Religion in Culture Lecture

On February 15, 2005, Prof. Maarten Ultee, of the Department of History and a professor at the University of Alabama since 1980, delivered a Religion in Culture Lecture, held in the Mortar Board room of the Ferguson Student Center.

Entitled "Dismembering the Image of God: Surgery and the Christian Church," Prof. Ultee chronicled the manner in which Protestant and Roman Catholic writers in the 16th Century often (and effectively) utlized imagery derived from surgery--specifically centering around the amputation of a part to save the whole--in their writings on defining membership (and non-membership) in their groups.

"The Healing of Justinian by Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian" (c. 1438-9). The image, depicting a transplantaion of a leg, is part of the San Marco altarpiece by the early Italian renaissance painter Fra Angelico (1400-1455). Click the image to learn more.

Prof. Ultee--who is a specialist in the early modern period in European history and the current President of the Southern Association for the History of Science and Medicine--is at work on the history of amputation, also looking into such topics as anti-Semitism in medicine.

An image from a woodcut from 1517--thought to be among the earliest depictions of an amputation. Click the image for more information.

Prof. Ultee's lecture was introduced by Prof. William Doty, the well-known specialist on myth studies and longtime member of the Department of Religious Studies who retired in the Fall of 2001.

Pictured above, the cover page from The Workes of that Famous Chirurgion Ambrose Parey (London, 1634), the English translation of Ambrose Pare's writings. Pare (1517-1590), a French surgeon, was modest and did not take personal credit for curing a patient; he said, "I tended to his wounds, but God cured him." Click the imae to learn more.

Prior to the lecture, at a small reception held in the Anderson Room, students who won this year's cartoon caption contest were awarded their prizes.

Once again, we are indebted to the College of Arts & Sciences' Anonymous Lecture Fund, as well as the efforts of Betty Dickey, Donna Martin, and Prof. Ted Trost--the chair of our speakers committee. The photos from the event are thanks to Christine Scott and Samantha Sastre.

Read a press release on this lecture.

Prof. William Doty, Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, introduces our Religion in Culture lecturer.

Prof. Maarten Ultee delivering his Religion in Culture Lecture, "Dismembering the Image of God: Surgery and the Christian Church."

Among those attending the lecture were (left to right): Ella Rosen, Nanda Hopenwasser (who teaches in the Department of English), and Prof. Steve Jacobs (Religious Studies).

Citing French and German sources, Prof. Ultee made plain that the rhetorically useful language of amputation circulated throughout the 16th Century's literature on heresy and group membership.

Approximately sixty people attended the lecture, including (middle center) George McClure (History) and (center back) David and Janet McElroy. Dr. McElroy is a retired faculty member in History.

Prof. George McClure speaking with Prof. Ted Miller, prior to the lecture.

As is our tradition in Religious Studies, at the conclusion of his lecture Prof. Ultee was presented, by Prof. Doty, with a copy of the flyer that advertised the event.