Published on March 20, 2019 by Sara Roman  
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Samford University’s Orlean Beeson School of Education hosted New York Times best-selling author Eric Metaxas for the 2019 Percy Cook Ratliff Lecture Series, which highlights speakers who enhance the Samford experience with special expertise. 

Metaxas shared a captivating narrative as he spoke on his passion for the republic and his literary work If You Can Keep It, which examines the founding fathers’ intentions for America and how, we as a nation, can live out their vision.

“Eric Metaxas’s body of work shares such thought-provoking perspectives on faith and public service and we were excited to host that conversation at Samford,” Samford Provost J. Michael Hardin said. “We were grateful to be joined by so many community members who took the time to pose insightful questions and discussions.”

Throughout the evening, a special focus was given to the role of higher education in preparing the next generation of leaders. Metaxas highlighted the vital role of Christian education in the success of liberty and freedom.

According to Metaxas, the Christian faith constructs the means for an education which supports individuals and their freedom to search for the truth and defend the truth without fear. 

“Samford takes its role as a Christian institution seriously,” Metaxas said.  “I am thrilled at the extent in which Samford is communicating that to its students and the community.”

Metaxas shared that this concept is articulated through Os Guinness’ Golden Triangle of Freedom – freedom, virtue and faith. “The link between faith and virtue with freedom is so vital that it is shocking,” said Metaxas. “Freedom requires virtue, virtue requires faith, and faith requires freedom.” 

Metaxas concluded the evening by charging the audience, as a people of God, to be humble, yet bold, and speak the truth of God in love. “When faith is in abundance, virtue and freedom are in abundance.”

Proceeds from the 2019 Percy Cook Ratliff Lecture Series benefit the Orlean Beeson School of Education Legacy Scholarship and Jewel Littleton-Williams Annual and Endowed Scholarship. To make a gift, visit samford.edu/giving.

The Percy Cook Ratliff Lecture Series is one of many university lectures that enhance and enrich the Samford experience. Orlean Beeson School of Education also hosts the annual Tom & Marla Corts Distinguished Author Series which highlights reading and literacy. The next lecture series will feature New York Times best-selling author Anthony Ray Hinton and will take place on April 16, 2019.
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.