Lecture in Wright draws hundreds

Marcus J. Borg, a professor of religion and culture at Oregon State University, gave the next installment of the Voyages of Discovery Lecture Series titled "Christians in an Age of an Empire: Then and Now" presented by the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences on Tuesday night. Hundreds showed up to hear Borg's talk of religion and politics.

The event started off with welcoming remarks given by Dr. Alan R. White, dean of Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences.

Later came an introduction of the guest speaker by Dr. Calvin Mercer, Co- Director of the Religious Studies Program at the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Borg asked the crowd a rhetorical question referring to this day and age--"What does it mean to be a Christian and an American?"

Borg brought up a statistic that about 80 percent of people in America identify that they are of the Christian faith, making it the highest percentage in the world.

"America is the most Christian country in the world," Borg said.

He then said that about half of those actually practice the religion.

Borg expressed that he was pleased to be able to give his lecture after Election Day so as not to sway people one way or another because, "the issues…tonight are as relevant to a democrat as they are to a republican," Borg said.

"It was an intellectual lecture that shows the parallels of today's politics and religion," said Nadiah Sarsour, a senior double majoring in journalism and French.

Borg stressed that the Bible's message is one of "passion and peace."

At the end of the lecture Dr. Borg left room for questions and answers from the audience and hosted a book signing after the lecture.

Dr. Marcus J. Borg , an American Biblical scholar and author is known as one of the leading historical Jesus scholars of this generation.

"It was an eye opening experience and I was surprised by how many people showed up," Sarsour said.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.