Of Dogma and Desire: Saying What You Believe About the First Amendment

Ah, the First Amendment! —front and center of today’s culture wars. In this dynamic, visually rich PowerPoint presentation, longtime OLLI favorite Bob McWhirter traces the fascinating history of our right to speak and worship. From ancient civilizations—including the Persians, Greeks, Hebrews, and Romans—to the Puritans and the American founding, the program explores how ideas about speech, religion, and freedom developed and ultimately shaped the First Amendment. We will examine what the Framers believed about liberty and expression and the role of the press and early journalism at the founding. The class also explores how speech has been treated during wartime and introduces the powerful concept of the “marketplace of ideas.” Blending history, constitutional insight, and lively discussion, this engaging class helps illuminate how the speech and religion clauses of the First Amendment remain deeply connected—and why they continue to spark debate today.

This program is presented in collaboration with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).