In the midst of an election year, the Museum of the Bible is introducing a fall lecture series at Oklahoma Christian University about the influence of the Bible on previous presidents.
The seven-week series, entitled Presidential Influence: The Importance of the Bible Among America’s Greatest Leaders, will feature presentations on George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, Andrew Jackson, George H.W. Bush, Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams.
Oklahoma Christian history professors Matt McCook and Gary Lindsey are among the speakers for the series.
McCook, who will be speaking on John Quincy Adams December 1, said the event will take a fact-based historical approach on Biblical influence rather than a purely religious one.
“I think Museum of the Bible is trying to take an academic approach to the Bible, show its importance, its significance for believers and nonbelievers alike,” McCook said. “It’s just had a huge impact on all Western culture.”
According to McCook, the event will help people to see that religion and politics can coexist in a political figure.
“Not every political leader has been a great exemplar of Biblical principles,” McCook said. “But there have been many political leaders that have taken very seriously Bible study for both personal growth and just lessons that it might offer on virtues people ought to have to be leaders. I think it’s still a very important subject.”
Lindsey, who will address the Bible’s influence on Thomas Jefferson Nov. 17, said he plans to expand the knowledge of what his audience may already know about the personal life of Jefferson.
“They will learn more about Thomas Jefferson than in high school or other college courses,” Lindsey said. “They’ll have an appreciation for him as a person and also probably understand better his view of the Bible is not what they thought.”
Lindsey said it is important for people to recognize the connection between the history of the United States of America and faith.
“When you look at the primary documents of the Founding Fathers, the presidents and others who were involved in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, there is absolutely no doubt that the vast majority of those Founding Fathers viewed their work as establishing a nation on Christian principles,” Lindsey said.
The lecture series will be held in Cail Auditorium on Oklahoma Christian’s campus every Thursday at 7 p.m. from September 16-December 1. The event is free to the public, but those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP at the Museum of the Bible’s website, where they can also find more information on upcoming speakers and events.
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