Jane Calvert

In this discussion, guests Jane Calvert, a biography author on John Dickinson, Vincent Phillip Muñoz, a Notre Dame religion professor, and Thomas Kidd, a Baptist studies chair, delve into the nuanced role of religion among America's Founding Fathers. They examine varying personal faiths, from deism to traditional Christianity, and how these shaped ideals like religious liberty and governance. They also explore John Dickinson's Quaker influences and the philosophical foundations of natural rights, emphasizing the delicate balance between church and state that informed the Constitution.

Jane Calvert, an associate professor and editor of the John Dickinson Writings Project, explores the life of John Dickinson, a leading Revolutionary-era lawyer and Quaker-influenced thinker. She discusses his legal training, efforts to make law accessible, Quaker roots shaping compassion, debates over religious liberty, women's roles, and why he abstained from signing the Declaration.