Sunday, April 15, 2012

Vulnerability in the life of Edith Stein: Address by Sarah Borden Sharkey, associate professor of philosophy at Wheaton College

Conference reflects on twentieth century convert and martyr

Sarah Borden Sharkey, associate professor of philosophy at Wheaton College and author of two books on Edith Stein, delivered the keynote address for the seventh annual Edith Stein Conference. The Edith Stein Conference, sponsored by the Identity Project of Notre Dame, is the largest student-organized conference on campus, In the words of the co-chairs of the project, “the Edith Stein Project provides a forum for the discussion of our dignity as men and women and as college students preparing for the future.”

Students and professors from Notre Dame and around the country gathered to begin the discussion of this year’s theme, vulnerability. In preparation for the event, Fr. Jenkins released a statement in which he wrote, “This year’s conference hopes to accomplish two objectives: (1) to offer hope and healing to those who have been harmed by the exploitation of their vulnerability, and (2) to examine the positive role of vulnerability, particularly within relationships.”

In her address, Sharkey examined the role of vulnerability in the life of Edith Stein, from her birth in Germany in 1891 to her death at the hands of the Nazis in 1942.
According to Sharkey, Edith Stein’s life was full of disappointments and challenges, though neither of these broke Stein’s spirit.  Continue Reading HERE



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