Stephen L. Carter, the third lecturer in this year's Distinguished Speaker Series, challenged his large Center for the Arts crowd Thursday to reconsider religion as a guiding force in public life
Carter, professor of law at Yale University and UB's 2001-2002 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Speaker, spoke on King's work as a minister and his function as a prophetic voice preaching a message of love and equality.
"There is still much work to be done," said Carter. "We owe it to Martin Luther King to continue to define how we should be in America."
Carter explained both the potential benefit of religion in the nation's politics, as well as the challenges it places upon Americans of every race, class and ideology. Carter said religion's role is to unmake laws that exist, rather than create new ones, and voices from among the religious should try to keep the populous aware when politicians are not doing what is right.
Carter noted the way King often utilized religion in revealing injustices during the civil rights movement.
"Martin Luther King's public speeches were sermons. King did not put his hands on the levers of power, " said Carter. "Religion gets weaker when it tries to coerce; a religious entity will lose its religious identity. Religion is at its best when it is just trying to inspire."
Carter also touched on Sept. 11 and religious warfare, describing how "holy wars" resulting in terrible crimes against humanity could break out if religion gains too much power over the government. To prevent this, a proper balance between religion and politics must be maintained, Carter said.
"If we want religion in public life, we have to believe in the walls of separation," he said. "We have to envision a pluralistic and diverse nation, co-equal citizens working out differences through the democratic process."
Carter spoke directly on the after-effects of Sept. 11; the way, for example, that flags were hung in every home, public prayer services held outside and prayer services held in classrooms.
"There has been a lot more implication of God in America," Carter said. "There are going to be moments when religion is going to break loose."
After his lecture, Carter answered questions about the characteristics of a prophetic voice. A prophetic voice, he said, is one that preaches faith with a genuine voice, one who tries to change people's minds and not beat them down, and one who is willing to be sacrificed, with no hidden agenda or expectation of something - such as power or control - in return.
"We have to live in accordance with what we preach," said Carter.
"I think he is an extraordinary guy and thinker," said Charles Smith, professor in the department of music, said. "He has an astonishing voice that keeps it pure and speaks clearly on this issue. He understands the importance of church and state."
Jessica Zyiega, an English major, also found the lecture interesting.
"It was not something I expected," said Zyiega. "I got a different perspective on how to perceive religion and government."
Ryan McPherson, a UB law student, agreed.
"We don't think of religion playing a role in politics because we are so used to standard views of separation of church and state," said McPherson.
Carter, author of "The Culture of Disbelief: How American Law and Politics Trivialize Religious Belief," was referred to as one of the nation's leading public intellectuals by the New York Times. Time Magazine also recognized him as one of the top 50 leaders of the next century.
Carter is clerk to the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Commission of Judicial Discipline and Removal.
