Spinoza as Religious Philosopher

Between Jewishness and Radical Protestantism

A Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre Symposium

Presentations by:

• Professor Willi Goetschel, University of Toronto, author of Spinoza's Modernity (2004)
• Professor Graeme Hunter, University of Ottawa, author of Radical Protestantism in Spinoza's Thought (2005)

Responding from the perspective of Judaism:

• Novak, University of Toronto

Responding from the perspective of Mennonite and Dutch History:

• Driedger, Brock University

Response from the author of Between Philosophy and Religion, Vol. I: Spinoza, the Bible, and Modernity:

• Professor Brayton Polka, York University

The recent surge of interest in Spinoza’s thought has reopened old debates concerning his context, influences and sources. The recent books by Goetschel and Hunter, respectively examining Spinoza's debt to his Jewish heritage and his relation to radical Protestantism, including Mennonites and Collegiants in Amsterdam, provide contracting approaches.

We hope this issue will appeal to both Jews and Christians who are interested in understanding how Spinoza’s thought has shaped various modern religious questions and offers insight into the ‘radical’ nature of these two religious traditions, as well as those interested in more generally in the relation of religious identity and the development of a critical philosophy.

Co-sponsor: Emmanuel College

Download the Spinoza as Religious Philosopher poster (PDF).