InterVarsity author Os Guinness addresses U.N. diplomats Print
Written by Jeremy Burns   
Monday, 23 September 2013 10:42 AM America/New_York

osguinness-webOs Guinness, social critic and author of The Global Public Square (InterVarsity Press), was the featured featured speaker at the 28th Annual International Prayer Breakfast, held on Sept. 17 at the U.N. headquarters in New York.  More than 300 attendees, including 90 ambassadors from nations around the world, heard Guinness speak on “making the world safe for diversity.”

The Prayer Breakfast was only the latest high-profile stop for Guinness, who has been sought out for his insights into one of the most pressing issues of our time—religious expression and tolerance. Guinness addresses this topic in The Global Public Square, and he has used key speaking events to further promote his message.

On Sept. 10, Guinness was a featured guest for “On Topic with Ken Starr” at Baylor University, a series of public conversations at the university which will air on C-SPAN’S “Book TV” in early October. Previous featured guests in the series have included former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

“We were delighted to have Dr. Os Guinness at Baylor University for an active, thoughtful and inspiring conversation,” said Baylor President Ken Starr. “We were honored to hear from Dr. Os Guinness as he spoke about a ‘constructive vision for a better way’ and the essential values that must endure if we are to realize the vision of a true global public square.”

Guinness has written or edited more than 25 books. The Global Public Square, his newest book, presents the case for the necessary freedom of religion for all people that would help individuals, people groups and nations worldwide live in harmony amidst the sectarian violence found in so many pockets of the world today.

“Os Guinness has long been a perceptive observer of culture, and he has long been quite influential as a wise sage and role model for thoughtful Christians and citizens at large,” said Al Hsu, senior editor of InterVarsity Press. “Given the complexities of the world we live in, I’m grateful that Os is helping us all move toward a more civil, peaceful and just society.”