Living in the City of Houston provides us with incredible opportunities to participate in cultural and intellectual events. Throughout the year, I’ll invite you and your friends and neighbors to join me in some of these activities that might either strengthen or challenge us as Christians.

The next “On the Road with the Rector” event is a lecture on “Civil Religion and Religious Civility” by Richard Mouw, former President of Fuller Theological Seminary, which is sponsored by the Religion and Public Life Program at Rice University. It will take place this week — Wednesday, February 25 — at 8:00 a.m. in Sewall Hall, Room 307, on the Rice campus, which is located at 6100 Main Street.

These are the questions that Mouw will discuss with Elaine Howard Ecklund, Autrey Professor of Sociology and Director of the Religion and Public Life Program:

Should religious arguments be used in political, legal, and other debates conducted in the public sphere?

Should religion ever leave the private sphere?

It will also include a moderated question and answer period and be followed by a breakfast reception for those who are able to stay. Whenever food is involved, it’s always helpful to let them know that you will be attending. You can RSVP either by registering online or by sending an email to Hayley Hemstreet, Program Manager for the Religion and Public Life Program, at hayley.j.hemstreet@rice.edu.