Keynote - God and Caesar: A Different Path with Dr. Diana Butler Bass
About this Event
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and Student Center at Drake University will welcome renowned author and speaker Dr. Diana Butler Bass to deliver the keynote address for the 2026 Dialogue Series, which offers events that provide opportunities for participants to listen, converse, and act for the common good. This is the third season for the Dialogue Series, which has attracted large audiences for the first two keynotes and companion events.
Dr. Diana Butler Bass’s keynote address, titled “God and Caesar: A Different Path,” will be delivered on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Sheslow Auditorium on the Drake University campus. This keynote will explore the space between two competing visions of human flourishing and will consider other paths forward.
“Diana has written extensively about the culture and values of the Roman empire in Jesus’s time and the completely opposite values he espoused while living under its oppression,” said Dialogue Series committee member Aimee Beckmann-Collier. “Her speech will focus on the Gospel-based message of non-violence, compassion, and respect for human dignity and its contrast to a political and cultural framework that prioritizes domination, violence, and greed.”
Butler Bass (Ph.D., Duke University) is an award-winning and prolific author, an inspiring speaker, and one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality, especially where faith intersects with politics and culture. Her bylines include The New York Times and The Washington Post, and she has commented widely on media including CBS, CNN, PBS, and NPR.
Her 2013 book, Grounding, drew exceptional praise from a wide spectrum of outlets, including Booklist, Christian Century, National Catholic Reporter, Publishers Weekly, and Sojourners. Her most recent book, A Beautiful Year, was received with similar acclaim, including the 2026 Wilbur Prize (her third.)
The St. Catherine of Siena community invites persons of all ages and beliefs to this free Dialogue Series event. The Series will offer additional events, including an interfaith panel, on Jan. 10, 2027 at 3 p.m., led by Drake University provost Dr. Joseph Valenzano, and titled “Souls in Community: Faith-based Responses to the Challenge of Social Justice.” Other events will be announced at a later date.
Tickets are not required, but RSVPs are encouraged.
Learn more about other the Dialogue Series.
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