Daniel Sargent, the Alexander F. and May T. Morrison Professor of History and Citizenship at University of California, Berkeley, will speak on “One World Under God? Faith and International Order” at the First Friday Forum on April 10 at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC) in Lafayette. His talk will examine the role of theistic faith traditions in shaping international affairs.
“One World Under God? Faith and International Order,” is an unusual topic for an academic in the United States, given its tradition of the separation of church and state and the current tendentious blend of politics and Christianity in America.
But Daniel Sargent’s focus is much broader than current national affairs and examines the potential impact of all theistic faith traditions on international affairs. He will address this relationship at the First Friday Forum April 10 program.
His talk is an extension of a recent essay he wrote, “Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Faith and World Order,” whose title is based on a poem by William Butler Yeats. The essay makes two claims: First, the world order, to be creative, must rest on metaphysical ground; and second, our estrangement from theology hinders our capacity to lay such a foundation.
Sargent is the Alexander F and May T Morrison Professor of History and Citizenship at the University of California, with connections to the Institute of International Studies and the Goldman School of Public Policy at the university.
He received his B.A. at Cambridge University and his M.A. and Ph.D. at Harvard and has been an active scholar and teacher, publishing two books, more than 20 essays and numerous articles. He also made innumerable presentations, and has supervised more than 26 doctoral students while at Cal. He is a member of the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.
This free program is open to the community and held on Friday, April 10 at 1:30 p.m. in the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church sanctuary at 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. To attend online, click “Watch” on the First Friday Forum website at lopc.org/first-friday-forum and scroll to the bottom of the page. Registration is not required. A recording will be posted on the website.
