Washington University in St. Louis will host the second of three Presidential Debates on Sunday, October 9, 2016. As an attendant event, and with a close eye to the upcoming U.S. presidential election, the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University will convene on October 8 a group of exceptionally thoughtful, dynamic commentators to participate in The Danforth Dialogues. The Danforth Dialogues will explore the place of religion in our current politics and public life, along with its future possibilities. The Center on Religion and Politics, whose very mission includes the overarching goal of modeling respectful debate among divergent viewpoints, is eager to engage a variety of leaders in discussions that might identify new trajectories for religion and politics in American life.

The Danforth Dialogues will be held in Graham Chapel on the Danforth Campus of Washington University. It will be a ticketed event that is free and open to all. The event will consist of a set of two conversations on the chapel stage, moderated by Krista Tippett, host of the Peabody Award-winning On Being radio show and podcast, and author of the recent New York Times bestselling Becoming Wise about nurturing moral imagination in individual and common life. President Obama awarded Tippett the National Humanities Medal at the White House in 2014 for “thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence.”

The first conversation, themed “Religion and Conceptions of the Common Good,” will feature Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Interfaith Youth Core; and Natasha Trethewey, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former Poet Laureate of the United States. The second conversation, themed “Religion and National Politics,” will feature David Brooks and E.J. Dionne, two of America’s most prominent political commentators and influential authors. The event will culminate with a reception for attending guests and speakers.

The schedule for this event will be:

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Book signing with event participants, Tisch Commons in the Danforth University Center (DUC)
Event participants David Brooks, E.J. Dionne, and Natasha Trethewey will be present and signed copies of other speakers’ books will be available for sale.

5:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
The Danforth Dialogues, Graham Chapel
Two conversations moderated by Krista Tippett:
“Religion and Conceptions of the Common Good” with Eboo Patel and Natasha Trethewey
“Religion and National Politics” with David Brooks and E.J. Dionne Jr.

8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Reception with event participants for all ticketed audience members, Clark Fox Forum in Hillman Hall

Tickets will be required to attend the Graham Chapel program and the reception immediately following. All available tickets have been claimed at this time. You may register for a place on the waiting list if you visit our registration site.

If you successfully registered for tickets, you should have received an email detailing parking and transportation options.

Please contact us at (314) 935-9345 or rap@wustl.edu should you need additional information or assistance.

More information about the presidential debate hosted at Washington University in St. Louis can be found here.