National Endowment for the Humanities awards Pepperdine University grant for ‘Faith, Freedom, and the Founding’ speaker series

MALIBU, Calif. — A new speaker series at Pepperdine University will highlight the central importance of the Christian faith and the Bible to the American founding and its founders. Through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy will host five events between Pepperdine’s Southern California and Washington, D.C., campuses.

“The role of faith in our founding through today’s public policy debates has become misunderstood by many Americans,” said Pete Peterson, Braun Family Dean’s Chair and Dean of the School of Public Policy. “As one of America’s only graduate public policy programs at a Christian university, the Pepperdine School of Public Policy distinctively teaches and highlights the intersection of faith, politics, and policy, making this series a natural fit for this year’s event programming.”

Led by Pepperdine’s Gaylord Professor of Public Policy, Dr. Abbylin Sellers, this project will coincide with America’s 250th birthday. Each lecture will be public, engaging students, faculty, alumni, and the broader public to learn anew about this exceptional aspect of America’s history.

By exploring the distinctive relationship between faith and freedom, ‘Faith, Freedom, and the Founding’ will challenge popular perceptions that the origins of America’s commitment to religious freedom are found only in the secular, European Enlightenment. Rather, this engaging series will demonstrate the ability to combine faith and freedom, sustained—both directly and metaphorically—by Scripture.

All ‘Faith, Freedom, and the Founding’ events are open to the public. To register and learn more about the series, visit the event webpage. 

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About Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University is a private Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in Malibu, California. Rooted in the Christian tradition, Pepperdine is committed to both the relentless pursuit of truth through academic and scholarly excellence and to embodying Christian faith and values. With students at the heart of the educational enterprise, the University prepares approximately 9,000 scholars for lives of purpose, service, and leadership across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College; the Pepperdine College of Health Science; and four graduate schools—the Caruso School of Law; the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School; the Graduate School of Education and Psychology; and the School of Public Policy. Follow Pepperdine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

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