FINE ARTS/HUMANITIES LECTURE AT LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY

(Longview, Texas)—LeTourneau University’s Fall 2026 Fine Arts & Humanities Lecture Series continues with a lecture titled “What Does Jerusalem Have to Do with Mars?: Science Fiction and the Christian Imagination.”  (Poster below)

The lecture will be held on Thursday, November 12 at 11:00 AM in the Education Building Lecture Hall on the LeTourneau University campus.

Dr. Randall Compton, Professor of English at LeTourneau University, will question a claim posited by some leading writers of science fiction: “A handy short definition of almost all science fiction might read: ‘Realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method.’”  Is this definition true, and, if so, can Christians who want to depict reality measured in other ways besides the scientific method write it?  Where do writers like C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L’Engle fit in?

Dr. Compton primary scholarly interest is in American Literature, but he has also grown increasingly interested in the relationship between theology and literature. He also likes writing and reading poetry.  He serves as the faculty sponsor for the English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta (Alpha Eta Mu chapter).

Admission to the lecture is free of charge and the public is invited to attend.  A map of the LETU campus can be found at www.letu.edu/map.

The first lecture in the spring 2027 lecture series will be given by Carolyn Fox-Hearne, retired Professor of Art at Kilgore College on Thursday Jan. 14.

For more information on this lecture or the lecture series, please contact Dr. Taylor at jimtaylor@letu.edu or (903) 233-3379.

 

LeTourneau University is the Christian polytechnic university in the nation where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community.  LETU offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a range of disciplines at LETU’s residential campus in Longview, Texas as well as fully online programs.  For additional information, visit www.letu.edu.