(Posted September 9, 2002)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Don Braxton, J. Omar Good Associate Professor of Religion at Juniata College, will speak about the links between religion and violence in relation to the events of Sept. 11, 2001 in the talk "What Is the Link Between Religion and Violence" An Inquiry One Year Later." as part of the Bookend Seminar lecture series at 4:30 p.m., Sept. 11 in 202 Good Hall on the Juniata campus.

The lecture is free and open to the public. The Bookend Seminar series features afternoon lectures each month by Juniata College faculty.

Braxton's talk will focus on the psycho-sociological origins of the impulse to violence and how those impulses are channeled socially into more and also less destructive behavior. He also will address how religion capitalizes and/or combats this dynamic.

Braxton came to Juniata in 2002 from Capitol University in Columbus, Ohio, where he was associate professor of religion. He earned a bachelor's degree in religion and political science from Wittenberg University in 1986. He went on to earn a master's degree (divinity) in 1987 and a doctorate in Christian ethics in 1993, both from the University of Chicago. He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

From 1991 to 1994, Braxton was visiting assistant professor of religion at St Norbert College in De Pere, Wis. He joined the faculty at Capitol University in 1995.

He has written a book, "Staying With Questions: A Religious Journey" that is currently under consideration by several publishers.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.