“Exclusion and Embrace: Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation” – Ante Jeroncic
Date: March 9, 2013
Speaker(s): Dr. Ante Jeroncic & four AU Honors Students on panel
Position: Jeroncic is an Assistant Professor of Religion at Andrews University
Topic: “Exclusion and Embrace: Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation” (A discussion of Miroslav Volf’s 1990 book by that title set against the background of ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s)
Venue: Chan Shun Hall
Attendance: 58
Presentation: Jeroncic & four students summarized several chapters of Volf’s book which discusses narratives of exclusion vs. inclusion and focuses on the importance of forgiveness vs. revenge, inclusion vs. exclusion (4 types of: elimination, assimilation, domination, abandonment), embracing victims to liberate them rather than revenging past wrongs, acceptance of “the other,” & how post-modern thought dehumanizes individuals while Christianity provides a call to live peacefully with all. The Anabaptists, who believe only God can judge fairly, are an example of peaceful coexistence & creating “good boundaries” that are non-exclusionary & non-judgmental.
Michiana Adventist Forum 