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Stephen Prothero, professor of religion at Boston University, examines culture wars within the context of a centuries-long struggle of right versus left and religious versus secular in a lecture “Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars,” Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 3:30 p.m. in Winter Hall’s Darling Foundation Lecture Hall (Room 210). The World Christianity and Adams Mission Lecture is free and open to the public.

Prothero has authored numerous books, including the soon-to-be released book “Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars (Even When They Lose Elections): The Battles That Define America from Jefferson’s Heresies to Gay Marriage.” He has also written “God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World” and the New York Times bestseller “Religious Literacy: What Every American Need to Know.”

He has commented about religion on dozens of National Public Radio programs, as well as on television, including appearances on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart, “The Colbert Report” with Stephen Colbert and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

“Dr. Prothero’s public lectures are relevant to understanding American social history as well as being accessible to educated audiences without specialized knowledge,” says Charles Farhadian, professor of world religions and Christian mission. “What I appreciate about Prothero is that he takes religion seriously, without being dismissive or defensive.”

Prothero, a Yale alumnus, earned a Master of Arts and doctorate from Harvard.

“The talk will feature important ideas from his new book, particularly as the United States is fraught with moral and cultural wars that seem to be undergirded by religious perspectives,” says Farhadian, chair of Westmont’s religious studies department. “I look forward to hearing his understanding of the role of religion in American social history as well as in our contemporary moral discourse.”