Sunday, March 15, 2009

MAURA O’NEILL TO SPEAK ON “MENDING A TORN WORLD: WOMEN IN INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE”

Maura O’Neill served as Professor of Philosophy at Chaffey College from 1986 until her retirement in 2007. Dr. O’Neill taught classes in philosophy, ethics, and critical thinking as well as Introduction to Religion, Monotheistic Religions and Eastern Philosophy. She will deliver the 22nd Annual Morrow-McCombs Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, March 31st at 7:30 pm in San Bernardino.



(SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.) Maura O’Neill will deliver the 22nd Annual Morrow-McCombs Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, March 31st at 7:30 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1475 North Park Blvd. in San Bernardino (adjacent to the California State University in San Bernardino campus). She will speak on “Mending a Torn World: Women in Interreligious Dialogue.”

The Morrow-McCombs Memorial Lecture was established in 1987 at California State San Bernardino to promote Jewish-Christian relations and more recently has been expanded to promote Jewish-Christian-Islamic relations. The annual event has brought eminent religious scholars to the Inland Empire.

McNeill began her career as a member of a Roman Catholic religious order. Following her graduation from Brentwood College in New York she taught in schools in Puerto Rico and the United States. She received her M.A. in Theology from St. Michael’s College in Vermont.

After leaving the order McNeill was appointed as Catholic Campus Minister at Cal State San Bernardino and San Bernardino Valley College. During her tenure as campus minister she completed her doctoral studies in philosophy of religion and theology at Claremont Graduate University.

McNeill served as Professor of Philosophy at Chaffey College from 1986 until her retirement in 2007. Dr. O’Neill taught classes in philosophy, ethics, and critical thinking as well as Introduction to Religion, Monotheistic Religions and Eastern Philosophy.

She is currently Professor Emerita at Chaffey College. During McNeill’s years at Chaffey College she served as president of the college Faculty Senate and as advisor to the Muslim Student Association.

In 2007 her book “Mending a Torn World: Women in Interreligious Dialogue” was published by Orbis Books. She has received numerous awards including a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to organize and administer workshops for educators in Southeast Asia.

Dr. O’Neill has lectured throughout the world on the role of women in interreligious dialogue as well as other related subjects.

The Morrow-McCombs Memorial Lecture is open to the public and admission is free. Ample parking will be provided. A reception will follow the lecture. The lecture is being co-sponsored by California State University San Bernardino and the City of San Bernardino Human Relations Commission.

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