With the start of a new semester comes the start of a new lecture series at Fresno State, put on by members of the philosophy department.

The first of four scheduled lectures will begin today at noon in the Alice Peters Auditorium and will end at 12:50 p.m. It is free and open to everyone.

Today̢۪s lecture will feature Dr. Vincent Biondo, assistant professor of Western religious traditions, who will discuss on the idea of debt bondage and the danger of falling into debt as mentioned in religious works such as the Torah, the Quran and the Bible.

Biondo is known for his 18 years of research and five years of teaching subjects on religion. Last year, he was named the Fulbright Scholar to the UK and received a grant for his accomplishments in international education.

Religion provides historical background for debt

This lecture will tie in closely with his chapter on the tie between religion and economy in “Religion in The Practice of Daily Life,â€Â which he co-edited. He compiled his section by means of gathering historical analysis and combining it with fieldwork.

He will be discussing how debt bondage is created by the modern credit card and loan industries.

The inevitability of debt when it comes to loans is a sad reality for many– whether it’s loans tied with college, credit cards, homes, or pay day advances. “How much interest is too much?â€Â asked Fiala, questioning the hook that draws people in. “It can kill you for the rest of your life.â€Â

The addition of religious context adds a historical narrative to the ever-present issue of getting out of debt. Looking back at these teachings can shed light on such issues and possibly provide solutions.

These century-old sources show just how old the concept of finding oneself in debt is. Not to mention,
despite how many years have passed since the release of those teachings it was and is still a problem with no immediate solution.

Local lecture has global implications

The presentation today and those that follow have all been arranged by Dr. Andrew Fiala, associate professor of philosophy and director of the ethics center.

Fiala stressed that debt is not only a local problem such as student loan, but can also be a major issue on a global scale, such as when one country is in debt with another. For example: America̢۪s withstanding debt with China.

He said that his goal for the lectures was to “approach a variety of issues from different viewpoints.â€Â Today’s lecture will be told from the viewpoint of a religious scholar.

The first two lectures will be led by university professors and the following two will be led by members of the Honor Council.

Biondo said that as much as these lectures are presented to spark interest and new ideas, it is also hoped that the audience can take away something that can trigger a change in their attitudes or actions.

“We try to address issues relevant to students’ lives,â€Â Biondo said. “It’s a great example of departmental cooperation when professors can come together like this.â€Â

Ethics Lecture Series Schedule

The Ethics Lecture Series is free and open to the public. Future discussions include:

• “Quit Blaming the Victim!â€Â presented by Dr. Steve Walker from the College of Sciences, which will explore the history of victim rights. Oct. 1.

• “Academic Integrity at Fresno Stateâ€Â Dr. Jacques Benninga, Dr. joyce Ester and Dr. Jim Price, will discuss academic ethical issues on campus. Oct. 29.

• “Food and the Politics of Scarcityâ€Â Edie jessup, coordinator of Hunger and Nutrition Services at Fresno Metro Ministry, will discuss food and the politics of scarcity. Nov. 19.