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Scholar to discuss malls and religious violence
September 14, 2007
Religion professor Jon Pahl will visit PLU to discuss how shopping malls have become sites of religious violence on Monday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Scandinavian Cultural Center.
His lecture is titled “The Desire to Acquire: Shopping Malls, Religious Violence and Actual Places of Grace.” It is the second annual David and Marilyn Knutson Lecture.
The lecture is based on his 2003 book, “Shopping Malls and Other Sacred Spaces: Putting God in Place.” In the first part of the book, Pahl develops a cultural critique of shopping malls, Walt Disney World and the suburban home as sacred places that point to a “violence of banality” in American history. The second part of the book weaves a “theology of place” centered around biblical metaphors like “living waters,” “the true vine,” and “cities of God” into a constructive vision for American religious life.
Sacred places extend beyond the realm of what traditional religious authorities would point to, such as the Wailing Wall or Mecca, Pahl said. He believes sacred spaces include those spaces where people express devotion, such as in shopping malls and at Disney World.
“Most people imagine sacred places as being pilgrimage sites and sacred sites, and I don’t dismiss that. But I believe that religion morphs,” Pahl said. “I’m willing to consider the actual behavior of people in places rather than what religious authorities or officials say they ought to be doing … I’m more interested in lived religion.”
According to Pahl, shopping malls are sacred places in the American culture. Malls, which are now found from Edmonton, Alberta to Sydney, Australia, operate as labyrinths of consumption and engines of the American empire. In American and around the globe, malls have become triggers for religious violence.
He sees religious violence as unfolding in two ways at shopping malls. First, it occurs in the harm malls cause to the human soul, and second, as actual bombings carried out by terrorist groups who are responding to malls as representations of American capitalism and consumerism.
Prior to his evening lecture, Pahl will host a discussion with students from 4 to 5 p.m. in room 134 of the University Center.
Pahl is a professor of the history of Christianity at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and a visiting professor of religion at Temple and Princeton universities. He teaches introductory courses on American religions, Lutherans in America, along with courses on violence and religion and sacred places.
Pahl earned his bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University, a master’s in theological studies from Trinity Lutheran Seminary and a doctorate from the Chicago Divinity School.
Pahl’s lecture is the second annual David and Marilyn Knutson Lecture/Lutheran Heritage Lecture, which is sponsored by PLU's Department of Religion. Last year, Martin E. Marty, a scholar of American religious history and ordained Lutheran minister, gave the inaugural address about the rapid growth of Christianity in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
The lecture honors and continues the contributions to PLU of alumnus and longtime religion faculty member David R. Knutson and his wife Marilyn. Inspired by David Knutson’s deeply faithful, intellectually rigorous, world-engaged theological vision, the annual lectureship was made possible through a generous gift from Marilyn Knutson.
David Knutson’s vision guides the lectureship and under its auspices, the Department of Religion brings to campus a lecturer who works critically and creatively out of the historical, scriptural and theological resources of a living faith tradition, bringing them into conversation with the major questions and challenges of our time.
For more information about Pahl’s lecture at PLU, contact the religion department at 253-535-7321.
The lecture is based on his 2003 book, “Shopping Malls and Other Sacred Spaces: Putting God in Place.” In the first part of the book, Pahl develops a cultural critique of shopping malls, Walt Disney World and the suburban home as sacred places that point to a “violence of banality” in American history. The second part of the book weaves a “theology of place” centered around biblical metaphors like “living waters,” “the true vine,” and “cities of God” into a constructive vision for American religious life.
Sacred places extend beyond the realm of what traditional religious authorities would point to, such as the Wailing Wall or Mecca, Pahl said. He believes sacred spaces include those spaces where people express devotion, such as in shopping malls and at Disney World.
“Most people imagine sacred places as being pilgrimage sites and sacred sites, and I don’t dismiss that. But I believe that religion morphs,” Pahl said. “I’m willing to consider the actual behavior of people in places rather than what religious authorities or officials say they ought to be doing … I’m more interested in lived religion.”
According to Pahl, shopping malls are sacred places in the American culture. Malls, which are now found from Edmonton, Alberta to Sydney, Australia, operate as labyrinths of consumption and engines of the American empire. In American and around the globe, malls have become triggers for religious violence.
He sees religious violence as unfolding in two ways at shopping malls. First, it occurs in the harm malls cause to the human soul, and second, as actual bombings carried out by terrorist groups who are responding to malls as representations of American capitalism and consumerism.
Prior to his evening lecture, Pahl will host a discussion with students from 4 to 5 p.m. in room 134 of the University Center.
Pahl is a professor of the history of Christianity at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and a visiting professor of religion at Temple and Princeton universities. He teaches introductory courses on American religions, Lutherans in America, along with courses on violence and religion and sacred places.
Pahl earned his bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University, a master’s in theological studies from Trinity Lutheran Seminary and a doctorate from the Chicago Divinity School.
Pahl’s lecture is the second annual David and Marilyn Knutson Lecture/Lutheran Heritage Lecture, which is sponsored by PLU's Department of Religion. Last year, Martin E. Marty, a scholar of American religious history and ordained Lutheran minister, gave the inaugural address about the rapid growth of Christianity in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
The lecture honors and continues the contributions to PLU of alumnus and longtime religion faculty member David R. Knutson and his wife Marilyn. Inspired by David Knutson’s deeply faithful, intellectually rigorous, world-engaged theological vision, the annual lectureship was made possible through a generous gift from Marilyn Knutson.
David Knutson’s vision guides the lectureship and under its auspices, the Department of Religion brings to campus a lecturer who works critically and creatively out of the historical, scriptural and theological resources of a living faith tradition, bringing them into conversation with the major questions and challenges of our time.
For more information about Pahl’s lecture at PLU, contact the religion department at 253-535-7321.