The Greatest Song: In Critique of Solomon

Calvin G. Seerveld, 2019 reprint

Music by Ina Lohr
Woodcuts by Flip van der Burgt
Design by Sypko Bosch

Find it on: Wipf & Stock (2019 reprint) or Tuppence

A poignant translation from the Hebrew of the Song of Songs as a chorus of voices. A convincing look at this enigmatic book of the Bible treated as God's Word about erotic human love in the wisdom tradition.

Creator of the Stars of Night - 2nd Annual ICS Advent Concert

NOVEMBER 30, 2019 AT 7:00PM

Get your tickets here!

We would like to joyfully invite you to ring in the Advent season with us at our second annual 

ICS Advent Concert:

CREATOR OF THE STARS OF NIGHT

with Incontra Vocal Ensemble
Matthew Otto, Artistic Director/Conductor

Doors open at 6:30pm
Concert begins at 7:00pm
Tickets: $35

This year, our Advent celebrations will feature a number of seasonal readings and a thoughtful collection of Advent & Christmas music by Benjamin Britten, Felix Mendelssohn, Bob Chilcott and more - including compositions by Toronto composer, J. Scott Brubacher. The concert will take place in the Knox College Chapel (59 St. George Street, Toronto), and light refreshments will be provided following the concert.

We are both excited and grateful to be joined by Incontra Vocal Ensemble and Artistic Director/Conductor Matthew Otto for this year's festivities, and we look forward to welcoming you all into our ICS home.

As we embark into the season of lights, this evening will present a perfect opportunity to reflect on the joy and hope we have, as well as the gracious gifts we have and continue to receive from our Creator. We hope you will join us to celebrate the spirit of the season!

If you are unable to join us, but would still like to give a gift in support of the ongoing work of ICS, you may also visit the concert event page to make a donation.

If you have any additional questions, you may either call (416-979-2331, ext. 260) or email us (ics-communications@icscanada.edu). 

Shaping a Just Canada: CPRSE Event with Citizens for Public Justice

Shaping a Just Canada

When: Thursday, October 3, 7:00-9:30pm

Where: Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4T 1Z8

The Centre for Philosophy, Religion, and Social Ethics (CPRSE) at ICS is pleased to partner with Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) to host Shaping a Just Canada, a non-partisan forum aimed at equipping voters with the knowledge needed to fully engage in the Canadian political process. CPJ is a faithful voice for social justice in Canadian public policy focused primarily on poverty in Canada, ecological justice, and refugee rights. CPJ’s fall tour will provide a non-partisan look at major issues leading up the fall federal election.

ICS/CPRSE and CPJ invite all members of the public to participate in this event as a means of gaining a clear and practical understanding of the key issues facing Canada in the upcoming election. Such understanding and engagement is especially key for Canada’s faith communities who bring important perspectives to our public discourse. 

The event will feature remarks from CPJ’s new Executive Director, Willard Metzger, and a panel presentation on immigration, refugees, and political participation led by members of Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) and CPRSE's own Héctor Acero Ferrer.

ICS/CPRSE is grateful to Christ Church Deer Park, an Anglican parish in midtown Toronto, for lending the use of their building for this event.

The event is free, but please register to attend at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cpj-fall-tour-toronto-on-tickets-66381722519

Graduates and Undergraduates Talk God and Politics in 2019 Workshop and Joint Course

On May 23-25, 2019 ICS hosted its third annual Undergraduate Workshop that invited undergraduate students from all over to join us in Toronto and to get a taste of graduate education. This year, we were joined by ten undergraduate presenters from the following institutions in Canada, the U.S., and Qatar: Greenville University, Canadian Mennonite University, Cornerstone University, The King's University, Memorial University Newfoundland, and Georgetown University in Qatar. 

Undergraduate participants presented their own research
to the group and fielded questions

These students presented their own academic research as it related to the theme of this year's workshop: God & Politics: Religion and Public Life in the 21st Century. Paper topics ranged from a deep engagement with Indigenous writers thinking about the practice and possibility of "nation-to-nation" sovereignty in Canada today to a historical narrative study of the work and life of Saint Oscar Romero from El Salvador; from a critical study of the Minjung liberation theology movement in Korea to a thorough exploration of Immanuel Kant's reading of the ethical and moral implications of the story of Abraham and Isaac. 

Dr. Ronald A. Kuipers welcoming everyone
to the workshop

The undergraduates' papers received formal responses from ICS Senior Members, Junior Members, and alumni, with each response being followed by extensive group discussion. Each of the undergraduates displayed a remarkable depth of research ability and an admirable aptitude to respond to hard-hitting questions. ICS was proud to host these talented students and wishes each of them well in their ongoing academic work.

The Workshop occurred in conjunction with another undergraduate-graduate joint event: a summer intensive course titled “To the Unknown God”: Paul and Some Philosophers. ICS and The King's University joined together to offer this course, which included a preparatory reading portion, participation in the Workshop, and an intensive one-week in-class portion following the Workshop. During the course, students read a number of philosophers who consider the writings of the Apostle Paul and their relevance to contemporary political questions. The course was led by ICS President and Senior Member in Philosophy of Religion Dr. Ronald A. Kuipers and King's Professor of Philosophy Dr. Jeffrey Dudiak.

Dr. Jeffrey Dudiak introducing prevalent themes
for the workshop and course

Outside of class time, students explored the new ICS location, the University of Toronto campus, and the city of Toronto. King’s alum and ICS Board Member Lynnette Postuma also hosted a dinner with students and professors to celebrate the joint efforts of the two universities to offer this engaging course in Toronto. We at ICS are thankful for the chance to work alongside The King's University, and for the participation of the students who took up the challenge with aplomb, and we look forward to future shared learning opportunities like this one.

Visiting course participants enjoying a dinner hosted by
King's alum and ICS Board member Lynnette Postuma

Course participants taking a tour of campus

Participants in the ICS-King's joint course
"To the Unknown God": Paul and Some Philosophers

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Both the Workshop and the course were graciously hosted at Regis College by the Msgr. John Mary Fraser Centre for Practical Theology. ICS would like to extend its thanks to both Regis and the Centre for their hospitality during these events.