Religion is a dynamic force in America, so it should be no surprise that every four years issues involving religion raise compelling questions for the media and public. How deeply should the religious beliefs of a candidate be tested? What press questions involving religion are suitable, and what are out of bounds, irrelevant, or trivial? What religious voting blocs will help shape the election? How influential will “culture war” issues be in the 2012 election? What religious beliefs undergird views toward the economy and budget cuts? And how do the growing number of nonreligious voters respond to God-talk on the campaign trail?
The Center for American Progress invites you to join our panel of experts for a lively and informative conversation.
Welcoming remarks:
Eleni Towns, Research Assistant, Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative, Center for American Progress
Polling overview on religion and the 2012 campaign:
Dr. Robert P. Jones, Founding CEO, Public Religion Research Institute
Featured panelists:
Joanna Brooks, columnist, Religion Dispatches; author of the upcoming book The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith
Shaun A. Casey, Professor of Christian Ethics, Wesley Theological Seminary; consultant to the Project on Religion and Post Conflict Reconstruction at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and author of The Making of a Catholic President: Kennedy v. Nixon 1960
Rev. Gabriel Salguero, President, National Latino Evangelical Coalition; executive member of the Latino Leadership Circle
Moderator:
Sally Steenland, Director, Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative, Center for American Progress