RELIGION AND POLITICS: FOR GOOD OR FOR EVIL?
Sponsored by the Research Center for Leadership in Action at NYU Wagner and
The Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life
With a Freedom of Expression grant from the Ford Foundation
Taub Professor David M. Elcott
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
5pm – 6:30pm
NYU Wagner, 295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
Rudin Family Forum for Civic Dialogue
Religious leaders have always taken a prominent role on the American public stage, from Cotton Mather to Martin Luther King, Billy Graham to the anti-war Berrigan brothers. A striking characteristic of this most recent period of religious involvement in and influence on American democratic life is the assertive politicization of religious communities even as religious diversity fractures many of the social-justice coalitions of the past. Increasingly, the religious discourse that is influencing political discourse represents absolutist truth claims about particular elements of public life, including such contentious issues as abortion, the death penalty, and civil, women’s and gay rights. One could easily claim that the shift of these past decades represents a potential threat to the foundations of American democracy that rests on a tolerance of and respect for alternative views.
The question before us, in the midst of our polarized politics: Will religion be a force that unites us or divides us even more? We hope that you will come and engage in meaningful learning, dialogue, and discussion on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 from 5pm to 6:30pm.
Among those participating in the session are:
Dr. Colt Anderson
Dean, Fordham University Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education
Rev. Richard Cizik
President, New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good
Former Vice President for Governmental Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals
Rabbi Shirley Idelson, Ph.D.
Dean, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Mr. Isaac Luria
Vice President of Auburn Action, Auburn Theological Seminary
Dr. Carrie Nordlund
Professor of Public Service, NYU Wagner
Ms. Jill Rauh
Assistant Director of Education and Outreach
Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Rev. Dr. Tony Richie
Bishop, Church of God; Lee University
Dr. Helene Slessarev-Jamir
Mildred M. Hutchinson Professor of Urban Ministries, Claremont Theological Seminary
Rev. John Vaughn
Executive Vice President, Auburn Theological Seminary
Rev. Jim Winkler
President and General Secretary, National Council of Churches
Agenda:
5pm – 5:30pm Round table conversation
5:30pm – 6pm Breakouts with students and faith leaders
6pm – 6:30pm Bringing it home, a shared conversation
Refreshments, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served.
Click here to learn more about The Religious Leadership, Civil Discourse and Democracy in the Public Square Project.
The RSVP page can be found here: http://wagner.nyu.edu/events.