Charles Haynes, vice president of the Newseum Institute and Religious Freedom Center, will discuss "Religious Liberty and the Future of American Democracy" on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 5 p.m. in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

At a time of deep religious and ideological divisions in the United States, the need to affirm a common vision for the common good has never been more urgent or more challenging, according to Haynes. Drawing on the lessons of history, he will explore how reaffirmation of religious liberty principles can enable Americans to negotiate differences, understand one another and find common ground.

Haynes is best known for his work on First Amendment issues in public schools. He has been the principal organizer and drafter of consensus guidelines on religious liberty in schools, and three of the guides were distributed by the U.S. Department of Education to every public school in the nation. He has also written a number of books about religious liberty.

The Nancy Arthur Smith Visitors Series is funded through a gift presented to the University by the late Nancy A. Smith and her husband Dr. R. Cathcart Smith. The series invites artists and intellectuals with distinguished careers in history, art, archaeology, international affairs or philosophy to speak on campus.

The Edwards Recital Hall is located in Room 152 of the Edwards College at 133 Chanticleer Drive W. on the Conway campus. For more information, call Cultural Arts at 843-349-6985.