Discovering Christian civility in the midst of political hostility

Today’s politics are rife with personal attacks and a deluge of information. It has become increasingly difficult for some Christians to understand how or where they belong, leading many to disengage rather than dig in. Are they right? Is it better to opt out than to debate it out? Tune in as several Baylor faculty – with expertise in Christian ethics, political science, contemporary culture and rhetoric – discuss the value of Christian civility in an era of political hostility.

Members of the discussion panel included Dr. Matt Anderson, Assistant Professor of Ethics and Theology; Dr. Elise Edwards, Assistant Professor in Religion; Dr. Rebecca Flavin, Senior Lecturer in Political Science; and Dr. Leslie Hahner, Professor in Communication. Their virtual conversation was held on Thursday, October 17 at 1 p.m. CT. 

Learn more about our panelists:

Matthew Lee Anderson

Matthew Lee Anderson, D.Phil. in Christian Ethics, is an Assistant Professor in the Honors Program at Baylor University and is the Associate Director of Baylor in Washington. He writes about contemporary moral and political challenges from a Christian, theological standpoint. Anderson’s most recent work, Called into Questions: Cultivating the Love of Learning in the Christian Life, is an exploration of the role questions can play in deepening our love for God. He writes regularly for public audiences and is currently researching the ways attending to reputation can help our social and political communities flourish.

Elise M. Edwards

Elise Edwards, Ph.D. in Religion, is an Assistant Professor in Baylor’s Department of Religion where she teaches Christian ethics and theology. Her research is interdisciplinary, moving between fields of theology, ethics, architectural theory and aesthetics to examine issues of civic engagement and to question how Christian beliefs and commitments are expressed publicly. Prior to pursuing a Ph.D., Edwards worked as an architect in Washington, D.C., and she still maintains her architecture license. She is co-editor of The Routledge Handbook of Religion and Cities and author of Architecture, Theology, and Ethics: Making Architectural Design More Just.

Rebecca McCumbers Flavin

Rebecca Flavin, Ph.D. in Political Science, is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science and directs both the Engaged Learning Curriculum and the Philanthropy and Public Service Program in the Office of Engaged Learning. Her research and teaching include constitutional law, the history of political philosophy, and American politics – particularly religion and politics. Learning to practice civil discourse alongside her students, Flavin won the 2024 College of Arts & Sciences Core Virtues Award. She has completed Baylor’s Public Deliberation Initiative training and the Bridging the Gap training for faculty. Flavin is also a Baylor Provost Fellow, where this year’s topic is “Facilitating Civil Discourse in the Classroom.”

Leslie A. Hahner

Leslie A. Hahner, Ph.D. in Communication Studies (Rhetorical Studies), is a Professor of Communication at Baylor University. She researches the ways rhetoric moves audiences and the formation of public sensibilities. Hahner is an internationally recognized scholar of disinformation and reactionary rhetoric who investigates how civil discourse can be encouraged amidst the deluge of disinformation. She has also written congressional testimony and presented to the State Department. Hahner’s work has appeared in scholarly publications like Critical Studies in Media Communication and The Quarterly Journal of Speech; along with contemporary outlets like The Atlantic and BBC World News.