Is America a Creedal Nation? The Real Meaning of the Declaration of Independence

America is unique in being founded on a shared set of ideas — especially the Declaration of Independence — which asserts human equality, natural rights, and government by consent. John G. West argues that the founders grounded these principles in both biblical belief and reason, believing humans to be equal in seven key ways, despite obvious differences. Some modern critics on the left and right misunderstand or reject these ideas, often influenced by outdated science to deny equality or natural rights. But both the founding principles and contemporary science support the existence of a creator, human equality, and the need for limited, consent-based government.

This talk draws on West’s book Endowed by Our Creator: The Bible Science, and the Battle for America’s Soul (DI Press, 2026). The talk took place at the 2026 Dallas Conference on Science and Faith presented by Discovery Institute’s Center on Science & Culture.