Director’s Signature Series: The Three New Commandments

Internationally renowned authors Christopher Hitchens, A.J. Jacobs and Camille Paglia address the Ten Commandments’ influence on life today

The Royal Ontario Museum’s (ROM) engagement of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century - the earliest record of biblical patriarchs and prophets known to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Throughout the exhibition, numerous lectures and debates highlight the importance of the Scrolls today and present an opportunity for interfaith dialogue among varied traditions with shared roots. The ROM’s engagement of the Dead Sea Scrolls is preceded by an outstanding Director’s Signature Series featuring three renowned authors on successive Tuesday evenings in June. The challenging topic “What are your three new Commandments?” is addressed by political commentator Christopher Hitchens; author A.J. Jacobs; and social critic Camille Paglia.

The Ten Commandments have provided powerful moral codes across different faiths for millennia. For many, they have shaped laws, institutions and the deepest ethical beliefs. In today’s world, how should one interpret the Commandments? Are some things missing as we contemplate the 21st century? If you were asked to add three more Commandments to the original ten, what would they be?

ROM Director & CEO William Thorsell comments, “The examination of the Ten Commandments during the Director’s Signature Series is another way in which the ROM’s exhibition highlights the relevance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in today’s world. Series’ audiences will be both entertained and enlightened as these three dynamic speakers tackle this highly challenging topic.”

The public is invited to enjoy three lively presentations as the Bible’s original Commandments are analyzed and new Commandments suggested by these provocative speakers.

SPEAKERS

Tuesday, June 2

Christopher Hitchens is perhaps the most brilliant and controversial political commentator and essayist in America today. A prolific writer, he is the author of more than ten books including the New York Times best-selling book God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (2007). Hitchens is currently a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and writes regularly on various topics for Harper’s, Los Angeles Times Book Review, Slate, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.

Tuesday, June 9

A.J. Jacobs is the author of the New York Times best-seller, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible (2007) in which he attempted to abide by the hundreds of rules found in the Bible, ranging from the prominent (the Ten Commandments, be fruitful and multiply) to the often neglected (stone adulterers and avoid wearing clothes of mixed fibres). Jacobs is an Editor-at-Large for Esquire Magazine.

Tuesday, June 16

Camille Paglia is acknowledged as a leading social critic and educator. She came to prominence in 1990 with the publication of the highly acclaimed book, Sexual Personae. Ms. Paglia’s other works include Sex, Art, and American Culture (1992) and the 1994 collection Vamps and Tramps. Her latest book on poetry Break, Blow, Burn (2006) also garnered critical and commercial success. She is professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she teaches a popular course on religion and modern culture. Ms. Paglia also writes a political column for Salon.com.

Information on the Director’s Signature Series

All talks take place in Samuel Hall Currelly Gallery at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, June 2, 9, and 16, 2009.

Tickets are now available:

Price per evening: $28 (online $26), ROM members $25 (online $23)

All 3 lectures: $67 (online $62), ROM members $60 (online $55)

To register or for additional information, phone 416.586.5797 or visit www.rom.on.ca/scrolls