Unlike the usual setup for events featuring distinguished guests, on April 21, the East Forum was filled with colorful, purple carpets and students comfortably reclining throughout the room — a typical sign of a Sexton talk. There was a feeling of informality, more of a friendly gathering than a book presentation. President Emeritus John Sexton, in his uniform of an NYU shirt and slacks, enthusiastically shared stories about his life as he presented some of the main themes in his book, Standing for Reason: The University in a Dogmatic Age.

Standing for Reason: The University in a Dogmatic Age is Sexton’s latest book that advocates for the importance of universities in the modern world. The book, which is available at Magrudy’s on campus, contains a foreword by Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who worked closely with Sexton.

A central topic in the book is a call for societies to steer away from secular dogmatism to secular ecumenism. Sexton argues that the secular dogmatism prevalent in today’s world is nearly impossible to fight with dialogue or reason. He calls on his own experience with faith to illustrate many points in his book.

“My sixty year experience witnessing theological conversation move from dogmatism to ecumenism gives me great hope that we similarly can move from the secular dogmatism that infects our political world today to a secular ecumenism,” wrote Sexton in an email to The Gazelle.

Sexton’s faith comes up in his book and during his talk at NYUAD. He writes that his faith is instrumental to the famous Sexton optimism, an integral part of what pushes him to continue working on his vision.

His talk at NYU Abu Dhabi fell on Easter Sunday, a holiday observed by many Christians. “Especially on Easter Sunday, those of my faith assert their belief in a better world, in the progress toward a Point Omega where love and justice prevail,” wrote Sexton. “This is a theological belief, but it influences our secular worldview as well: as Martin Luther King says of the arc of history, it bends toward justice.”

Bouncing from topic to topic, interspersed with anecdotes that would eventually reveal themselves as essential to the point at hand, Sexton conversed with the crowd in a familiar manner. Exhorting students to become carriers of the message and mission of NYUAD, Sexton proclaimed hope as a driver to accomplish almost anything.

“It is easy to maintain hope, because to give up is not an option; if we give up, the world will not get better. Moreover, I have seen hope triumph too often to despair. We managed the move from theological dogmatism to theological ecumenism; certainly we can do the same in the secular sphere.”

NYUAD is cited by Sexton as a successful example of how the global university model can succeed in achieving the move between secular dogmatism and secular ecumenism. As a founding visionary in the creation of NYUAD, Sexton argues that being a member of this university, in any capacity, is a unique experience and should not be forgotten after graduation.

Responding to a question from an alumnus, Sexton reminded the students there that the term alumni should not exist as part of the NYUAD vernacular. Instead, Sexton explained, those who have graduated should call themselves ‘senior members of the mission,’ an active part of the community wherever they may be.

“I think in a secular ecumenical movement like NYU Abu Dhabi each member must embrace his or her own notion of what to pursue and how to do it, even as he or she remains united to the others by a commitment to an affirmative embrace of diversity and the notion of a commonwealth,” wrote Sexton.

The arguments in Sexton’s book are flanked by portrayals of two influential people in his life. He begins the book talking about Charlie, a name that has become part of the story of NYUAD. He describes the influence Charlie had in his chosen path and the lessons he deems universal and vital. Sexton ends the book with his current mission, representing both his wife Lisa and himself in the world. He emphasizes the importance of Lisa as his partner and as a person, claiming that being worthy of Lisa had led to the right choices.

“Not everyone desires or requires a life partner in the one sense that was described in our meeting. A life partner (or a set of life partners) can be a group of close friends; or the essence of a life partner relationship can come in other ways. The core of my idea is that we need, in some way, to see ourselves as others see us - and to count their observations as worthy of reflection,” explained Sexton to The Gazelle on love and partnership.

“I wrote this book to put the case for an ecumenical role for universities and to chart the course for those, whether at NYU or at other great universities, for those who wish to create universities in service of a connected, fully integrated world.”

Sexton confirmed that the proceeds from the book would go to financial aid at NYU. He called students to recommend the book to people they knew, especially if they might be entrenched in secular dogmatism.