Stephen Prothero, PhD, asserts that religion lies at the heart of our American identity and that it has been embedded in our culture for more than 200 years.
Prothero, professor of religion at Boston University and author of numerous books on the subject, will explore America’s cultural rifts from a historic perspective for the Washington University in St. Louis Assembly Series. The program, free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in Knight Hall’s Emerson Auditorium.
Prothero’s presentation, “Why Liberals Win: America’s Culture Wars from the Election of 1800 to Same-Sex Marriage,” is a Danforth Distinguished Lecture, sponsored by the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.
In The New York Times bestseller, “Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know — And Doesn’t” (2008), Prothero advocates for including Bible literacy and world religion courses in public school curricula as an important step in reducing the religious illiteracy that contributes to our nation’s cultural division. His most recent book is “The American Bible: How Our Words Unite, Divide, and Define a Nation” (2012).
He served as chief editorial consultant for the six-hour PBS television series, “God in America,” and is a frequent commentator on religion and culture in American media. In 2010, Prothero was invited to speak about religious literacy at the White House, and, in 2012-13, he served as a fellow at the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History.
Prothero earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies at Yale University and a doctoral degree in the study of religion from Harvard University.
To take Prothero’s literacy test, visit here; to watch a recent appearance with Jon Stewart, visit the Daily Show.
For more information on the Assembly Series, visit assemblyseries.wustl.edu.