WKU Department Head Leading Forum On Faith Of Cubs Fans

October 06, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - The faith of Chicago Cubs fans – still waiting for their first World Series title since 1908 – will be the topic of a special panel discussion Nov. 1 in Chicago as part of the 2008 annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion.

Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo, head of Western Kentucky University’s Department of Philosophy and Religion, will preside over the discussion called “Chicago Cubs – The Faith and the Faithful.”

“Religion provides a fundamental outlook on the world,” he said. “With Cubs fans, there is always hope but also a fundamentally negative view that the universe is against us and things aren’t going to work out. Year after year it seems that’s been confirmed.”

That was the case again last weekend as the Cubs were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 in the National League Division Series.

The Nov. 1 discussion on the religious dimensions of the Cubs and their fans will include the following scholars:

*Joe Price of Whittier College, who will focus on Wrigley Field, its history and character.

*Greg Sapp of Stetson University, who will discuss the notion of hope, drawing upon his proximity to the Cubs’ minor league team in Daytona Beach, Fla.      

*Chris Sheppard of University of Chicago, who will focus on superstitions, especially those related to goats and goat curses.

*Reinder Van Til of Eerdmans Publishing, who will discuss the existential nature of baseball and his 63 years of waiting for the Cubs to win a world championship.

The Cubs won the World Series in 1907 and 1908 but lost in 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938 and 1945.
               
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For information, contact Eric Bain-Selbo at (270) 745-5744.