DCA Presents St. Norbert Distinguished Lecture Series

As world conflicts have escalated in recent years, the concept of forgiveness has become a frequent topic for discussion and debate. Ultimately, peace is the goal of all mankind, but the reality of achieving peace is illusive and difficult to understand. In the final St. Norbert Distinguished Lecture of the 2008 series, Dr. Paul Wadell, professor of Religious Studies at St. Norbert College, will present “The Risks and Promises of Forgiveness.” Dr. Wadell’s presentation is scheduled to begin at 9 am, Saturday, March 15 in the Door Community Auditorium.

Dr. Wadell first became interested in the topic of forgiveness through his interactions with “persons whose lives had in many respects been stalled by something needing forgiveness. Some of these hurts ran deep and they struggled with knowing how to move forward without denying or minimizing what had been done to them.

“I also found that whenever I mentioned forgiveness in a class my students immediately paid attention. They were drawn to the subject, and often because of something in their own lives that needed the healing touch of forgiveness,” said Dr. Wadell. “We struggle to understand what forgiveness truly is, how to achieve forgiveness, where it begins. To forgive may not be easy, but it frees us from the toxins of bitterness and resentment.”

In the course of his presentation, Dr. Wadell will provide insights into what constitutes forgiveness, where does forgiveness begin, is it essential that one forgives, and how forgiveness contributes to well-being. “More than anything, I see the poignant need for forgiveness when I am asked to talk to victims of crime. Although it is a difficult talk to give, I am convinced that sometimes the only way for us to reconnect with life is through the risk of forgiveness,” Dr. Wadell concluded.

A member of the St. Norbert College Religious Studies faculty since 1998, Dr. Wadell is a nationally recognized author and expert on religion, friendship, and Christian ethics. He has been quoted in the New York Times newspaper and is a frequent guest speaker at conferences and forums across the United States.

The St. Norbert Distinguished Lecture Series is free and open to the public. Contact the box office at 920.868.2728 or visit http://www.dcauditorium.org for additional information.