November 8 — The History of Prayer in America
From the days before European colonization to today, Americans have always been generous with prayer in their private and public lives. Discover how prayer is historically intertwined with the United States’ cultural, political, social, economic, and military landscapes.
When: Thursday, November 08, 2007 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Christian Theological Seminary 1000 W. 42nd St., Indianapolis, IN 46208
Dr. James P. Moore Jr., author of One Nation Under God: The History of Prayer in America, explores how artists, musicians, writers, slaves, American Indians, corporate tycoons, public figures, religious leaders of varying faiths, generals, and average Americans have shaped our history with prayer. Learn how prayer has influenced the way Americans understand social justice, redemption, forgiveness, and generosity. See clips from a PBS documentary based on Moore’s book, and share your perspectives on the ways prayer has shaped American culture.
Admission is free.
James P. Moore teaches at Georgetown University. His book, One Nation Under God: The History of Prayer in America, is the basis of a PBS documentary, Prayer In America. What might be surprising is that he teaches business rather than theology or religious studies or even history. Moore is the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development and helped to launch the Uruguay Round, which led the creation of the World Trade Organization. He also served as the chief U.S. negotiator for several bilateral commercial agreements, including the last trade and economic agreement with the Soviet Union. He has served on the boards of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the U.S. Export-Import Bank as well as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. For several years he represented the United States as Head of Delegation to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. He has lectured at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, and the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. He also was named a distinguished fellow at the University of Colorado and was a cofounder of the Global Forum in Aspen, Colorado. He was the founder and CEO of ATI, the international investment banking firm.
In One Natiuon under God, Moore focuses on the peculiar and special role that prayer has played in every area of American life, from the time of the first settlers to the present day and beyond. One Nation Under God argues that without prayer, the political, cultural, social, and even economic and military history of the United States would be vastly different from what it is today. It addresses the modern debate over public prayer and how the current approach to prayer bears deep roots in the philosophies of the country’s founding fathers, a subject which remains distinct from the debate over church and state.
Presented by WFYI and Christian Theological Seminary.
Questions? Call 317-636-2020 or e-mail gstrong@wfyi.org.
For More Information about the History of Prayer in America, check out these recommended readings.
If this sounds like an interesting discussion, check out … Some of the interfaith activities scheduled for Spirit & Place (and other times this fall). The Center for Inquiry Indiana will sponsor a series of discussions that take a (to put it mildly) different spin on American in history “Gifts of the Freethinkers” November 9, 10, & 11. The dark side of religion in contemporary politics will be addressed by Sheila Kennedy November 14.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:16 am
[…] November 8 — The History of Prayer in America From the days before European colonization to today, Americans have always been generous with prayer in their private and public lives. Discover how prayer is historically intertwined with the United States’ cultural, political, social, economic, and military landscapes. check it out […]