February
3, 2014: The Center for Religion, Culture, and Community hosted a talk by
David L. Holmes, the author of the Faith of the Postwar Presidents: From
Truman to Obama. A native of Detroit, David L. Holmes is currently
Walter G. mason Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus at the College
of William and Mary. His earlier book, the Faith of the Founding
Fathers, was favorably reviewed by Alan Wolfe in the New York Times. His book acclaimed look at the spiritual beliefs of such iconic Americans
as Frankly, Washington, and Jefferson, established David L. Holmes as a
measured voice in the heated debate over the new nations religious
underpinnings. He looked at the role of faith in the lives of the
twelve presidents who have served since the end of World War II. Holmes
examined not only the beliefs professed by each president but also the
variety of possible influences on their religious faith on policies
concerning abortion, the death penalty, Israel and other controversial
issue
.