Many Americans believe the United States was founded on Christian principles. Others contend the founding was secular. Historian Dr. Allen Jayne says both are wrong.

Our nation’s founding document, the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, advocated placing religion under man-made law. This, Jefferson reasoned, would prevent religious violence that had plagued Western Civilization for centuries.

Yet, simultaneously, the principles of the Declaration are given by “Nature’s God,” who allows complete liberty of religious belief and is, therefore, very different from the Christian God.

Like Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln was not a mainstream Christian.

Lincoln governed the U.S. during its darkest hour. His repeated public use of the anti-slavery, religious freedom ideology upon which Jefferson based the Declaration helped keep the nation together and eradicate slavery.

On your show, Dr. Jayne will answer the following burning questions:

• Is religious fundamentalism opposed to democracy?

• Are Lincoln’s religious beliefs still relevant?

• How would Lincoln have dealt with the threat from terrorism?

• Is it ever justifiable for a president
to curtail civil rights and/or break the law?

• What do Americans need to look for in their next president?

CREDENTIALS: Dr. Allen Jayne is the author of LINCOLN: AND THE AMERICAN MANIFESTO (Prometheus Books, 2007) and Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence: Origins, Philosophy and Theology (University Press of Kentucky, 2000). He holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University and
lectures frequently throughout the United States.

AVAILABILITY: Nationwide by arrangement
and via telephone
CONTACT: Catherine Jayne, (310) 738-5101 (CA); cejaynelse@aol.com