Religion Scholar and Author Karen Armstrong Speaks Oct. 4 As Part of Distinguished Lecture Series

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Karen Armstrong, an internationally renowned religion scholar and author, will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Student Union Jordan Ballroom at Boise State University as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series.

Armstrong�s free lecture, �The Battle for God,� is drawn from her book by the same name. She will discuss the rise of fundamentalist movements in Islam, Christianity and Judaism, including the role a technologically driven world with liberal Western values plays in exacerbating conflicts.

Armstrong is the author of �A History of God,� �Holy War,� �Islam,� the memoir �The Spiral Staircase,� and a number of other well-received books. She has been described as one of the most provocative, original and inclusive thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world. A former Roman Catholic nun, Armstrong has been lauded as a bridge builder who promotes understanding among different faiths.

�Karen Armstrong offers a perspective on the role religious fundamentalism plays in world events that is timely, relevant and provocative,� said Helen Lojek, a Boise State English professor and chair of the Distinguished Lecture Series Committee. �This is an issue of increasing importance in today�s world, and we are very much looking forward to hearing what she has to say.�

No tickets are being issued for Armstrong�s lecture; seating is limited and is available on a first-come basis. Free public parking during the lecture is available in the Bronco Stadium parking lot, the Student Union visitor lot, and on Bronco Lane.

As a prelude to Armstrong�s lecture on Oct. 4, a book discussion of her acclaimed memoir, �The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness,� will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Log Cabin Literary Center, 801 South Capitol Blvd. The public is invited to the free event, led by Bruce Ballenger, a professor in the Department of English at Boise State.

Twice each year, the student-funded Distinguished Lecture Series brings to campus speakers who have had a major impact in the politics, the arts, science, business or in another other realm of contemporary significance. On April 12, 2006, the series will present Joseph Stiglitz, a Columbia University professor, former chief economist for the World Bank and the 2001 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics. Stiglitz will speak on �The Economics of Information.�

Former speakers in the series include biologist E.O. Wilson, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former president of Poland Lech Walesa, hostage negotiator Terry Waite, and others. More information on the series is at http://news.boisestate.edu/dls

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Contact: Helen Lojek, Department of English, (208) 426-1328, hlojek@boisestate.edu 
Media Contact: Janelle Brown, News Services, (208) 426-3275, jbrown2@boisestate.edu