CAS explores religion and society theme with Prothero Essay Contest

By Eric Reikowski, media relations assistant

Oakland University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and Department of Writing and Rhetoric are sponsoring an online essay contest for students to celebrate the upcoming campus visit of Boston University professor Stephen Prothero, author of this year’s CAS Community Book Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—and Doesn’t.

Participants will provide in each essay a 500-word response, either in agreement or disagreement, to Prothero’s arguments about the value of religious literacy in a pluralist culture. The four winning students will be invited to join Prothero at a luncheon from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in the Oakland Center Heritage Room for a spirited discussion of their essays and Prothero’s scholarly work.

“There are literally hundreds of students reading Religious Literacy this fall as part of their classes,” said Greg Giberson, assistant professor of Rhetoric at OU. “Having the author on campus and being able to provide a few students with the opportunity to meet with him over lunch to discuss his work and their essays will be quite exciting.”

Students should their submit entries at the contest Web page no later than Monday, Nov. 2.

A New York Times bestselling author, Prothero’s commentary has appeared in many prominent publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe and Salon. He will deliver a lecture to the campus community from 2-3 p.m. in the Oakland Center Banquet Rooms.

For more information on the essay contest, contact the OU Department of Writing and Rhetoric at (248) 370-2746.

The Prothero lecture is part of the CAS 2009-2010 Celebrating Liberal Arts Theme on religion and society. For a complete listing of events, download the program flyer.