Professor to delve into Portugal’s religious history

Posted on Friday, February 23, 2024

Portugal is a small country with a big story to tell.

Legendary 15th century explorers pushed Portugal to prominence, but the religions of Portugal are also worth exploring, says Dr. John Cook, LaGrange College Professor of Religion and Philosophy and upcoming speaker for the college’s 14th annual 3D Journeys travel and lecture series.

Dr. Cook, an Emory Ph.D. graduate and internationally recognized scholar, will take his audience on a spiritual journey through Portugal from pagan times to the present. Free and open to the community, the presentation will be on February 26 at 10 a.m. in Turner Hall.

A faculty member at LC since 1994, Dr. Cook specializes in New Testament and the early Christian church. His extensive research and writings have made him a leading authority on Roman crucifixion, but he admits he had a lot to learn about Portugal’s religious history.

“I found it to be both fascinating and complex,” said Cook.

The timeline of religions in Portugal is long.

“It really goes back to paganism, with a Celtic presence and altars to ancient Gods,” he said.

Then come Romans, Vandals and Muslims, including Arabs and North African Berbers, and centuries of conquest and periodic upheaval.

Christianity in Portugal also has a lengthy history. Though difficult to document, early Christian missionaries apparently brought the faith to the Iberian Peninsula within 100 years of the resurrection of Christ. One of the early saints died in 125 A.D, Dr. Cook said. By the time Portugal became a united country in 1143, Catholicism was dominant.

Religion also played a role in the Age of Exploration. Though trade, discovery and empire-building were major objectives, 15th and 16th century Portuguese explorers were also tasked with spreading Christianity and limiting the spread of Islam.

“The Empire definitely influenced the culture,” Cook said.

The professor, whose latest book focuses on resurrection, doesn’t plan to give his audience a laundry list of dates and long-forgotten clerics. They may hear about a Roman ruin with a famous mosaic of Bacchus, the Roman God of wine. And they’ll learn a bit about Fado, a melancholy way of thinking that developed into a soulful way of singing in the 1800s.

“Fado means fate in Portuguese,” Cook explains. “It celebrates life but is also pessmistic.”

A fado dinner show is among the experiences planned for about 30 3D travelers who will tour Portugal March 18-29 on a trip led by LaGrange College President Dr. Susanna Baxter and her husband, Mark Huffman.

Lecture goers will also hear about —and travelers will see— the famous town of Fatima, where on May 13, 1917, three children tending sheep saw a “luminous lady” they believed to be the Virgin Mary. The visions recurred monthly, always on the 13th, attracting public interest and culminating in a massive October gathering at which the sun was said to have “danced in the sky.” The dramatic event was eventually recognized as “worthy of belief” by the Catholic Church and became known as the Miracle of the Sun.

Today, Fatima is one of the most important religious pilgrimage sites in the world. Pilgrims travel to Fatima year-round, but the 13th of the months of May to October see the highest visitation.

The 3Ds in 3D Journeys represent “discover, discuss and develop,” and organizers expect the Cook lecture will deliver on all three.

“Dr. John Cook is one of my favorite lecturers,” said Ann Beason, who chairs the volunteer 3D committee with Lauranne Buchanan. “We look forward to taking a spiritual journey through Portugal with him on Feb. 26 without ever leaving the beautiful LaGrange College campus.”

Attendees are asked to park in the lot behind Sunny Gables Alumni House, 910 Broad Street; a shuttle beginning at 9:30 a.m. will take guests to the door. An optional Dutch-treat lunch will be available in Pitts Dining Hall following the session.

For more information, call 706-880-8244 or email 3DJourneys@kongtiao11.com.

 

Campus Notes

• This past week, Business majors Zac Hill '24, Logan Frady '24, Wyatt Moore '26 and Carmen Hamilton '24, along with Sports Management Associate Professor Clay Bolton, presented at the Applied Sport Management Association annual meeting in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Hill and Frady presented on the real-life experiences of Division III student-athletes, Moore discussed municipality decisions affecting minor league baseball in the Central Savannah River area (Augusta, Georgia, and North Augusta, South Carolina), and Hamilton gave a presentation regarding current legislation and legal cases surrounding transgender athletes.  All four students competed in the case study competition with a compelling scenario where they had to produce an event for a minor league baseball team moving to Knoxville from another city.  Dr. Bolton presented on Jesus in the Huddle, exploring Christian Faith and Sports Organizations.

The students met peers from over 40 different sports management programs across the nation and heard from leading experts and researchers in the field.

• Junior History and Writing/Publication Studies double major Baylor Montoya presented his research on Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, at the annual meeting of the Georgia Association of Historians on Feb. 18 at Kennesaw State University. He shared information about his project, “Did Harold Hadrada’s Invasion of England in 1066 lead to the fall of the Godwinsons” with Hendry Miller, collections manager for the Georgia Archives, and Jess Alden, program coordinator for Georgia Humanities.
• Elementary Education seniors Lily Thompson, Emilee Johnson, Faith Burgamy and Sydney Rojo joined Education Professor Dr. Gretta Milam for a Day on the Hill event at the Georgia Capitol for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators.
• Political Science Professor Dr. John Tures had his book chapter "Red Flag Laws Saved 7,300 Americans from Gun Deaths in 2020 Alone, and Could Have Saved 11,400 More” published in The Conversation on Guns, a Johns Hopkins University Press book.
• Three faculty members recently earned new job assignments. Dr. Jon Ernstberger, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Mathematics, was appointed to a three-year term as Chair of the Department of Business and Data Science. Dr. Greg McClanahan, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Mathematics, was appointed to a three-year term as assistant chair in the new department. Dr. Anthony Wilson, Professor of English Writing and Publication Studies, was appointed to a three-year term as Chair of the Department of Humanities and Social Science. He will also serve as the program coordinator for English.

 

Collegiate Enrichment

LaGrange Southeast Regional Opening Reception

Saturday, Feb. 24

6 p.m., Lamar Dodd Art Center

• Campus and community members are invited to an opening reception for this year’s Southeast Regional juried art exhibition. Works that will be on display come from artists throughout Georgia and surrounding states.

“No More Silence…End Gun Violence" Walk

Sunday, Feb. 25

1 p.m., Callaway Education Building

• The Ball Out 8 Foundation has partnered with LaGrange College Athletics in hosting a walk that will be in memory of LaKevin DeBruce and those who have lost their lives due to gun violence.

Picturing Literary Places

Monday, Feb. 26

7 p.m., Bailey Room

• Retired Art Professor John Lawrence will share photography from his travels as part of the faculty lecture series.

Social Media and the Curated Life

Tuesday, Feb. 27

11:15 a.m., Corn Auditorium

• Psychological Sciences Assistant Professor Marci DeRamus will discuss the psychological viewpoint of social media use, particularly the effect of viewing primarily carefully curated social media content on various platforms.

 

March Faculty and Staff Birthdays

1-Maranah Sauter, Nursing, Executive Leadership (Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs)

1-Lee Davis, Communications & Marketing

3-Molli Newman, Biology

9-Mel Rushing, Athletics (Softball), Associate Athletic Director

11-Lindy Oller, Communications & Marketing

13-John Head, Executive Leadership (Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Experience)

13-William Paschal, Biology

15-Lissett Gonzalez, Business Office

16-Harry Rubio, Information Technology

26-Michaela Traylor, Academic Affairs

26-Daniel Schulte, Athletics (Volleyball and Beach Volleyball)

27-Michael McCarty, Athletics (Football)

28-Jack Slay, English

28-Jasen Jonus, Athletics (Women’s Basketball and Cross Country)

28-Corey Mingin, Athletics (Baseball)

30-Jerry Forster, Executive Leadership (Vice President for Finance & Operations)       

 

Video of the Week

Coming to the 3D Journeys free lecture series

In February, LaGrange College's 3D Lecture & Travel series presents Dr. John Cook, LaGrange College Professor of Religion and Philosophy, with details of why spirituality is so important to the people of Portugal. 

And on Monday, March 11, Dr. Linda McMullen explains how Portugal is a pathway into Europe for many U.S. companies … and why, since 2019, American businesses in Portugal have grown by 109 percent.

 

Sports

Baseball

The Panthers started the season 4-0 after a series sweep of Brevard last weekend and a Tuesday 7-4 win over Oglethorpe. The team beat Brevard 5-1, 10-0 and 10-2. The Panthers travel to Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend for three single game matchups. They play Birmingham-Southern on Friday, Feb. 23 (today), at 5 p.m., Wheaton the following day at 3 p.m. and Adrian on Sunday at noon. On Tuesday, LaGrange hosts Emory at 6 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Last weekend, LC lost to Huntingdon College 100-81. The Panthers played them again on Tuesday for the CCS quarterfinals and won 85-72. LC takes on Maryville College on Friday, Feb. 23 (tonight), at 7 p.m. If they win tonight, they will advance to the CCS Championship which will be played on Saturday, Feb. 24 (tomorrow), at 3 p.m.

Freshman Samuel Moss was selected for the CCS All-Conference First Team.

Freshman Kam McCall and sophomore Brodie Scott were named to the CCS All-Conference Second Team.

Senior Grant Evans was selected for the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Women’s Basketball

Last week, the Panthers beat Huntingdon 79-71. The team takes on Belhaven on Friday, Feb. 23 (tonight), at 7 p.m. in the CCS semifinals. If they win, the Panthers will play in the CCS Championship on Saturday, Feb. 24 (tomorrow), at 3 p.m.

Sophomore Laila Battle and junior Zyhia Johnson were named to the CCS All-Conference First Team.

Sophomore Amanda Mclendon and freshman Taylor Smith were selected for the CCS All-Conference Second Team.

Senior Ashley Free was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Lacrosse

This past weekend, the Panthers lost to Illinois Tech 10-9 and Sewanee 19-7. The team does not play this week.

Men’s Tennis

Last week, LC lost to Truett McConnell 6-3 and Johnson 1-8. The Panthers host Mobile College on Friday, Feb. 23 (today), at 2 p.m. The team hits the road to face Mississippi University for Women on Saturday, Feb. 24 (tomorrow).

Women’s Tennis

The Panthers dropped their pair of past week’s matches 9-0 to Truett McConnell and Johnson. The team hosts Mobile College today at 2 p.m. (Feb. 2). The team will compete at Mississippi University for Women on Saturday, Feb. 24 (tomorrow).

Beach Volleyball

LC is at Berry College this Friday (today) taking on Tennessee Tech and Berry. The team will play Berry again on Saturday, Feb. 24 (tomorrow).

Softball

Last week, the Panthers dropped their two home games to Berry College 11-0 and 15-3. This past Sunday, LC lost a pair of games to Centre 5-3 and 6-5. The team takes on Sewanee on Saturday, Feb. 24 (tomorrow), at noon and 2 p.m.

 

Panther Calendar

(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)

Friday, Feb. 23 – Beach Volleyball vs. Tennessee Tech @ Berry, 9 a.m., Rome, Georgia

Friday, Feb. 23 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. Mobile, 1 p.m., Greer Tennis Courts

Friday, Feb. 23 – Men’s Tennis (Home) vs. Mobile, 1 p.m., Greer Tennis Courts

Friday, Feb. 23 – Baseball at Birmingham-Southern, 5 p.m., Birmingham, Alabama

Friday, Feb. 23 – Men’s Basketball (CCS Semifinals) at Maryville, 7 p.m., Maryville, Tennessee

Friday, Feb. 23 – Women’s Basketball (CCS Semifinals) vs. Belhaven @ Berea, 7 p.m., Berea, Kentucky

Saturday, Feb. 24 – Beach Volleyball at Berry, 10 a.m., Rome, Georgia

Saturday, Feb. 24 – Men’s Tennis at MUW, 11 a.m., Columbus, Mississippi

Saturday, Feb. 24 – Women’s Tennis at MUW, 11 a.m., Columbus, Mississippi

Saturday, Feb. 24 – Softball at Sewanee, noon and 2 p.m., Sewanee, Tennessee

Saturday, Feb. 24 – Baseball vs. Wheaton (Ill.) @ Birmingham-Southern, 3 p.m., Birmingham, Alabama

Sunday, Feb. 25 – Baseball vs. Adrian @ Birmingham-Southern, noon, Birmingham, Alabama

Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Beach Volleyball (Home) vs. St. Andrews, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Strack Beach Volleyball Courts

Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Baseball (Home) vs. Emory, 6 p.m., Cleaveland Field at Williamson Stadium

Thursday, Feb. 29 – Women’s Tennis (Home) vs. Piedmont, 5:30 p.m., Greer Tennis Courts

Category: Community, College, Events

Keywords: Religion, History