Sergio Sandoval

American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow David Hollinger gave the Hot Spots lecture on Oct. 19 in La Fetra Auditorium, titled “Religious vs. Secular Liberals: Finding Common Ground Against the Religious Right.” Hollinger talked about how religion has changed over the years and how it has affected public policy. Hollinger received his bachelor’s degree in history from La Verne College in 1963.

Erin Konrad
Special to the Campus Times

Guest speaker David Hollinger presented a lecture, “Religious vs. Secular Liberals: Finding Common Ground Against the Religious Right,” Oct. 19 in La Fetra Auditorium.

Hollinger, a University of La Verne alumnus, addressed the country’s need for a more open dialogue about religion.

In an hour-long speech hosted by the International Studies Institute at ULV, Hollinger spoke to a nearly full auditorium about the history of religious liberals and the many changes the group has undergone throughout recent history.

“It was interesting the way he discussed how religious trends have shifted,” said George Keeler, professor of journalism.

Hollinger began by warmly inviting the audience to think of any comments or questions that he could answer later in the lecture.

Hollinger discussed the liberal Protestants’ more productive stance after their success in the civil rights and feminist movements.

He also noted that the evangelicals have proven to be less effective with their agendas perhaps because they feel their way is the only way to assert the faith.

“The liberal Protestants broke through barriers and charted destiny that is more appropriate for modern America,” Hollinger said.

“The evangelicals have yet to face the same challenges as liberals,” he added.

Hollinger’s speech seemed timely when he mentioned politicians in the 19th century using their religious beliefs to further their careers an accusation that has also been made of George W. Bush with the war in Iraq.

While Hollinger’s references to religion in popular culture, including an episode of “The West Wing,” helped to keep the audience’s attention, not everyone found the lecture interesting.

“Obviously he’s a really smart guy, but I could not figure out what he was talking about,” said Rhiannon Mim, a sophomore photojournalism major.

Others echoed this sentiment, claiming that Hollinger’s use of intellectual vocabulary left them feeling confused.

Even the questions asked by three members of the audience at the end of the lecture were difficult to follow.

“I felt like some of those people were talking just to hear themselves talk,” Keeler said.

Yet Hollinger was personable. At one point, Hollinger even drew attention to a slight tic that made his head appear to jerk forward after every couple of statements.

He explained that he has a bone spur at the base of his neck, and this causes an involuntary twitch.

“Although it looks like I’m nodding just for emphasis, I’m really not. I don’t want you to think, ‘David thinks he’s so profound,” Hollinger said, eliciting laughter from the audience and one of the more light-hearted moments in the lecture.

A distinguished academic and historian, Hollinger graduated from La Verne College in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He received a Ph.D. in history from UC Berkeley in 1970, where he is now chairman of the department of history.

He has written many critically praised books, and is an American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow.

Erin Konrad can be reached at ekonrad@ulv.edu.