Ridenour, Arbo to Kick-Off Spring Philosophy Forum Series Feb. 7

February 7, 2020

The first Philosophy Forum of the new year will take place Friday, Feb. 7, in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium inside Bailey Business Center on the OBU campus. The forum will feature a philosophical conversation between faculty members Dr. Randy Ridenour and Dr. Matthew Arbo, discussing the question, “Is Righteous Anger a Myth?” The Forum will begin at 4 p.m. and conclude by 5:30 p.m.

Ridenour is a professor of philosophy at OBU. He joined the OBU faculty in 2000. He earned a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D, all from the University of Oklahoma. Before completing his degree, he was an infantry soldier, who later served as a chaplain’s assistant before being commissioned as a chaplain with the Army Reserve. He has presented papers at philosophy conferences and meetings around the country and serves as a supply preacher in churches around the state.

Arbo is the Jewell and Joe Huitt Assistant Professor of Theological Studies and the Director of the Center for Faith and Public Life at OBU. He earned both a B.A. and M.A. from Liberty University. He then earned both an MTh. and Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of “Political Vanity: Adam Ferguson on the Moral Tensions of Early Capitalism” and “Walking through Infertility: Biblical, Theological and Moral Counsel for Those Who are Struggling.” He is an active participant in the scholarly community, contributing as an invited panelist or presenter for conferences at Princeton University, University of Notre Dame and Tyndale House (Cambridge).

Philosophy Forums are intended to bring issues of broad philosophical importance to the sphere of public conversation on campus. This forum will explore the tone of “righteous indignation,” or outright hostility which marks so much of public dialogue in today’s United States. In their philosophical conversation, Arbo and Ridenour will evaluate the notion of righteous anger and suggest that Christian virtue points to a better way forward.

Dr. Tawa Anderson, associate professor of philosophy, organizes the Philosophy Forum series.

“My colleagues Dr. Arbo and Dr. Ridenour are both genteel and charitable dialogue partners, able to express disagreement without demeaning,” Anderson said. “I look forward to hearing a kind and charitable discussion between two friends who care deeply about the development of public virtue in Christian citizens.”

In addition to this Forum, three more will be held this semester. On Friday, March 6, guest lecturer Dr. Robert B. Stewart from New Oreleans Baptist Theological Seminary will present, “The Whole Gospel for the Whole World.” On Friday, April 3, the Mars Hill student apologetics club will host a student panel discussion on epistemology. The final Philosophy Forum of the semester will take place Friday, May 1, with guest lecturer Dr. Travis Kerns from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.