Theoria (the Philosophy Club)
Theoria, the philosophy club, hosts open discussions on topics of interest to everyone.
Past themes include science and faith, capital punishment, credit and consumerism, personal bias, truth and lies, and marketing religion.
You are welcome to join us for our next discussion!
What We've Talked About Recently
The Dark Side of Chocolate: Child Trafficking and Illegal Child Labor in the Cocoa Industry
February 5
Have chocolate manufacturers turned a blind eye to child trafficking and de facto slavery on African cocoa farms? This program investigates.
Upcoming Open Discussions
All events take place at 5:30 p.m. in Hopwood Auditorium.
Gender Me: Homosexuality in the World of Islam
March 5
Filmed in Istanbul and Oslo, this artistic documentary by Turkish/Norwegian filmmaker Nefise Ozkal Lorentzen openly explores what it is like to be both gay and Muslim.
Through the interrelated stories of a gay rights activist, a gay imam, drag artists, and others, Gender Me gently denounces homophobia in general, encourages discourse and engagement within Islam as a positive societal approach to coming to terms with sexual otherness, and seeks to advance a loving appreciation of the oneness of all humankind.
Symbol: Should We Still Fear the Swastika?
April 10
Appropriated by the Nazis as a symbol of fascist power, the swastika, or hooked cross, has been revered by various cultures and nations since pre-Christian times.
In 2006, a Catholic church in St. Cloud, Minnesota, opted to remove five swastikas that had been part of its roofline façade since 1930. This program considers the factors that led to the decision, chronicles the removal itself, and examines the wide range of opinions it aroused in the surrounding community.
Produced with support from St. Cloud State University’s Jewish Studies program and its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education, this is an excellent launch point for discussing intersections between architecture, history, religion, free expression, and other areas. Contains mature content.
