Title: Awakening the Quieter Virtues in an Era of Braggadocio and Isolation
Presenter: Greg Spencer, Professor Emeritus of Communication, Westmont College
Date/Time: September 16, 2024, 6-7 pm EST
Description: In our culture, virtue gets relatively little attention. Because of the noisiness of our culture, the quieter virtues are almost lost altogether. Innocence and contentment are not often discussed or desired, much less practiced. Likewise, modesty is overlooked and misunderstood. Listening to NPR recently, I heard the story of a podcaster who blames his self-hatred (and most of his problems) on the Christian teachings in which he was raised. Then I watched the first presidential debate—full of belittlement, name-calling and inflated self-praise. More than ever, Americans are living isolated lives, working remotely and feeling anxious and lonely. What do the quieter virtues—as modeled by Jesus and expressed in Scripture—tell us about how to live well with ourselves and our neighbors?
Link to recorded webinar: https://vimeo.com/1011627492
Presenter bio: Gregory Spencer (PhD, University of Oregon) taught about words, perception, narrative, and the importance of questions for thirty-five years at Westmont College. He is now Professor Emeritus. He has published two novels (The Welkening and Guardian of the Veil) and is currently working on a third, Boomer Boy. He’s also published three works of nonfiction (A Heart for Truth, Awakening the Quieter Virtues, and Reframing the Soul: How Words Transform Our Faith), and dozens of articles, poems, and op-ed pieces. He lives in Santa Barbara, CA, with his wife of over forty years. They have three married daughters and eight grandchildren, six of whom live too far away. He enjoys gardening, tennis, hiking, and asking involved dinner questions.