We think we know so much about how religious voters impact a presidential election. Conventional wisdom says that certain groups (say, conservative Christians) always vote one way, while other groups (say, atheists and agnostics) vote the other. But reality is rarely so simple, and finding out how beliefs play a role in politics and our lives is always tricky work.
Come hear Professor Peter Civetta of Northwestern University discuss his research into the 2008 presidential election, which suggests that conversations around religion and politics may be misdirected.
He will present alternative ways of understanding faith and belief in relation to politics, and will offer some views on the role of religion in our current election. The presentation will be held Tuesday, October 9, at 10 a.m. in the Martin Recital Hall.
His talk will lead to an open discussion around the 2012 races, and will also provoke the question: How does your own faith impact the choices that you make?
Bring your opinions, and be prepared to shed your preconceptions.
Peter Civetta, PhD, is the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at Northwestern University and a lecturer in the American Studies Program.
He is currently teaching a course titled "The Performance of/in Politics: The 2012 Elections."
In 2007-2009, he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow with the Kaplan Institute of the Humanities at Northwestern working on his project "Vote by Faith: The Impact of Religious Belief on the 2008 Presidential Election Cycle."