Cecil Findley is a retired United Methodist minister, having served as a pastor, missionary, campus minister, and college professor of religion. He comes out of an evangelical background, and has expanded his horizons with reading and study, without abandoning his roots. He is accustomed to and comfortable with dealing with a wide variety of viewpoints, and feels that discussion of contrasting views is one of our best opportunities for spiritual growth.

Cecil was instrumental in bringing author, Marcus Borg, to Madison on April 26th. Students are invited to Borg's presentation and a special luncheon with the author. Cecil led a book study using Borg's "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time" this past fall and offers the following about Borg's writing and the opportunity to join in discussion about his books.

"Marcus Borg is a very clear and challenging writer. What he does for us is to enable us to use the full range of modern knowledge, which will help us both to raise our questions about the Bible and to read it more intelligently, and thus with stronger passion. Our reactions to Borg may range all over the map, from great relief at the liberation he offers, to anger that he dashes the preconceptions we have grown up with. I would add that there is a great and growing ‘cloud of witnesses’ who feel that he has given them a new lease on their Christian life, a faith that that they can hold to passionately and with integrity. (I confess up front that I am among those who share in this positive affirmation of what Borg has done.) None the less, however you initially come down on this, our discussion will try to help us deal with this range of emotions, and to emerge as stronger people of faith better able to make sense of these ancient manuscripts in a modern world." This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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