Princeton Seminary Hosts Pre-election Series on Religion and Politics

Princeton, NJ, September 19, 2006–This election season, Princeton Theological Seminary’s Center of Continuing Education will offer “God and Politics,” a five-part series exploring the intersection of religion and American politics. The series, designed for both Seminary students and the public, will be held on five consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m., beginning September 26.

In recognition of Constitution Day, the first event, titled “God and the Constitution,” will kick off the series on September 26 in the Main Lounge of the Mackay Campus Center. The discussion will be led by Dr. Jeremy Gunn, director of the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. This event is open to the public and is free, but registration is required. 

Other events in the series include “God and Political Discourse,” with Princeton Seminary professor Nancy Duff on October 3, “God and the Media,” with NBC News vice president Alexandra Wallace on October 10, and “God and War,” with Dr. Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll on October 17. The final event will be held on October 24 in honor of United Nations Day and is titled “God and International Relations,” with discussion led by Ambassador Robert Seiple, former Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom under President Clinton. These events are open to the public and require registration. The cost is $15 per event, or $50 for the entire series.

The goal of the series is to foster discussion on how people’s notions of God shape the political climate in America. “Religion has been playing such a prominent role in today’s politics that it’s more important than ever for theological institutions to engage in these discussions in a thoughtful manner, and to encourage responsible civic discourse as we approach the mid-term elections,” said Dean of Continuing Education Hui Chen.

For more information about these events, contact the Center of Continuing Education at 609.497.7990, or register at www.ptsem.edu/ce.