Professor Explores Sermon on the Mount

President Abraham Lincoln’s greatest speech wasn’t the Gettysburg Address, it was his Sermon on the Mount. That’s the belief of Ronald C. White, professor at San Francisco Theological Seminary. White will discuss the topic as part of Westmont’s Erasmus Lecture series, Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 3:30 p.m. at Hieronymus Lounge. The lecture is titled, “Abraham Lincoln’s Sermon on the Mount: The Second Inaugural Address.”

White is a professor of American intellectual and religious history and a Fellow at the Huntington Library. His latest book, “Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural” discusses the sermon and how Lincoln eloquently spoke about the origins and paradoxes of the Civil War.

“In an era when all politicians are obligated to intone ‘God Bless America,’” White says on his faculty Web site, “bringing Lincoln into focus can help us explore how God acts in history and what is the shape of public faith.”

White has a bachelor’s degree from UC Los Angeles, a master’s of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and master’s and doctoral degrees from Princeton University.

The purpose of Erasmus Lecture Series is to allow student an opportunity to explore a variety of disciplines through talks by leading scholars. It is coordinated by Westmont Associate English Professor Cheri Larsen Hoeckley.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For directions to campus, visit the college Web site at www.westmont.edu or call the public affairs office at (805) 5656051.