Live From New Amsterdam: Spinoza and God
Event Details:
Presented live on Zoom
We often think of 17th-century Amsterdam as a haven for religious tolerance in an otherwise intolerant world, but in 1656 a young man was excommunicated by his Portuguese-Jewish synagogue for "horrifying heresies." Baruch Spinoza has been a source of fascination and revulsion ever since his time. Albert Einstein, when asked about own his faith, once cited Spinoza's writings on religion as his inspiration. Was Spinoza an atheist, as detractors in his time charged, or finding his own interpretation of faith? Join Russell Shorto, Director of the New Amsterdam Project, as he chats with Steven Nadler, author of Spinoza, Atheist (Princeton 2026) and Vilas Research Professor and William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as they discuss Spinoza and God.
Steven Nadler is Vilas Research Professor and the William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His books include Think Least of Death: Spinoza on How to Live and How to Die; Spinoza, Atheist and Why Read Maimonides Today?. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Russell Shorto is the director of the New Amsterdam Project at The New York Historical. He is the author of seven books, including Taking Manhattan and the national bestseller The Island at the Center of the World.
Live From New Amsterdam is an ongoing series hosted by the New Netherland Institute and the New Amsterdam Project at The New York Historical. Through vibrant conversations with scholars and historians, each program will investigate new and exciting research related to New Amsterdam, New Netherland, and the lasting legacies of Dutch rule in New York.
Live From New Amsterdam is presented in partnership with the New Netherland Institute.
Ticket Instructions:
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Before the program, all registered attendees will receive a link and instructions for viewing the program on Zoom. If you do not receive a message, please check your spam folder. An additional reminder will be sent two hours prior to the program start time.
All programs in the Live From New Amsterdam series will be recorded and made available online soon after the program date.
Steven Nadler photo by Rob Streiffer
