God in the Voting Booth: How American Religion Shapes the Politics of Both Republicans and Democrats

Two people at voting machines with a crucifix hanging above them
October 30, 2024
4:00PM - 6:00PM
Faculty Club

Date Range
2024-10-30 16:00:00 2024-10-30 18:00:00 God in the Voting Booth: How American Religion Shapes the Politics of Both Republicans and Democrats The 2024/2025 Don and Barbara Davis Lecture on Christianity Studies will feature Daniel K. Williams, senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University. A reception will follow. Religious controversies over abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and the content of children's education have polarized American politics for decades. But religion's influence on American politics is not confined to the political right; the Democratic Party has also been deeply shaped by religion. This lecture will examine both political parties' complicated historical relationship with religion and will explore what that history means for our current political moment in a nation that is divided by both politics and religion.   Parking: A limited number of parking spaces are available outside the Faculty Club- obtain a pass inside. Otherwise, the nearest parking is at the Ohio Union garages, just north of the Ohio Union  at1759 N High St, Columbus, OH 43210Bio: Daniel K. Williams is a senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, where he teaches courses on modern American history. He is the author of several books on American religion and politics, including God's Own Party: The Making of the Christian Right, Defenders of the Unborn: The Pro-Life Movement before Roe v. Wade, and The Politics of the Cross: A Christian Alternative to Partisanship. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, and Christianity Today.  This event is free and open to the public.  Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Religion, the Department of Comparative Studies and the Humanities Institute.  The Humanities Institute and its related centers host a wide range of events, from intense discussions of works in progress to cutting-edge presentations from world-known scholars, artists, activists and everything in between.We value in-person engagement at our events as we strive to amplify the energy in the room. To submit an accommodation request, please send your request to Megan Moriarty, moriarty.8@osu.edu.    Faculty Club America/New_York public

The 2024/2025 Don and Barbara Davis Lecture on Christianity Studies will feature Daniel K. Williams, senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University. 

A reception will follow. 

Religious controversies over abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and the content of children's education have polarized American politics for decades. But religion's influence on American politics is not confined to the political right; the Democratic Party has also been deeply shaped by religion. This lecture will examine both political parties' complicated historical relationship with religion and will explore what that history means for our current political moment in a nation that is divided by both politics and religion.  
 

Parking: A limited number of parking spaces are available outside the Faculty Club- obtain a pass inside. Otherwise, the nearest parking is at the Ohio Union garages, just north of the Ohio Union  at1759 N High St, Columbus, OH 43210

Bio: Daniel K. Williams is a senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, where he teaches courses on modern American history. He is the author of several books on American religion and politics, including God's Own Party: The Making of the Christian Right, Defenders of the Unborn: The Pro-Life Movement before Roe v. Wade, and The Politics of the Cross: A Christian Alternative to Partisanship. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, and Christianity Today. 

 
This event is free and open to the public. 
 
Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Religion, the Department of Comparative Studies and the Humanities Institute. 
 

The Humanities Institute and its related centers host a wide range of events, from intense discussions of works in progress to cutting-edge presentations from world-known scholars, artists, activists and everything in between.

We value in-person engagement at our events as we strive to amplify the energy in the room. To submit an accommodation request, please send your request to Megan Moriarty, moriarty.8@osu.edu.