Dr. Caleb Karges (History) explains the nature of the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714), the lessons it teaches us, and why it still matters today. Dr. Karges also regularly hosts a feature podcast series with Cui Bono Cast, called “The History Suite.” He is also faculty-in-residence at the Global Village Living-Learning Community.

This convocation lecture explores the heart of Concordia's education mission: the concept of vocation. Attention is given to the sacredness of our work and callings in life and to ways to discern one's callings in a particular life.  Dr. Michael A. Thomas, the fifth president of Concordia University Irvine, brings a passion for higher education to his tenure. His deep commitment to the Lutheran intellectual tradition, along with his extensive experience across multiple disciplines, including curriculum, faculty and staff development, governance, enrollment, and student life, has prepared him to lead Concordia into a new era. Prior to coming to Concordia University Irvine, Dr. Thomas served as the Executive Director of the Lutheran Institute for Theology and Culture at Concordia University Portland (CUP). The Institute combined three academic departments (Religion, Music, and Art) with Campus Ministry, Church Relations, and the Center for Applied Lutheran Leadership. Previously, Dr. Thomas served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Director of the Honors Program at CUP. As Professor of Religion, his academic interests include the history and literature of early Christianity, early Judaism, and the classical world. Michael A. Thomas earned his B.A. at Concordia University Portland in 1993, his M.A. at the University of Washington in 1996, and his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia in 2008.

Dr Bryan Santin (English) discusses the power and insights of Afrofuturist science fiction in the work of Octavia Butler. This was recorded at the Honors Living Learning Community on the campus of Concordia University Irvine.

Dr. Bryan Santin (English) and Dr. Caleb Karges (History) discuss the recent history of politics and fiction and its various leanings over the decades. Santin teaches some classes in the History and Political Thought department and has recently published Postwar American Fiction and The Rise of Modern Conservatism: A Literary History.

Dr. Dan Deen (Philosophy) and Dr. Joel Oesch (Theology) discuss the concept of curiosity. Is it good for us? Is it helpful? This episode was recorded at the Bella Amore LLC at Concordia University Irvine. Some of the student questions are hard to hear, but if you stick with it, Deen and Oesch end up bringing together themes from great thinkers to discuss the life of the mind with students and fellow faculty. These two faculty members also lead the summer Crosswise Institute.

Lieut. Josiah Popp (USMC), alumnus of the History and Political Thought program and Dr. Caleb Karges, military historian at CUI, discuss the history and implications of new technologies applied to warfare. Historical and contemporary issues are discussed.

An exploration of the question whether anyone should want theism to be true. This thought experiment leads to fascinating and important insights. This talk was a Cui Bono presentation in the CUI Heritage Garden. Dr. Ballard is assistant professor of philosophy at CUI. He works in ethics, epistemology,  philosophy of mind, and philosophy of religion. His primary question these days is: How does religious faith affect human flourishing? How, for instance, does faith allow us to make meaning out of suffering, or craft a sense of identity, or find a basis for radical forgiveness?  Ballard earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh under Edouard Machery, John McDowell, Karl Schafer, Jim Woodward, and Crispin Wright. Before that, he earned his MA from NYU under David Velleman.

We present the keynote speech on the Constitution for CUI’s constitution week, spearheaded by JoEllen Chatham, Director of the Concordia University Center for Public Policy, Citizenship and Ethics, in collaboration with the History and Political Thought Department. The speaker is The Honorable Andrew J. Guilford

Anthropologist Dr. Jack Schulz discusses the nature of a good life in the face of death, as conceived across various cultures, and in light of his own confrontation with a cancer diagnosis. He discusses the virtues he and many of his faculty colleagues seek to cultivate in students through Concordia’s liberal arts programming & emphasizes the importance of the person and teachings of Jesus within CUI’s liberal arts conversations.

Dr. Jeff Mallinson (Prof. & Chair of History & Political Thought) explains how ancient Taoists and early Christians both faced worlds that were uncertain, violent & riddled with factionalism & war. According to him, both approaches to life encouraged a sort of spiritual anarchism, which is the central topic of this outside lecture in the CUI Heritage Garden. Anarchism here refers to the idea that the state serves its own interests, rather than ours & is thus not to be trusted let alone worshipped. The sage-disciple will avoid the very systems of domination that work to enslave us & steal our joy, albeit in a nonviolent way. The difference between Taoism & Christianity is primarily the difference between letting things run their course as the sage goes fishing on the outskirts of society on the one hand (Taoism), and working to repair the world and heal our neighbors with Good News, even when it means the followers of Jesus will face suffering and death at the hands of the powers that be on the other (Christianity).