The headlines are clear: religion is on the decline in North America as many people leave behind traditional religious practices. Stetson University’s Christian Theology guest lecturer, Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D., will tackle this complex issue in her lecture, “God in a Post-Religious Time,” Thursday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Stetson’s Department of Religious Studies, Bass’s lecture will be held in the Stetson Room, on the second floor of the Carlton Union Building, 131 E. Minnesota Ave., on Stetson’s DeLand campus.

Bass will explore ways in which what appears to be a decline actually signals a major transformation in how people understand and experience God, along with the ways churches can respond to and participate in this shift.

This public lecture is part of Stetson University’s annual Pastors’ School. “The Pastors’ School has been successful not only because of the excellent speakers each year who challenge, inspire and educate the participants, but also because of the opportunity it provides for the participants to dialogue and interact with each other,” said Mitchell Reddish, Ph.D., professor of Christian Studies at Stetson, and chair of Religious Studies. “It’s a great setting in which to make new acquaintances and to renew friendships with others who are engaged in ministry.”

Bass is the author of nine books on American religion, including Grounded: Finding God in the World – A Spiritual Revolution (October 2015), Christianity After Religion (2012), A People’s History of Christianity (2009), and Christianity for the Rest of Us (2006). She holds a doctorate in religious studies from Duke University, has taught at the college and graduate level and is currently an independent scholar. She was a columnist for the New York Times Syndicate and blogs for the Huffington Post and the Washington Post on issues of religion, spirituality and culture. She lives in Alexandria, Va., with her husband, daughter, and dog. 

This Christian Theology Lecture is free and open to the public. Cultural credit is available for Stetson students attending the lecture. For more information, contact Stetson University’s Department of Religious Studies, at 386-822-8930.