Author, Theology Professor Ryan McLaughlin to Speak at Elms College on Oct. 14

CHICOPEE — Elms College will host a public lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. in Alumnae Library by religious studies professor and author Ryan McLaughlin as part of the annual Mary Dooley Lecture Series. The lecture is free and open to the public.

McLaughlin, an associate professor of Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Theology at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey, is scheduled to give an address titled “What Are Humans, Anyway? The ‘Human’ Behind ‘Human Dignity.’” He has published two books on Christian theology and non-human animals. He has also authored more than 20 articles and book chapters on environmental ethics, biblical studies, feminist hermeneutics, and the problem of evil. He is working on his third book, The Guilt of God: A Dissonant Theodicy.

The Mary Dooley Lecture Series is named in honor of the late Sr. Mary Dooley, who served as Elms College president from 1979 to 1993 and had a distinguished career as an educator and scholar. The lecture series emphasizes spirituality and focuses on a broad, diverse range of topics. McLaughlin’s talk is in keeping with this year’s Catholic social teaching theme, “Life and Dignity of the Human Person.”

In addition to teaching, McLaughlin is also an associate fellow at the Oxford Center for Animal Ethics. He hosts an academic channel on YouTube called “The Wandering Professor,” which explores questions of philosophy, religion, and ethics.