5.41 Ryan Helfenbein, David Schrock, & Trent Hunter • Interview • “Retrieving The Christianity of America’s Founding”

<p><strong>ABOUT THE EPISODE</strong></p><p>Listen in as David Schrock and Trent Hunter interview Ryan Helfenbein on his COA Longform Essay, &quot;Retrieving The Christianity of America&#39;s Founding&quot;</p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><ul><li>00:00 – Introducing Ryan Helfenbein</li><li>04:33 – Ryan’s Path From Seminary to Liberty University</li><li>11:30 – Falwell’s Shift: From Ministers to Moral Majority</li><li>16:39 – Debating the Christian Nature of America’s Founding</li><li>19:03 – Reappraising Founders’ Faith: Beyond the Deist Label</li><li>23:19 – The First Amendment’s True Intent: No Denominational Establishment</li><li>28:01 – How Preachers Stirred Resistance to Tyranny</li><li>32:05 – From Christian Roots to Secular Education</li><li>37:40 – The Civil War and the Christian Nation Concept</li><li>40:06 – Wayne Grudem’s Framework for a Christian Nation</li><li>46:15 – Historical Christian Character and Moral Laws</li><li>48:34 – Tom Holland and Christian Origins of Modern Balues</li><li>51:32 – Modern Religious Freedom, Immigration, and the Church’s Civic Role</li><li>01:01:12 – Rebuilding America and Defending Our Christian Inheritance</li><li>01:03:30 – Trent’s Advice for Pastors on Civic Engagement</li><li>01:07:06 – Recommended Resources and Outro</li></ul><p><strong>Resources to Click</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://christoverall.com/article/longform/providence-protestantism-and-the-classroom-the-christianity-of-americas-founding-and-only-future/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">“Retrieving The Christianity of America’s Founding”</a> – Ryan Helfenbein</li><li><a href="https://prri.org/research/competing-visions-of-america-politics-religion-and-american-identity/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">“Competing Visions of America at 250: Politics, Religion, and American Identity”</a> – PRRI</li><li><a href="https://prri.org/research/mapping-christian-nationalism-across-the-50-states-insights-from-prris-2025-american-values-atlas/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">“Mapping Christian Nationalism Across the 50 States: Insights from PRRI’s 2025 American Values Atlas”</a> – PRRI</li><li><a href="https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?documentid=2885" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">“Speaker Johnson Leads Nation in Prayer of Rededication”</a> – Mike Johnson</li><li><a href="https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/ms-nows-katy-tur-forgets-the-declaration-of-independences-most-f