Quandaries

Archbishop Richard Smith of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton presents a Catholic perspective on medical assistance in dying. Recorded live at The King's University on April 2, 2024.

Dr. Janet Wesselius, Professor of Philosophy at University Alberta's Augustana Campus, examines EDI as a cultural phenomena and as a strategy for addressing historic injustices. Dr. Wesselius's lecture is followed by a Q & A session. Recorded live at The King's University on March 5, 2024.

A conversation with Dr. Janet Wesselius, Professor of Philosophy at University of Alberta Augustana Campus, about her upcoming lecture "The Duty and the Danger of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion."

Pharmacist and CEO of Kemet Goup Morẹ́nikẹ́ Ọláòṣebìkan explores the intersection of culture and medicine and makes the case that there is much to be gained from paying attention to traditional perspectives and attitudes when we discuss contemporary practices. Recorded live at The King's University on February 6, 2024.

A conversation with pharmacist and CEO of Kemet Group Morẹ́nikẹ́ Ọláòṣebìkan about her upcoming lecture "Traditional African Medicine—Nothing but Voodoo?".

A conversation with Christopher Lee, practising intern psychologist at Strathearn Psychology in Edmonton, AB.

Practicing intern psychologist Christopher Lee shares some insights into perfectionism how to mitigate its negative impacts on our lives. Presented live at The King's University on January 9, 2024. Christopher Lee is a practicing intern psychologist at Strathearn Psychology in Edmonton, AB.

Cheryl Whiskeyjack's lecture Allyship in an Age of Appropriation, presented on December 5, 2023 at The King's University.

A conversation with Cheryl Whiskeyjack about the work of Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, the role of culture in healing, and meeting people where they are. Cheryl Whiskeyjack is Executive Director of Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society in Edmonton, AB.

Dr. Mark Sandle's lecture "War. What Is It Good For?" recorded at The King's University on November 7, 2023.

A conversation with Dr. Mark Sandle about remembering the human cost of waging war—past and present. Dr. Sandle is Professor of History at The King's University in Edmonton, AB.

A conversation with Dr. Michael DeMoor about why difficult conversations are worth having and how we can talk to each other better. Dr. DeMoor is Associate Professor of Social Philosophy and Dean of Social Sciences at The King's University in Edmonton, Alberta.

Welcome to Quandaries from The King's University.

Modern society is grounded in the dual myths of scarcity and autonomy. But the perspective that we are all self-interested individuals in competition for limited resources has left us materially, socially, and spiritually impoverished. By challenging these foundational myths, can we change our thinking about the causes of and solutions to the problem of poverty? Can we shift to a worldview of an abundance shared by all rather than a hard-scrabble struggle to only get ours?

Sexual and gender diversity generates much controversy, emotional intensity, and division, particularly among Christians. Why is it so challenging to exemplify truth, love, and Christian unity when we engage the rainbow? How can we develop relationships of mutual trust and understanding even when we sometimes profoundly disagree?

How does a random gathering of individuals of different classes, races, and genders become a people? One answer given in recent political theologies has focused on liturgy. An assembly is formed into a people through liturgy and especially its four movements: gathering, listening, reconciling, and sending. In the case of the church, this is what it means to be “the body of Christ” as a disciplined gathering of bodies, transformed as they learn to share gifts and goods in common. Video of Desmond Tutu's speech: https://youtu.be/ygpWizpLKSc?t=1232

Contracts, by their nature, are temporary, while covenants point to something deeper and less transactional. If most of our social relationships (including work, study, marriage, and even church attendance) are viewed through the lens of contracts, how can we undertake the necessary moral conversations to live well together? By looking at the Biblical concept of covenants we can see how they form the groundwork and necessary conditions of any freedom to act.

We live in a world that makes it easy to “walk away” when things get tough. Deep divisions or disagreements within workplaces, churches, and other institutions are increasingly more likely to inspire exits rather than conversations. When commitments are tenuous, and loyalty is even sometimes seen as a weakness, how can we maintain our communities and talk about difficult topics?

Dr. Jeffrey Dudiak's lecture “Who is my neighbour? The problem of polarization and the need for political wisdom." Some recent events in Canada suggest that we are not immune to the polarization that has disrupted political processes and damaged the social fabric of the United States. Polarization is not only disagreement, it is a particular way of structuring and enforcing disagreement that makes collective moral conversations nearly impossible. How can we heal the wounds of polarization and have meaningful conversations with those who don’t share our attitudes? Can we hold our beliefs lightly enough to be receptive to the voice of the other?

Dr. Gerda Kits' lecture "Why Should I Pay for Your COVID Vaccine? Public Goods and Government Action in an Era of Individualism." Why do governments use tax revenues to pay for vaccines, emergency services, and parks? When can we leave it up to the market to provide what we need, and when might government involvement be justified? How can we best understand Adam Smith’s economic concept of "public goods?" What are the limitations of the standard Western concept of public goods, and what alternatives can Christian, Indigenous, and other perspectives provide?