Research On Religion | Thomas Jefferson

Posts Tagged ‘Thomas Jefferson’

Mark David Hall on Religious Minorities in the U.S. Founding

Mark David Hall returns for his fourth stint on Research on Religion’s July 4th celebration with yet more interesting insights into religious during the U.S. revolutionary era. This time Mark discusses the role played by religious minorities including Jews, Quakers, Baptists, and even Muslims.

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Gary Scott Smith on Presidential Faith

Tags: 1950s, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, civil war, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, George W Bush, George Washington, James Garfield, Jimmy Carter, presidents, Providence, Ronald Reagan, slavery, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, US history, Woodrow Wilson

A week before Presidents’ Day, we visit with Gary Scott Smith of Grove City College to survey the religious beliefs of a dozen or so presidents including Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, JFK, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and a few others. Along the way we discuss why understanding the faith of our presidents is important, why most people do not know much about it, and how we go about studying the topic.

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Scott Poole on Monsters

A week before Halloween, we investigate the darker side of the supernatural with a look at how monsters have been portrayed in American history and what that says about US history. Historian Scott Poole (College of Charleston) talks about his new book, “Monsters in America” and shows how our obsession with, and imagery of, monsters has reflected some very dark trends over the past 400 years. From aliens to zombies, we cover it all in this special spooky version of the increasingly popular podcast! Warning: Not for the faint of heart.

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Mark David Hall on Roger Sherman, Puritan Patriot

Tags: Benjamin Franklin, covenants, First Amendment, Great Awakening, James Madison, John Adams, John Calvin, John Locke, New Lights, Reformed theology, religious liberty, Roger Sherman, Stephanus Junius Brutus, Thomas Jefferson, US Constitution

Just in time for July 4th, Mark David Hall discusses one of the least known of the most influential Founding Fathers in American history, Roger Sherman. Building on last week’s theme, Prof. Hall uses Roger Sherman to illustrate how Reformed (Calvinist) theology had a profound influence on American ideals and institutions. Roger Sherman, a staunch Calvinist from Connecticut, figured prominently in the formulation of several critical documents in US history, including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the US Constitution (including the Bill of Rights). Prof. Hall also reflects upon the question of whether or not America was founded as a Christian nation.

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Mark David Hall on Religion & the Founding Fathers

Tags: Blaine Amendments, church-state relations, Everson v Board of Education, First Amendment, Founding Fathers, James Madison, National Day of Prayer, Roger Sherman, Supreme Court, Thomas Jefferson

George Fox University political scientist Mark David Hall examines how various Founding Fathers viewed church-state relations in their time, and how modern Supreme Court justices interpret their writings. Some recent court cases are discussed. (To download, right click on the button to the right and choose “save target as….”)

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