The university theme program began in 2004-2005 with "Religion in the Public Square," which asked what role religion appropriately plays in the public life of a democracy.

The opening event for "Religion in the Public Square" was an evening with Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner, author of Angels in America. Other events linked to the theme included:

• a music concert titled "The Language of Divine Love: The Trials of Life in a Spiritual Key,"
• the annual Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society dialogue titled "Separation of Church and State: Helping or Hindering Religion?" and presented by Gary S. Gildin, professor and director of the Miller Center for Public Interest Advocacy at Penn State Dickinson School of Law, and Bradley P. Jacob, associate professor at the Regent University School of Law,
• a conference for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Multicultural Education that explored the hidden ways that faith traditions are woven into public life,
• a keynote address by Rabbi David Ellenson, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.