The Annual Liss Lecture in Judaica, featuring Magda Teter,  Shvidler Chair in Judaic Studies and Professor of History, Fordham University.  Originally published at theology.nd.edu.

Join the Ansari Institute as it welcomes back Andrew DeCort, who participated in the Faith in the Story: Religious Futures Workshop held at Notre Dame in December 2022. Andrew will discuss his newly released book and discuss his time in Ethiopia where he founded the Neighbor-Love Movement. About the BookBlessed Are the Others: Jesus' Way in a Violent World by Andrew DeCort is a guide that navigates the teachings of Jesus through the lens of the Beatitudes. It offers a trail to a more fulfilling life through vulnerability, compassion, nonviolence, justice, and peacemaking, challenging conventional understandings of religious blessings and prosperity. Andrew calls this humane happiness. The book is not just about exploring spirituality but also delves into historical and societal context—specifically the influence of political unrest and conflict on the Ethiopian people. It emphasizes the importance of confronting and processing grief and focuses on the societal implications that arise from unresolved pain. Notably, Blessed Are the Others encourages its readers to engage with their pain, promote healing not vengeance, and find solace even amidst suffering. By acknowledging these struggles, the book underscores the transformative power of facing grief with honesty and courage. The book also features real-life examples of individuals like Etty Hillesum and Dietrich Bonhoeffer who chose mercy over judgment in the face of extreme injustice. Blessed Are the Others discusses the seven decisions or way-stations on Jesus' Beatitudinal Way, beginning from poverty and transitioning all the way to persecution. It emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, compassion, and justice, and addresses the hurdles we may encounter on this path. “This book is required reading for those who understand the need for a deep connection between subtle analysis and empowered spirituality, especially as it relates to the prophetic Christian tradition!” – Dr. Cornel West About Andrew DeCortThe Rev. Dr. Andrew DeCort is passionate about human flourishing and challenging trends that further violence. To this end, he founded the Institute for Faith and Flourishing to nurture neighbor-love culture that honors faith and elevates human flourishing, especially for the poor, hated, and forgotten. He also serves as co-director of the Neighbor-Love Movement birthed in Ethiopia and spanning the globe with thousands of signatories committing to daily practices of nonviolence. DeCort holds a Ph.D. in Religious and Political Ethics from the University of Chicago and has worked as a pastor, professor, and peace practitioner in the United States, Europe, and Africa. His first book Bonhoeffer’s New Beginning: Ethics After Devastation was published by Fortress Academic (2018). Andrew’s second book Flourishing on the Edge of Faith: Seven Practices for a New We is published by BitterSweet Collective (2022). His work has appeared in Foreign Policy magazine, the BBC, and other major platforms. Andrew publishes the weekly newsletter Stop & Think and currently lives in Chicago with his wife, Lily.Andrew DeCort will be introduced by Fr. Emmanuel Katongole, an Ansari Institute faculty fellow and a Catholic priest who is an expert on politics and violence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Food and refreshments will be available following the formal portion of the event program. This is a free event and advanced registration is not required. Originally published at ansari.nd.edu.

Martina Evans is the author of 13 books of poetry and prose. American Mules (Carcanet 2021) won the Pigott Poetry Prize in 2022. Her latest narrative poem, The Coming Thing, was published by Carcanet in September 2023 and is shortlisted for the Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry. She is an Irish Times poetry critic and fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This event is co-sponsored by the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, the Creative Writing Program, and the Center for Social Concerns. Originally published at irishstudies.nd.edu.

This event will center on the themes of Kroc Institute visiting research fellow, Liridona Veliu Ashiku’s book, ‘Balkanization’ and the Euro-Atlantic Processes of the (Western) Balkans: Back to the Future, exploring how the discourse of 'balkanization' has shaped EU and NATO policies toward the region. Through interdisciplinary dialogue, this event will challenge outdated narratives and advocate for sustained engagement with the Balkans, moving beyond episodic attention during crises. By partnering with the Kroc, Nanovic, and Keough-Naughton Institutes, the discussion aims to redefine the Balkans' central role in trans-Atlantic identity, peacebuilding, and global political responsibilities. Panelists:Moderated by Clemens Sedmak, director of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies and professor of social ethicsPresented by Liridona Veliu Ashiku, Kroc Institute visiting fellowRespondent: Gëzim Visoka, associate dean for research and associate professor of peace and conflict studies, Dublin City UniversityRespondent: Carli Steelman, Kroc Institute Ph.D. student (peace studies and sociology)Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.

About the Talk This lecture will tackle the theological understanding of history through the prism of Byzantine historiography and theology. Particular attention will be paid to a selection of historians and to the work of St. Maximus the Confessor and St. Gregory Palamas. The lecture will also consider some modern Orthodox contributions to the theology of history (Fr. Georges Florovsky, Fr. Sergius Bukgakov) and ask what specific contribution the Byzantine tradition can make to the broader field of the theology of history which has been shaped up to this point largely by Western figures and themes. The lecture will be followed by a reception. About the Speaker Marcus Plested (D.Phil., University of Oxford, 1999) is professor of Greek Patristic and Byzantine Theology at Marquette University. Schooled in London, he studied modern history followed by theology at Merton College, Oxford, completing his doctorate under the supervision of Metropolitan Kallistos Ware. He taught for many years at the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies and the Faculty of Divinity in Cambridge. He has been a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, and has taught, lectured, and published widely in patristic, Byzantine, and modern Orthodox theology. He is the author or editor of five books to date, the most recent being The Master Builder: Demetrios Koutroubis and the Renewal of Theology in Modern Greece (Limni: Harvey, 2024). About the Series The Mathews Byzantine Lectures, begun in the 2021–22 academic year, bring a distinguished scholar of Byzantine studies to campus each year to deliver a talk, supported by the Rev. Constantine Mathews Endowment for Excellence in Byzantine Christianity in the Medieval Institute. Originally published at medieval.nd.edu.

Panelists Jeffery Angles, Brooke McCorkle, Jessica McManus Warnell, and Yuki Miyamoto will discuss environmental messages in the Godzilla films and books. Professor Amanda Kennell will moderate.Godzilla is a perfect metaphor for what is happening now in the Anthropocene: humankind has wounded nature so seriously that nature has no choice but to fight back. Jeffrey Angles, Interview with Toho KingdomYuki Miyamoto, Professor of Religious Studies and Global Asian Studies, DePaul University Jeffrey Angles, Professor of Japanese, Western Michigan University Brooke McCorkle Okazaki, Assistant Professor of Music, Carleton College Jessica McManus Warnell, the Rex and Alice A. Martin Faculty Director of the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, University of Notre Dame Moderated by Amanda Kennell, Assistant Professor of Japanese, East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Notre Dame Godzilla Fest is a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the 1954 release of the film "Godzilla" by Toho Studios in Tokyo. The giant monster, who attacked Japan after being awakened by hydrogen bomb testing, went on to become a global icon. Godzilla has starred in 38 films and has appeared in comic books, games, novelizations, advertisements, toys, and more. The king of the monsters has also been interpreted widely as a symbol for the destructive nature of humankind—from nuclear war to climate change. Godzilla Fest is organized by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame, the St. Joseph County Public Library, and the Browning Cinema at Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. More information is available at asia.nd.edu/godzilla. In support of the Liu Institute’s growing commitment to sustainability, we will no longer be offering drinks at our public lectures and panels. We encourage audience members to bring their own water bottles or to drink from nearby water fountains. Thank you for your understanding. Originally published at asia.nd.edu.