Call For Papers
A call for papers is being extended to professional philosophers, professionals interested in philosophy of religion, or students of philosophy of religion as well as any professional or student in a field intersecting philosophy of religion and war. Any proposal on the conference theme is welcome, including but not limited to the role of religion in war and peace-making, just-war theories, political and social disagreement, the role of justice in conflict, social and political justice, military ethics, and pacifism. While proposals on the conference theme will be given special consideration, any proposal on any topic related to the philosophy of religion will be considered. Proposals must be 250-350 words and must be submitted no later than March 7, 2025. Proposals may be submitted to Greg Trickett at gtrickett@wc.edu. Presentations will be limited to a 45 minute time frame (approximately 30 minutes for presentation and 15 for Q & A). Presenters are encouraged to submit a full version of their paper for consideration in a possible published volume.
Registration and Pricing
Conference registration for Weatherford College faculty, staff, and students is free, but registration is still required (Weatherford College registrants may be required to show their school ID at the conference registration table). Registration for non-Weatherford attendees will be $40. In addition to the paper presentations and plenary sessions, there will be a Q & A dinner featuring our keynote speaker and some of our presenters at the close of the conference on Saturday. The dinner will be held at a local restaurant and will be self-pay.
Welcome to Weatherford College
We live in a time of conflict. Whether in the so-called “culture wars” fought on the fields of social media and political disagreement or the rumor of conflict between nations that threatens to boil over into full scale war like those that rage in the Middle-East and elsewhere, our global culture, it seems, is one steeped in war and its imagery. Though by no means the only factor, religion often plays a role in how such conflicts begin and (perhaps ironically?) the same religions offer hope for how they can be resolved. Are such conflicts justified or justifiable? Is peace possible? If it is, what does it reasonably look like? It is in light of issues and questions such as these that Weatherford College presents the 7th annual Philosophy of Religion Conference on the theme “Philosophy of Religion and War” on April 11-12, 2025.
My thanks to the Weatherford College administration for recognizing the potential an academic event such as this holds for our community of educators and students, and agreeing to fund this year’s conference. I also appreciate the support and encouragement of the greater Weatherford community including her faculty, staff, and students. Of particular note are President Farmer; Dr. Shannon Ydoyaga; Mike Endy, (without whose encouragement and support 7 years ago, this conference never would have begun); Scott Tarnowieckyi, Assistant Vice President of Student Services; for past and present support, administrative assistants, Debbie Alexander and Dana Orban; Dana Brewer and all of my other colleagues in the Humanities Department as well as those colleagues in my office bay. Katie Edwards from the graphics department, and all of the other support staff from the Business office to Public Relations to Graphic Design . . . you all have my deepest, heartfelt thanks. At risk of sounding the broken record, my hope for this event continues to be in hosting a respectable conference on a timely topic that would showcase the often-overlooked role of academics at a primarily two-year institution. Once again, Weatherford College has been given the opportunity to show that not only are such academic endeavors possible at an institution such as ours, but also that they can provide the means for a community college to add its diverse voice to a conversation taking place in the broader academic community. I hope you enjoy this weekend, taking advantage of the opportunity to listen and participate in that conversation.
The Arbour Memorial Lecture Series
Meet the Keynote Speaker
Myles Werntz
Director of Baptist Studies, Abilene Christian University
Myles Werntz is Associate Professor of Theology in the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University. He is the author and editor of nine books in Christian theology and ethics, most recently A Field Guide to Christian Nonviolence (with David C. Cramer), and From Isolation to Community, 2022. He has written widely in the area of Christian social ethics and theology, particularly in the areas of war and peace, migration, and ecclesiology.
SCHEDULE • 2025 CONFERENCE
- 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Registration & Coffee
- 3 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.: Session I
- 4 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.: Session II
- 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Dinner on your own
- 6:45 p.m. - 8 p.m.: The Arbour Memorial Lecture Series (Plenary Session I)
- 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Registration & Coffee
- 10 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.: Session III
- 11 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.: Session IV
- Noon - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch on your own
- 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: The Arbour Memorial Lecture Series (Plenary II)
- 2:40 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Session V
- 3:40 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.: Session VI
- 5:30p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Banquet at Shep's
The Arbour Memorial Lecture Series
The keynote lectures for the Weatherford College Philosophy of Religion conference are named “The Arbour Memorial Lecture Series.” Ben Arbour was a dedicated husband to Meg Arbour, father to his four children, Wesley, Abby, Micah, and Noah, son to his parents Jimmy and Candy, brother to Drew, and friend to countless others. Tragically, in early November of 2020, Ben and his wife Meg were killed by a street car racer less than two blocks from their house. While the loss is undeniably devastating, the legacy that Ben and Meg left behind is truly inspiring.