America’s Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State
Open to the Public
Wed, Feb 25, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: Stevenson 1102
The Department of History and Politics welcomes Dr. Randall Balmer, Professor of Religion at Dartmouth College and New York Times bestselling author, for a lecture entitled America’s Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State. In this lecture, Dr. Balmer examines how the principle of church state separation emerged, how it was understood by earlier generations, and how it has been interpreted and contested over time. By situating contemporary controversies within their longer historical trajectory, the talk clarifies what is at stake in ongoing disputes about religion, governance, and public life.
Doors open at 4:00 pm for coffee and informal conversation, and the lecture will begin at 4:30 pm, concluding by 6:00 pm.