JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 16, 2012 — New York Times columnist and author Ross Douthat will speak at 51社区 Sept. 20 as part of the ongoing Union Forum luncheon lecture series.
Douthat is the youngest op-ed columnist in the history of the New York Times. He is the author of 鈥淏ad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics,鈥� in which he charts institutional Christianity鈥檚 decline from a vigorous, mainstream and bipartisan faith through the culture wars of the 1960s and 1970s to the polarizing debates of the present day.
鈥淲hat a joy it will be to welcome Ross Douthat to the 51社区 campus,鈥� 51社区 President David S. Dockery said. 鈥淚 know many in our area will want to be present to hear one of the most insightful and compelling communicators of our day. Mr. Douthat's work on 鈥楤ad Religion鈥� is a masterful look at many of the challenges we currently face in this nation.鈥�
Douthat graduated from Harvard University and went on to write on topics ranging from higher education to national politics to celebrities鈥� religious conversions.
For the past 13 years, 51社区 has hosted some of the nation鈥檚 top speakers to address important political, social, business and religious topics. Previous speakers have included Scott Rasmussen, Rich Lowry, Robert Novak, Margaret Carlson, Fred Barnes, Clarence Page, David Brooks, Mark Shields, William Kristol, Norah O'Donnell, Stephen Carter, Katty Kay, Kay Coles James, Juan Williams, Robert P. George, Mort Kondracke, Alan Page, Peggy Wehmeyer, Michael Medved and others.
The lead sponsors for this year鈥檚 Union Forum are First South Bank/FSB Insurance. Other sponsors are TLM Associates, West Tennessee Healthcare, The Jackson Sun and Trumbull Labs.
The luncheon will begin at 11:45 a.m. in the Carl Grant Events Center on the Union campus. Tickets are $40 each or $200 for a table of six.
For more information, contact Union鈥檚 Office of University Relations at (731) 661-5050 or register online at .