2025 Woolman Lecturer in Christian Scholarship to unpack The Nicene Creed
The 2025 Woolman Lectures will feature Philip Cary, Ph.D., of Eastern University. This two lecture series will take place on April 1 & 2 at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Center for Worship and the Fine Arts, Room 106.
Cary is professor of philosophy at Eastern University and Scholar-in-Residence at the Templeton Honors College. He has been philosophy editor of Christian Scholars Review, and is currently editor-in-chief of Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology.
His specialty is the history of Christian thought, with particular focus on Augustine and Luther. He is perhaps best known for his book Good News for Anxious Christians, along with his lecture series published by The Great Courses, including courses on Augustine, Luther, the History of Christian Theology, and Philosophy and Religion in the West. In addition to numerous articles and reviews, he has published three books on Augustine with Oxford University Press (Augustine’s Invention of the Inner Self, 2000; Inner Grace, 2008; and Outward Signs, 2008).
Another area of interest is theological exegesis, where he has contributed a commentary on the book of Jonah (Brazos Press, 2008). His most recently published books are The Meaning of Protestant Theology: Luther, Augustine, and the Gospel that Gives Us Christ (Baker Academic, 2019), and The Nicene Creed: An Introduction (Lexham Press, 2023).
Lecture One
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2O25
Who is God? The Nicene Creed, Part I
The Nicene Creed is the most important confession of faith in the Christian world. It is also the gold standard for statements on the doctrine of the Trinity. The fact that it speaks of One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, without ever using the word "Trinity," or even the word "three," should tell us something about what's important in the doctrine.
Lecture Two
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2
Who is Jesus? The Nicene Creed, Part II
Do Christians really believe that the man on the cross, who was once a baby in Mary's womb, is the eternal God, Creator of all things? Studying the Nicene Creed means learning why early Christians answered this question with an emphatic YES -- and how they could do so without confusing Jesus with God the Father.
The Woolman Lecture Series is sponsored by The Center for Christian Faith and Culture in partnership with the Office of the Provost.
Both lectures are free and open to the public. Pre-registration will ensure enough seats for all.