A politics and governance center at the University of Minnesota announced this week it plans to hold a series of talks exploring some of the most hotly debated religious topics.

Dubbed "Civil Conversations," the series promises to address "some of the deeply personal and divisive topics facing our communities today -- Christianity, reproductive choice and marriage," according to a released statement from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs' Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.

"Civil Conversations" is a partnership with public radio's Krista Tippett, who hosts the show "On Being," in collaboration with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs' Center for the Study of Politics and Governance the Brookings Institution and the John C. Danforth Center for Religion & Politics.

The first talk -- scheduled for Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at the U's Cowles Auditorium -- is entitled "The Next Christians." The next talk is slated for Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. at the auditorium and is entitled, "Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Pro-Dialogue."

For more information on this series of talks, check out www.bit.ly/UpHUUk