Talks
Public Talks for the General Reader.
2026 • Invited Speaker for 5-Part Series
The Gospel of Mark, 2 of 5 | Wilderness, Baptism, & Authority
First Christian Church, Tyler, TX
2026 • Invited Speaker for 5-Part Series
The Gospel of Mark, 1 of 5 | What Kind of Good News?
First Christian Church, Tyler, TX
21 July 2026 • Invited Speaker
Fascism: A Philosopher’s View
Indivisible: East Texas Alliance Presentation
Public Library of Longview, Texas
2026 • Invited Panelist
Film Discussion: “The Life of Chuck” & Modern Christianity
Open Table Faith program, First Christian Church, Tyler, TX
2025 • Invited Conference Speaker
Self-Acceptance in the World’s Religions
Peace of Mind Regional Psychiatric Conference
Mosaic Counseling of East Texas, W.T. Brookshire Conference Center
2025 • Invited Speaker
A History of First Century Israel | Part 2 of 2
Open Table Faith program, First Christian Church, Tyler, TX
2025 • Invited Speaker
A History of First Century Israel | Part 1 of 2
Open Table Faith program, First Christian Church, Tyler, TX
2024 • Invited Speaker
Jewish Ethics & the Other in the Exodus Narrative
Webb Historical Society / Texas St. Historical Assoc.
2024 • Invited Speaker
The Dao & Institutional Effectiveness
Invited Staff Training at Tyler Junior College
9 May 2023 • Invited Speaker
TJC Honors Graduation Ceremony
Wise Auditorium, TJC
1 Nov 2022 • Invited Speaker
The Philosophy of Time
Guest Lecturer for Honors Colloquium, TJC
6 Apr 2022 • Invited Speaker
The Importance of Passover for Christians
First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore, Texas
29 Sep 2021 • Invited Speaker
What Christians can learn from Jewish Tradition
First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore, Texas
27 April 2021 • Invited Guest
Breaking the Ramadan Fast
The Tyler Mosque, Texas
2020 • a global pandemic was going on...
8 Apr 2019 • Speaker
The Kaaba: the Center of the Islamic World
Tyler Junior College, Jenkins Hall (J1109)
6 Jan 2019 • Invited Speaker
Sibling Rivalry in the Bible
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
19 Oct 2018 • Invited Speaker
God & the Holocaust: Four Jewish Responses
Invited Lecture at the University of Texas, Tyler Campus
7 Oct 2018 • Invited Speaker
Forgiveness in the Torah
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
17 Apr 2018 • Speaker/Moderator
Hearing Each Other: Tolerance & Interfaith Dialogue
Feat. Rabbi N. Katz, Rev G. Brandt, & A. Khalifa
Wise Auditorium, Tyler Junior College (Media Spot: CBS)
10 Apr 2018 • Speaker
The Book of Kells: Irish Christianity’s Most Cherished Artifact
Tyler Junior College, Library
4 Mar 2018 • Invited Speaker
The Righteous at Yad Vashem
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
2 Feb 2018 • Invited Speaker in lieu of Rabbi
Guest Sermon: Brothers in Genesis
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
12 Nov 2017 • Speaker
Beth El, Hebrew High class: Early Christianity
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
16 Oct 2017 • Speaker
Honors Colloquium: On Religious Tolerance
Tyler Junior College, Wise Auditorium
30 Sep 2017 • Speaker
Yom Kippur Sermon: There’s No Bottom
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
17 Sep 2017 • Speaker
Antisemitism in America
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
25 July 2017 • Speaker
Interfaith Discussion Panel
Wiley College, Marshall
21 July 2017 • Invited Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: The Jews of Ireland
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
7 July 2017 • Invited Speaker in lieu of Rabbi
Shabbat Sermon: Parashat Balak (“A People Who Dwells Alone”)
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
21 May 2017 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: Teshuvah & Isaac Singer’s The Penitent
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
24 Apr 2017 • Speaker
The Philosophy of Star Wars
Tyler Junior College, Library
9 April 2017 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
UU Church of Longview
26 March 2017 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
20 November 2016 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: Confucianism
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
4 November 2016 • Invited Panelist
Exploring the Crisis of Empathy
Stephen F. Austin University
20 October 2016 • Speaker
The Scope & Philosophy of Science
Public Science Lecture Series: Center for Earth & Space Science Education
12 October 2016 • Speaker
Yom Kippur Afternoon Sermon: On Solitude
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
20 August 2016 • Speaker
The Golden Age of Islam
East Texas Islamic Society
11 July 2016 • Speaker
Islam: with A. Khalifa
First Methodist Church, Nacogdoches
6 May 2016 • Speaker
Yom HaShoah Sermon: Beth El’s Holocaust Scroll
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
1 May 2016 • Speaker
Yom HaShoah Presentation
Ahavath Achim (Conservative Synagogue), Tyler
30 March 2016 • Speaker
Islam: with A. Khalifa
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nacogdoches
18 March 2016 • Invited Speaker
Honors Discussion: ISIS & the Middle East
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
17 March 2016 • Speaker
African Americans & Jewish Americans: A Shared History
Address to the Black Student Association
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
26 February 2016 • Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: Parashat Ki Tisa
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
18 February 2016 • Invited Panelist
Public Panel Discussion: The Syrian Refugee Crisis
University of Texas at Tyler
30 January 2016 • Speaker
Ubuntu, Levinas, and Ethics in Africa
Stephen F. Austin State University
15 December 2015 • Speaker
Islam: with Anwar Khalifa
Austin Heights Baptist Church, Nacogdoches
18 October 2015 • Speaker
Guest Sermon: Islam & the Jewish People
Timberland UU Fellowship, Lufkin
16 October 2015 • Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: Parashat Noah
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
23 September 2015 • Speaker
Yom Kippur Afternoon Sermon: Totality & Infinity
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
20 September 2015 • Invited Speaker
Film Discussion: One Peace at a Time
Taylor Auditorium, Tyler Public Library
12 July 2015 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: Islam & the Jewish People
UU Church of Longview
31 May 2015 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: Islam & the Jewish People
UU Church of Tyler
10 May 2015 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Way of the Dao
UU Church of Longview
22 April 2015 • Invited Speaker
Film Discussion: The Last Temptation of Christ
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
10-11 April 2015 • Chaparone
Great Plains Honors Conference
South Padre Island, Texas
22 February 2015 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Christian Faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
UU Church of Tyler
20 February 2015 • Speaker
Shabbat Sermon: Islam & the Jewish People
Congregation Beth El (Reform Synagogue), Tyler
9 December 2014 • Invited Speaker
The Philosophy of Bioethics
Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at Tyler
28 November 2014 • Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Way of the Dao
UU Church of Tyler
24 November 2014 • Presenter
Holocaust Speaker: Inge Aurbacher
Tyler Junior College, Apache Room
21 September 2014 • Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Way of the Buddha
UU Church of Longview
19 September 2014 • Invited Speaker
Honors Coffee Hour: Hegel & the Sublime
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
17 September 2014 • Invited Panelist
Honors Colloquium: Artists, Philosophers, and Scientists
Tyler Junior College, Wise Auditorium
5 September 2014 • Invited Speaker
Honors Discussion: The Islamic State
Tyler Junior College, Rogers Center
24 August 2014 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: Aristotle & the Happy Life
UU Church of Tyler
29 June 2014 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: Confucius & Chinese Philosophy
UU Church of Tyler
6 April 2014 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: Hinduism and the Four Aims of Life
UU Church of Tyler
2 March 2014 • Invited Speaker
Guest Sermon: The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
UU Church of Tyler