Dr. Jane E. Calvert, “‘The Most Republican Book That Was Ever Written’
While the Declaration of Independence declares that such foundational rights as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are self-evident, many scholars argue these “self-evident” truths are not as evident today as they once were. Behind these truths, these scholars argue, lies a biblical worldview, especially the ideas of a single, rational Creator and the inherent dignity of humans as bearers of the imago Dei, the “image of God.”
Join us for The Bible and America 250: These Truths Are Not Self-Evident Lecture Series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. This thought-provoking event brings together a host of renowned scholars and historians to explore the profound influence of the Bible on America's founding principles, values, and institutions.
In this lecture, Dr. Jane E. Calvert explores how John Dickinson used the Bible to shape his life and work, using religious principles in areas of law, statesmanship, and the pursuit of public happiness.
Aug 9, 2026 - Aug 9, 2026
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Scholars Initiative Conference Room, Floor 5R
Free Admission (Event Ticket Required)
In Person Event
Virtual Event
Abstract
Among the leading American Founders, John Dickinson’s faith was unique. While most had been raised in Calvinist traditions and had turned towards deism, Dickinson was raised Quaker, and not only did his religiosity grow over the course of his life, he increasingly brought his faith to bear on public life. Although Quakers had an ambivalent relationship with Scripture, for Dickinson, who never formally joined the Religious Society of Friends, his earliest writings reveal that the Bible was one of the central texts through which he understood himself and made sense of the world. As a young lawyer, he routinely bolstered his arguments in court with biblical passages, sometimes to convince juries, other times to pressure judges into delivering justice for his clients. As a statesman, he likewise peppered his speeches and publications with Scripture to elucidate, instruct, or reprimand. Using sources that span Dickinson’s adult life from the mid-1750s to the early 1800s, this lecture will explore how Dickinson thought of Scripture and used the Bible in the various facets of his life and work, all of which were ultimately directed towards facilitating public happiness.
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Schedule
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1:30 p.m. | Welcome & Check In
1:30–2:00 p.m. | Refreshments
2:00–3:00 p.m. | Lecture
3:00–3:30 p.m. | Panel Q&A
3:30–5:00 p.m. | Self-Guided Tour of the Bible in America Gallery
Lecturer
Dr. Jane E. Calvert
Jane E. Calvert is associate professor of history at the University of Kentucky and founder, director, and chief editor of the John Dickinson Writings Project. She earned her PhD from the University of Chicago and is known for her research and writing on John Dickinson and Quaker constitutionalism, including the award-winning Quaker Constitutionalism and the Political Thought of John Dickinson.
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