PHILADELPHIA, PA – Theology professor, Nancy R. Howell, Ph.D., will deliver the lecture, “Kanzi, Pan-Homo Culture and Theological Primatology,” at the College’s Commonwealth Chateau, SugarLoaf Hill, on October 7, at 7 p.m.
Kanzi is a bonobo monkey who by observing things via repetition and observation, learned ways to communicate with humans. Dr. Howell will discuss these findings regarding primate studies and what they mean from a theological perspective.
“Learning about primates is a valuable project because humans can also learn about themselves. As our nearest relatives among animals, we can gain insight about behavior, cognition, and sociality. Too often we assume that human abilities are radically disconnected from what the rest of the animal world experiences, but some scientific research raises questions about the presumption of human uniqueness or exceptionalism,” said Dr. Howell. “For Christian religious thought, any challenge to the concept of human uniqueness leads to the unfolding of many questions about how we think about the relationship of God and humans or God and nature. I am introducing the proposal that Christian thinkers should include theological primatology within religious discourse as a way to explore the interface of human and non-human animal identity, value, and relationship, which then leads to interpretation of the doctrine of God,” said Dr. Howell.
Dr. Howell’s lecture will also explore what she has found in her own research with primates to entertain the notion if God is just as vested in the lives of non-humans as humans.
“I hope to persuade conversation partners that stepping outside the circles of our familiar relationships to learn about others is a critical skill not only for relating to non-human animals and nature, but also for relating to humans whom we distance from ourselves,” said Dr. Howell.
Dr. Howell is the academic dean and professor of theology and philosophy of religion at Saint Paul School of Theology in Greater Kansas City and teaches in the bioethics department at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. Dr. Howell continues to publish research about the impact of primate studies on conceptions of human uniqueness and develop courses in the science and religion fields.
“The general principle shaping my decisions about courses and pedagogy is that students must learn to think deeply and theologically in order to respond effectively to the needs of the church and local community,” said Dr. Howell.
This lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Kathy Duffy, SSJ, Ph.D., at kduffy@chc.edu.
