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Faith Without Force

Faith Without Force

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Who should decide what Americans believe—and what happens when government takes a side? The First Amendment prohibits the establishment of religion while protecting its free exercise. But the phrase most closely associated with that principle—a "wall of separation between church and state"—does not appear in the Constitution. It comes from an 1802 letter written by President Thomas Jefferson to a group of Baptists in Danbury, Connecticut. In this episode of America at 250: Due Diligence, Bill Bernardoni and Steve Herman trace the origins of religious liberty from the persecution of dissenting Christians in colonial Virginia to today's debates over Christian nationalism, the Ten Commandments in public schools, and whether the United States should be considered a Christian nation. Historian John Ragosta takes us back to colonial Virginia, where the Church of England was the official, tax-supported church. Baptists, Presbyterians, Quakers, and other dissenters faced discrimination, violence, and imprisonment. More than half of Virginia's Baptist ministers spent time in jail, often for preaching without government permission. Ragosta explains that these dissenters were not demanding freedom from religion. They were deeply religious people who believed government interference corrupted genuine faith. As the American Revolution approached, their political support became essential—and they demanded an end to church taxes, religious restrictions, and state control over marriage, poor relief, and the placement of orphaned children. Their struggle helped shape the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists, and the First Amendment. Ragosta argues that figures such as Jefferson and James Madison saw religious liberty not only as a political principle, but as a safeguard against the persecution and conflict that followed whenever government claimed the authority to define legitimate belief. Russell Moore, editor of Christianity Today and a former Southern Baptist Convention ethics leader, brings that history into the present. Moore explains why Baptists once stood among the strongest defenders of church-state separation—and why he believes parts of the modern Christian nationalist movement have abandoned that tradition. Moore considers the debate over posting the Ten Commandments in public schools, the difference between teaching students about religion and imposing religious belief, and the difficult question of who decides which version of scripture receives government approval. He argues that faith spreads through individual conviction and persuasion, not through laws, political power, or state decree. From imprisoned Baptist ministers and Jefferson's "wall of separation" to public-school classrooms and the modern Christian nationalist movement, Faith Without Force examines why some of America's most committed believers fought so fiercely to keep government out of religion. The separation of church and state was not necessarily created because the founders believed religion was dangerous. Many believed faith was too important to entrust to political leaders—and that once government gained the power to promote one religion, it also gained the power to suppress another. About the Guests John Ragosta is a historian and author whose work focuses on religious liberty, religious dissent, and the founding era. His research examines the experiences of Baptists, Presbyterians, Quakers, and other dissenters who challenged established religion in colonial and revolutionary Virginia. Russell Moore is the editor in chief of Christianity Today and a prominent evangelical author and commentator. He previously led the Southern Baptist Convention's public-policy and religious-liberty organization. About the Hosts Bill Bernardoni is the founder of Bernardoni Media & Marketing and an experienced radio and podcast host, producer, political strategist, and media consultant. His work has included producing national radio programs, developing podcasts and digital media projects, and advising political campaigns and public-policy organizations. Steve Herman is an award-winning journalist and former Voice of America White House bureau chief. During his decades-long career in international journalism, he has reported from more than 70 countries and covered the White House, diplomacy, national security, natural disasters, and conflicts around the world. Join the Conversation Does separating church and state protect Americans from religion—or does it protect religious faith from political power? Share your thoughts with us at RadioFreeAmerica.media. America at 250: Due Diligence is produced with support from the Radio Free America Project and the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation at the University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media.
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