Journalist, author to discuss religion, politics, culture during February lecture

Journalist, author to discuss religion, politics, culture during February lecture

Tim Alberta, an award-winning journalist and best-selling author, will explore the intersections of religion, politics and culture when he delivers Northwest Missouri State University's Lemon Lecture in February.

The lecture, titled "The Crisis of American Christianity," begins at 7:30 p.m. in Colden Hall Room 3500 on the Northwest campus. It is free and open to the public.

Alberta presents with a unique ability to weave personal and social context into a compelling narrative that illuminates the intricate interplay between religion, politics and culture, said Daniel Biegelson, a senior instructor of language, literature and writing at Northwest who also serves on Northwest's Distinguished Lecture Series Committee.

"With a deep understanding of his own Christian faith and the keen insight of a journalistic anthropologist, Alberta examines how religion shapes our contemporary political landscape while also exploring how politics, in turn, shapes people's religious lives," Biegelson said. "In a time of deep polarization, moral challenges and questions about what it means to be both American and Christian, his work fosters a deeper understanding of these forces, helping us better see the sources of conflict and potential pathways toward the kind of dialogue necessary to sustain our pluralistic democracy."

Alberta is a journalist and staff writer at The Atlantic, renowned for his nuanced analysis of American politics and cultural dynamics. He is the author of "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism," which examines the political and cultural evolution of the evangelical movement from the perspective of someone deeply committed to his Christian faith and who speaks from within the fold.

The annual Lemon Lecture is part of Northwest's Distinguished Lecture Series, which seeks to enhance the academic environment through individual discipline and interdisciplinary topics. Supported by the Office of the Provost and the Student Activities Council, the series offers the Northwest campus and surrounding communities opportunities to hear from extraordinary individuals from throughout the globe. Scholars, world travelers and leaders in their fields visit the Northwest campus to share their wisdom, insight and experiences.

Funding support for the Lemon Lecture series is provided through the generosity of Beatrice E. Hanson, who graduated from Northwest in 1936. The program is named in honor of James H. Lemon, her grandfather and a founder of the Fifth District Normal School, which is now Northwest Missouri State University.