News Article

Gonzaga University’s Faith and Reason Institute and the Weyerhaeuser Center for Christian Faith & Learning at Whitworth University will sponsor a lecture series that is free and open to the public titled, “Faith, Film and Philosophy” Sept. 26-28.

At 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26, Ralph Winter, producer of the film “X-Men,” will lecture in the Cowles Auditorium at Whitworth University on the topic, “The Storytelling Landscape: The Challenges for a Christian in Hollywood.”

On Thursday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m., Thomas Hibbs, distinguished professor of ethics and culture and dean of the Honors College at Baylor University, will address the topic, “Spiritual Quests in the films of M. Night Shyamalan” in the Wolff Auditorium at Gonzaga’s Jepson Center for the School of Business Administration.

At 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, Michael Foley, a professor of theology and philosophy at Baylor, will complete the series with a lecture on “‘Gattacca,’ ‘The Truman Show,’ and ‘S1MONE’: The Platonic Vision of Andrew Niccolby,’” also in the Jepson Center’s Wolff Auditorium at Gonzaga.

Events on Saturday, Sept. 29 include the Faith, Film, and Philosophy Seminar at Gonzaga, paper presentations (by invitation only), and a 7 p.m. public panel discussion at Whitworth University with Winter and Foley.

Winter has worked on other films, including a 2001 remake of “Planet of the Apes,” several “Star Trek” series films, “Inspector Gadget,” and “Left Behind,” among others. He has been involved in many projects including short films, TV and feature films, and is a juror for the Damah Film Festival, which focuses on spiritual experiences in film. Also, he is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.

Hibbs, who earned a doctorate from the University of Notre Dame, has authored many scholarly articles, edited the works of Aquinas and Augustine, and published two books on Aquinas, including “Virtue’s Splendour.” Hibbs is interviewed regularly on radio, and writes occasionally for The Chronicle of Higher Education. Hibbs has a book forthcoming titled, “Philosophy and Film Noir,” and plans a book on Pascal’s thought.

Foley, who earned a doctorate from Boston College, specializes in the political, philosophical, and theological thought of St. Augustine. He is the author of “Why Do Catholics Eat Fish on Friday? The Catholic Origin to Just About Everything,” and several translations and commentaries on St. Augustine. One of his current projects is co-editing “An Anthology of Early Christian Writing: 100-600” with GU philosophy Associate Professor Douglas Kries.

The Gonzaga University Faith and Reason Institute is dedicated to integrating faith and reason by investigating the nature of scientific research, popular culture and other relevant issues and through discussion and reflection on topics in the philosophy of religion. The Institute sponsors conferences and lectures throughout the year that are available to university students and the public, often in cooperation with organizations such as the Weyerhaeuser Center for Christian Faith and Learning at Whitworth University.

For more information about this and other events, please visit the Institute’s Web site or contact Gonzaga philosophy Associate Professor Brian Clayton at (509) 323-6744 or Margaret Rankin via e-mail For more information on Whitworth events, please see the Weyerhaeuser web page.