The Religious Studies department is set to host an event titled “Who are We?” on Oct. 23 and 24 in the wake of the upcoming election. The event will include panels with local various religious professionals as well as the keynote speaker Dr. Robert Jones, the founder and president of the Public Religion Research Institute.
Jones will address how America’s origin story is shaping the 2024 election. Within his discussion, he will address the ideas that the United States may be a pluralistic democracy or an ordained promised land for European Christians. According to Jones, this debate has been divisive for this country.
Todd Hibbard, the chair of the Religious Studies department, spoke on the conception and motivation behind the event.
“We planned this event to coincide with the run up to the election,” Hibbard said. “We wanted this event to really be a space for students and other attendees to be able to have discussion about what’s going on and why democracy matters.”
Hibbard also said this discussion can have real impact and conversation.
“Culture is the root of what we are talking about,” Hibbard said. “Not just culture as in the sense of popular culture, but a deep sense of culture that gets at how we identify ourselves and who we think we are. And so religion is an important conversation in whether its formal institutional religion. That is one piece.”
Jones is an accomplished speaker for the event. He recently wrote a New York Times bestselling book titled “The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future.” The work used survey data and historical research to examine how American origin stories divide the country.
Hibbard also indicated that the discussion goes beyond people interested in religion.
“ As I am thinking about religion, I do not necessarily restrict that to some sort of formal institutional set of practices,” Hibbard said. “But we are thinking about things that people hold valuable”
Jones has written for The Atlantic and TIME. He is also commonly featured on national media networks like CNN, MSNBC and NPR.
The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 and 24 at the Student Union Ballroom. Registration is optional and can help with a food count, but all are welcome on both nights. Help for registering to vote will also be available as well.
