Podcast
Religion in the American Experience
Hosted by nationalmuseumofamericanreligion · EN
Learning from scholars and every day Americans about what religion has done to America and what America has done to religion, helping all of us better comprehend and perpetuate the American experiment in self-government, including what is perhaps its greatest innovation and the essence of the American project: religious freedom as defined by the Constitution’s Article VI and First Amendment religion clauses.
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Episodes
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Religion and the American Revolution
2w ago00:58:31Tap to summarizeDuring America’s 250th anniversary year we are discussing how religion shaped the founding of the United States. This episode explores religion and the American revolution. It is our hope that by understanding this particular topic, each of us will become more effective stewards of religion’s role in the American experiment in self-government. Season 4, Episode 15 – Religion and the American Revolution Guest Bio Our guest today is Kate Carté, a Professor of History at Southern Methodist University who specializes in early American and Atlantic history and is author of Religion and the American Revolution: An Imperial History. Kate has been a Charles A. Ryskamp Fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies, an affiliate fellow of the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University, a Franklin Fellow of the American Philosophical Society, and a Barra Postdoctoral Fellow at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies. Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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John Locke's Religion
3w ago00:48:10Tap to summarizeThe country is celebrating America’s 250th – the semiquincentennial – and we are uncovering whatever of its religious roots we can find. As many know, English philosopher and physician John Locke, one of the most influential of the Enlightenment thinkers, had a significant influence on the American founding through his many books including A Letter Concerning Toleration, Two Treatises of Government, and An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. What was his religion and how did it influence his thinking and writing? It is our hope that by understanding this better, each of us will be more effective stewards of religion’s role in the American experiment in self-government. Season 4, Episode 14 – John Locke’s Religion Guest Bio Graedon Zorzi is an Assistant Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Patrick Henry College. Dr. Zorzi holds a Ph.D. in Political Science and Religious Studies from Yale University, where he worked primarily in the fields of political theory and religious ethics. His recent writing on the Christian origins of classical liberalism has been published in The Historical Journal, The Review of Politics, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hill. He is an ordained pastor, resident in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic of the Anglican Church in North America. Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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Article 16 of the Virginia Declaration of Rights
4w ago00:32:16Tap to summarizeThe Virginia Declaration of Rights was adopted on June 12, 1776. Some scholars argue that Article 16 is America’s most original, innovative, and important contribution to conceptions of religious liberty. “That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.” The text itself and the debates in the Virginia Convention that produced it, touch on many of the key issues that continue to roil religious liberty controversies in our own time. Understanding this better will equip all of us to be more effective stewards of religion’s role in the American experiment in self-government. Season 4, Episode 13 – Article 16 of the Virginia Declaration of Rights The Virginia Declaration of Rights was adopted on June 12, 1776. Some scholars argue that Article 16 is America’s most original, innovative, and important contribution to conceptions of religious liberty. “That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.” The text itself and the debates in the Virginia Convention that produced it, touch on many of the key issues that continue to roil religious liberty controversies in our own time. Understanding this better will equip all of us to be more effective stewards of religion’s role in the American experiment in self-government. Guest Bio Professor Dreisbach earned a doctor of philosophy degree from Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia. His principal research interests include American constitutional law and history, First Amendment law, church-state relations, and criminal procedure. He has authored or edited ten books and numerous articles in scholarly journals. Among the courses he teaches are Introduction to Law, American Legal Culture, Issues in Civil Justice, Law and Religion, and the Constitution and Criminal Procedure. Professor Dreisbach is a past recipient of American University’s highest faculty award: Scholar/Teacher of the Year. Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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SPECIAL: George Washington's Religion
Jun 500:37:56Tap to summarizeArnold Friberg’s famous painting of George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge has been in the news. While we are not going to join the conversation about whether or not the painting is an accurate depiction of truth and what this may or may not mean about Washington, his religion, or America, we do want to provide an answer to this question: what does the historical record tell us about George Washington’s religious beliefs and practices? Season 4, Episode 12 – SPECIAL: George Washington’s Religion Guest Bio John Fea is Professor of American History and Chair of the History Department at Messiah College. He is the author or editor of six books including The Bible Cause: A History of the American Bible Society, Why Study History? Reflecting on the Importance of the Past, and Was America Founded as a Christian Nation: A Historical Introduction. His essays and reviews have appeared in a variety of scholarly and popular venues. Show notes: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/27/nx-s1-5747094/church-and-state-george-washington Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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History of Religious Freedom in the U.S. with Randall Balmer
May 2800:30:45Tap to summarizeJoin us during America’s 250th while we uncover the long and fascinating history of religious freedom in the United States, considered by many to be one of its greatest innovations. How will a more complete understanding of this particular religious thread in the American tapestry make us more effective stewards of religion’s in perpetuating the American experiment in self-government? Season 4, Episode 11 – History of Religious Freedom in the U.S. with Randall Balmer Guest Bio A prize-winning historian and Emmy Award nominee, Randall Balmer holds the John Phillips Chair in Religion at Dartmouth, the oldest endowed professorship at Dartmouth College. He taught as Professor of American Religious History at Columbia University for twenty-seven years before coming to Dartmouth in 2012. Dr. Balmer has published more than a dozen books, including America’s Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State, Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter, God in the White House: How Faith Shaped the Presidency from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush, and The Making of Evangelicalism: From Revivalism to Politics and Beyond. His second book, Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Journey into the Evangelical Subculture in America, now in its fifth edition, was made into an award-winning, three-part documentary for PBS. Dr. Balmer wrote and hosted that series as well as a two-part series on creationism and a documentary on Billy Graham. He has lectured around the country in such venues as the Commonwealth Club of California and the Chautauqua Institution and, under the auspices of the State Department, in Austria and Lebanon. Show notes: https://bookshop.org/p/books/america-s-best-idea-the-separation-of-church-and-state-randall-balmer/10c3765c6955cd65?ean=9781586424145&next=t Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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Chaplaincy in America: Part 2 - The Vietnam War
May 2100:58:35Tap to summarizeChaplains– clergy attached to a secular institution including hospitals, prisons, embassies, schools, labor unions, police departments, fire departments, universities, intelligence agencies, airports, and military services - play a unique and meaningful role in the American landscape. These are ordained clergy who minister to members of the chaplain’s particular faith, to facilitate ministry to those of other faiths, and to care for all – including those who claim no religious faith. In this episode we are going to hear what Vietnam war chaplains teach us about religion, war, and the American project. It is our hope that by the end of this episode, each of us will be equipped to be more effective stewards of religion’s role in the ongoing American experiment in self-government. Season 4, Episode 10: American Chaplaincy – Part 2 Guest Bio Professor Jacqueline Whitt is Chief Learning Officer for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs and Director of the Organizational Learning Unit (OLU) in the Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources for the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the Department of State. She is the author of Bringing God to Men: American Military Chaplains, Religion, and the Vietnam War. Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of what religion has done to America and what America has done to religion.
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History of Religious Freedom in the U.S. with Mark Valeri
May 1200:42:51Tap to summarizeJoin us during America’s 250th while we uncover the long and fascinating history of religious freedom in the United States, considered by many to be one of its greatest innovations. How will a more complete understanding of this particular religious thread in the American tapestry make us more effective stewards of religion’s in perpetuating the American experiment in self-government? Season 4, Episode 9 – History of Religious Freedom in the U.S. with Mark Valeri Guest Bio Professor Mark Valeri is the Reverend Priscilla Wood Neaves Distinguished Professor of Religion and Politics at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, the director of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, and author of The Opening of the Protestant Mind: How Anglo-American Protestants Embraced Religious Liberty. Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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American Religion: The Shakers
Apr 3000:39:00Tap to summarizeWhat is the history of the Shakers - The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing – in the United States? How have they shaped us and how has America shaped them? Why is it important for us to know? Who are the last two – now three – surviving members of this religious community, what are they doing and where are they doing it? And, finally, why will an understanding of this fascinating religious thread in the American tapestry equip us to be better stewards of religion’s role in preserving the American experiment in self-government? Season 4, Episode 8 – American Religion: The Shakers Guest Bio Theresa Frey-Alexander is the Curator of Education and Interpretation at Shaker Heritage Society, the site of the first Shaker settlement, where she relishes bringing the history of the Shakers to life through innovative, multi-sensory exhibits and programs. She curated Ann Lee: One Woman’s Revolution, now on view. She holds a B.A. in History from Indiana University and a degree in Education from Siena University. She is also a musician, gardener, artist, and mother. See: The Shaker Heritage Society Theresa Frey-Alexander’s recent presentation at the Religion and the American Founding conference Hancock Shaker Village video Kens Burn documentary Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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History of Religious Freedom in the U.S. with Michael McConnell
Apr 2100:42:43Tap to summarizeJoin us during America’s 250th as we uncover the long, fascinating, and critically important history of religious freedom in the United States, considered by many to be one of its greatest innovations. How will a more complete understanding of this particular religious thread in the American tapestry make us better stewards of religion’s and religious freedom’s role in perpetuating the American experiment in self-government? Season 4, Episode 7 – History of Religious Freedom in the U.S. with Michael McConnell Guest Bio Dr. Michael McConnell is the Richard and Frances Mallery Professor and Faculty Director of the Constitutional Law Center at Stanford Law School, Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution, and from 2002 to 2009 was Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He has briefed or argued many if not most of the religious freedom cases in the Supreme Court from the 1980s until now. Professor McConnell is the author of The President Who Would Not Be King: Executive Power Under the Constitution, and co-author with Nathan Chapman of Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience. Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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Christianity and the History of the United States of America
Apr 600:28:25Tap to summarizeThe book Chosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christianity was released in early 2026. The subtitle succinctly announces the contents, which makes the book feel epic and profound. What the museum wants to know is how understanding the tale the author tells will equip citizens to be more effective stewards of the role of religion, and the freedom that fuels it, in perpetuating American constitutional democracy. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/matthew-avery-sutton/chosen-land/9781541646339/ Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/03/how-christian-nationalist-became-epithet/686279/ NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/books/review/chosen-land-matthew-avery-sutton.html Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/03/american-christianity-more-than-politics-chosen-land-sutton-review/ Season 4, Episode 6 – Christianity and the History of the United States of America Guest Bio Dr. Matthew Avery Sutton is the Berry Family Distinguished Professor in the Liberal Arts at Washington State University and has written many books besides this one, about various aspects of religion and U.S. history, including Chosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christianity ; Double Crossed: The Missionaries Who Spied for the United States During the Second World War; and Faith in the New Millennium: The Future of Religion and American Politics. Podcast Support Scholarly support provided by Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Technical audio and video assistance provided by Dr. Randall Stephens, a Professor of American and British Studies at the University of Oslo. Religion in the American Experience is a podcast of the private, digital-first National Museum of American Religion, which tells the story of how religion has shaped America and how America has shaped religion. This includes the establishment of religious freedom in the United States Constitution’s Article VI and Bill of Rights religion clauses.
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