Dr. Thomas Albert Howard, “The American Religious Experiment in European Perspective”
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. Thomas Albert Howard explores the perspectives of leading European thinkers on America’s founding ideals concerning religion.
Nov 22, 2026 - Nov 22, 2026
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST
Scholars Initiative Conference Room, Floor 5R
Free Admission (Event Ticket Required)
In Person Event
Abstract
The United States’ bold commitment to religious liberty in the First Amendment has deep and complex theological and historical roots. While Americans typically approach this topic through the lens of US history, this lecture explores how leading European thinkers understood and responded to the American experiment in church-state relations. Drawing on figures such as Alexis de Tocqueville, Philip Schaff, and Jacques Maritain, the presentation offers a transatlantic and historically nuanced perspective on America’s founding ideals concerning religion. Based on the author’s award-winning book, God and the Atlantic: America, Europe, and the Religious Divide (Oxford University Press), the lecture aims to enrich contemporary understanding of religious liberty by highlighting various European interpretations of its role in American history.
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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. Thomas Albert Howard
Thomas Albert (Tal) Howard is a professor of humanities and history at Valparaiso University, where he holds the Duesenberg Chair in Christian Ethics and is affiliated with Christ College. A prolific scholar, he has authored or edited numerous books on religious history and interfaith dialogue, with work published in both academic journals and popular outlets. Howard previously taught at Gordon College, where he founded the Jerusalem and Athens Forum, and his latest work, Broken Altars, was recently released by Yale University Press.
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