The Making of the American Mind with Dr. Matthew Spalding

About this episode

Dr. Matthew Spalding discusses the ideas of liberty, rights, and the theology of the Declaration of Independence 250 years later.

Nearly 50 years after he penned the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "This was the object of the Declaration of Independence, not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of… it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion." What was he trying to express? Dr. Matthew Spalding traces the big ideas of the Declaration in his book The Making of the American Mind, including the role of faith and revelation. In this interview, Cole and Dr. Spalding discuss the ideas of liberty, rights, and the theology of the Declaration 250 years later.

People in this episode

Host: Cole

Guest: Dr. Matthew Spalding

Topics covered

• American mind
• Declaration of Independence
• liberty
• rights
• theology
• faith
• revelation

Keywords

• Thomas Jefferson
• Declaration of Independence
• American mind
• liberty
• faith
• revelation
• theology

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Making of the American Mind

More episodes of So We Speak

• Cities of the Bible: Caesarea with Terry Feix · June 10, 2026 · 28 min
• Arise, O Lord: A Christian Guide to Cursing with God with Trevor Laurence · June 3, 2026 · 37 min
• Men of Virtue with Dr. Zachary Wagner · May 27, 2026 · 49 min
• Finding Our Home with God: Joining Creation's Praise with Dr. Brian Brock · May 22, 2026 · 25 min
• How Genesis Shapes the World: Joining Creation's Praise with Dr. Brian Brock · May 20, 2026 · 32 min
• Jerusalem: City of Jesus · May 15, 2026 · 34 min