Author and evangelist James Wallis and religion professor Cornel West GS '80 spoke Tuesday night about how to change the way liberals and moderates view religion before an overflowing audience in McCosh 50.
Wallis criticized the conservative hold on religion, arguing that prophetic religion should be a force for social change. "The religious right is the political seduction of religion ... made by pundits and polls," he said. "[Religion] should be able to critique both left and right."
West agreed, saying, "We're looking for something deeper than just a fair political system — we're also looking for what kinds of human beings we want to be as we struggle for it."
Wallis noted that religion can play a larger role in alleviating the problem of poverty, calling the constant starvation due to poverty an "everyday tsunami." He said the left has not previously been successful in framing terms of the moral debate.
"Protecting the environment, also known as God's creation, is a moral values issue too," Wallis said, to murmurs of agreement from the audience. "Telling the truth about going to war is a profoundly religious issue too."
Wallis also addressed young people "writing themselves off" because they do not believe churches share their beliefs.
"People tell me, 'I lost my faith because of television preachers, pedophile priests and White House theology.' " he said. "They say 'I didn't know you could be a Christian and care about poverty, the environment or the war in Iraq.' "
Wallis called on students to reconsider their calling in life, contrasting a "career" with a "vocation."
"A career is collecting your assets to go up that ladder, and if you're evangelical, talking about God all the time," he said. "With a vocation, you discern your gift ... and [let it] meet the crushing needs of the world."
The speakers addressed what the religious left must do to revitalize itself. West said in response to an audience question that the left must reorganize itself on both the popular and elite levels.
"Democratic energy from below is never sufficient," West said. "You need confidence among the elite. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have been crushed if there weren't Republicans and Democrats willing to confront Southern Democrats."
Irene Rouette '08, who attended the speech, said the speakers set a powerful example for University students.
"Their compassion really showed through," Rouette said. "It was a good chance to refocus and understand what I want to do at Princeton."
Andy Nagel, a second-year student at Princeton Theological Seminary, called West and Wallis much-needed examples of religious figures on the left.
"I'm glad that there are outspoken voices that are putting out this point of view," Nagel said. "It gives me a sense of hope towards the future."
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