Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria

Presenter: Dr Mark Manolopoulos
Entry: Free

Synopsis

"Christ, Kazantzakis, Communism." Why these three names? It's an odd trinity, isn't it?

On the contrary, as the lecture will compellingly show, there are multiple connections and commonalities. The first and most elaborated theme is the contentious claim that Jesus was a (proto-)Communist.

The lecturer will substantiate this claim by discussing the Jewish carpenter's theology, sayings, and the euphemistically titled "Temple Cleansing." Surely such a striking conclusion should have consequences for Christians. The lecturer will then turn to Kazantzakis and explore his double-edged relationships with Christianity and Communism, affirming his passion for Christ and egalitarianism, and his interrogation of Christendom and twentieth-century Communism. He therefore offers important lessons for us today.

Biography

Dr Mark Manolopoulos received his PhD in postmodern philosophy and theology from Monash University, and is Adjunct Research Fellow in Philosophy at the University. His research interests traverse radical philosophy, theology, and ecological thought, with an increasing engagement with revolutionary theory and praxis, particularly in the context of environmental crisis. His publications include If Creation is a Gift (SUNY, 2009), With Gifted Thinkers (Peter Lang, 2009), and several articles in scholarly journals and on websites.

Sponsors

We would like to thank Jim Bossinakis and Dr Maria Atlas-White for sponsoring tonight's lecture. Such initiatives assist us in providing these lectures free to the public. If you would like to participate as a sponsor from as little as $100 please send us an email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We would also like to thank our corporate sponsor: