By Julia Olson
Assistant Editor
On Tuesday, April 29, The Klau Library will host Dr. David Aaron, Professor of Hebrew Bible and History of Interpretation at Hebrew Union College, for a lecture on the formation of religious canons and the purposes they serve regarding information normalization and control. Dr. Aaron’s lecture, titled “The Moral Dilemma Created by a Religious Canon: Reflections on How to Read, How to Teach, How to Live,” will examine what it means when racist or misogynistic texts are included in an accepted canon. Questions about the ethics of teaching texts which support an outdated, unfair class system will be addressed, as well the idea that canonization of a body of texts is primarily an exclusionary activity.
Is canonization the final word on a textual corpus, or is it a limitation that begs transcendence by a new generation of scholars?
Those interested in learning more about the moral dilemma posed by canonization can find registration information on the Klau Library website. The lecture begins at 12:30 p.m. and is available both in person and online.
