Diversity of Belief.

As we continue this journey, I’ve been reflecting on something meaningful.

I come from the Christian tradition. I’m a church historian, and my background is deeply rooted in Christian theology and history. But one of the things that has excited me the most through this experience is learning about other faith traditions.

It’s a powerful reminder that pluralism is at the very heart of who we are as a nation.

That idea is not accidental. In the Declaration of Independence, the language says we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.

It doesn’t say we are endowed by Jesus.
It doesn’t say we are endowed by a specific understanding of God.

It simply says “our Creator.”

That wording was intentional.

The framers of the Declaration and the Constitution chose language that could speak to people of many beliefs and traditions. At the time, the American colonies had around three million people. Among them were Jewish communities, a small number of Muslims, and the many spiritual traditions of Indigenous peoples who already lived on this land.

The vision was clear: a nation built on principles meant to apply to all people.

That spirit of inclusion and shared dignity remains something worth remembering — and continuing to build together.