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Christianity’s Role in Advancing Freedom and Equality in American History w/ Mark Hall

How has Christianity advanced freedom and equality in American History? In this episode of Scholar Talks, BRI Senior Fellow Tony Williams is joined by Mark David Hall, the Herbert Hoover Distinguished Professor of Politics at George Fox University, to discuss his latest book ‘Throughout All the Land: How Christianity Has Advanced Freedom and Equality for All Americans.’ Together, they converse on topics such as the Second Great Awakening, the role of Christianity and republican ideals in the extinction of slavery, and the proper role of religion and politics in the public square.

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Reading William Penn and John Winthrop | A Primary Source Close Read w/ BRI

38 Min

BRI staff members Kirk Higgins and Tony Williams explore two intriguing 17th-century works that shed light on why colonial America was an appealing destination for European settlers in different ways. The seminal “Modell of Christian Charity” sermon delivered by John Winthrop in 1630 viewed the New World as an opportunity for Puritans to worship freely and escape the religious oppression of the corrupt Church of England. In a letter from 1683, William Penn painted an idyllic picture of Pennsylvania – including its beautiful land and bountiful natural resources – to entice people to immigrate to the new colony.