ( LaMirada, California).  He has earned four degrees: a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Missouri, a Th.M. in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, an M. A. in philosophy from the University of California-Riverside, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Southern California.

He also worked for Campus Crusade for 10 years, planted three churches and spoken and debated at more than 175 colleges and universities. For eight years, he served as a bioethicist for PersonaCare Nursing Homes, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland.

He describes his relationship with Christ through the “Kingdom Triangle”: cultivating the life of the mind; flourishing the life of a tender, non-judgmental, loving and joy-filled heart; attending to the supernatural life of a disciple of Jesus. Books on this topic and others are written for readers of varied education. His content is divided into three levels: beginner (at least high school education), intermediate (at least undergraduate education), advanced (at least graduate education).

The Soul: How We Know It’s Real and Why it Matters (Moody, 2014) is Moreland’s most recent book. His other works include Body and Soul: Human Nature and the Crisis of Ethics (with Scott B. Rae, 2000); Naturalism: A Critical Analysis (co-editor with William Lane Craig, 2000); Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview (with William Lane Craig, 2003); Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit's Power (2007); Consciousness and the Existence of God (2009); The Recalcitrant Imago Dei (2009); and The God Question: An Invitation to a Life of Meaning (2009).

He and his wife of 38 years, Hope, have two daughters, who are both married and have children of their own. He draws deeply from the community and support of his local church, Vineyard Anaheim.

“Besides my family and close friends, three people have had the greatest impact on me during my journey with Jesus: Bill Bright, Howard Hendricks, and Dallas Willard,” says Dr. Moreland on his personal website.

His work has appeared in both religious and secular media outlets, including New Scientist and PBS’s “Closer to Truth,” Christianity Today and WORLD magazine  as well as more than 70 articles in journals, including Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, American Philosophical Quarterly, Australasian Journal of Philosophy, Metaphilosophy, Philosophia Christi, and Faith and Philosophy.

Geneva College invites students to step forward and leap ahead with an academically excellent, Christ-centered and affordable education. Offering nearly 40 undergraduate majors, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and campus-based options, and high-demand advanced graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top 10 Best Value with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the inerrancy of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today’s world.

Apr 16, 2015