The Founding of America and its Relationship with Christianity

17min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

This chapter explores the founding of America as a post-Christian society influenced by deistic, unitarian, and Protestant dissenting ideas. It discusses the role of the Protestant Reformation in shaping the desire for neutrality, the clash between radical ideals and balanced government, and the ongoing battle between radicals and defenders of the current system. The chapter also examines the issue of slavery and the moral implications on both sides of the Atlantic.

How did the founding of America contribute to the post-Christian world we find ourselves in today? Is there something inherently post-Christian baked into the pie from the founding of the nation?

In this episode, Andrew Wilson and Glen Scrivener continue their discussion of how the year 1776 has shaped our world. They trace the story forward to today, as they discuss slavery, human rights, the civil rights movement, and the sexual revolution. They talk about the apparent inevitability of progress in the 19th century and how those hopes were dashed by two world wars.

Wilson and Scrivener also consider how these huge cultural and societal changes interact with the gospel, and conclude by discussing the extent to which Christianity cannot be forced into the neat political categories of right and left, liberal and conservative.

Credits:

Post-Christianity? is a podcast from The Gospel Coalition and The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. Learn more about The Keller Center here.

The Good Book Company is the publisher of The Air We Breathe by Glen Scrivener. For 25% off books on Christianity and culture, go to thegoodbook.com/postpodcast.