John Crossan

The College of Central Florida and Fort King Presbyterian Church will hosted a series of lectures with John Dominic Crossan Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2015.

Crossan, who holds a Doctorate of Divinity, is the author of 27 books, five of which have been national religious bestsellers.

The lectures kicked off Friday Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. in the Ewers Century Center at the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road. Crossan lectured on “Original Sin: Escalatory Violence & Covenantal Sanction” based on his book “How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Struggling with Divine Violence from Genesis through Revelation.” A book signing followed.

Saturday, Jan. 31, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Ewers Center he deliverd a lecture titled “God’s Kingdom: Violent Revolt or Non-Violent Resistance” and another from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. titled “Christianity’s Criterion: Historical Jesus or Biblical Christ?” At 7 p.m. he spoke at Fort King Presbyterian Church, 13 N.E. 36th Ave., about “The Execution of Jesus in Mark,” with a book signing following. He finished the lecture Sunday, Feb. 1, at 9 a.m. and preached a sermon at the church’s 10:30 a.m. service.

Crossan was born in Nenagh County, Tipperary, Ireland, in 1934. He was educated in Ireland and the United States, received a Doctorate of Divinity from Maynooth College in Ireland in 1959. He began teaching at Chicago’s DePaul University in 1969 and remained there until 1995; he is now a Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies.