Exploring the Influence of the Bible on America’s Founding at the Museum of the Bible

Imagine being responsible for curating an exhibition that showcases the influence of the Bible on the founding of the United States for its 250th anniversary. This is the task faced by America’s largest Bible museum. Choosing from among the 5,000 Bibles and artifacts in their collection, the Museum of the Bible aims to highlight the scripture’s significant impact on the nation’s early years. Key questions arise: How did various Christian denominations use the Bible to either support or oppose the American Revolution? What role did these scriptures play in the discussion of rights for other faith groups? And how did they influence debates about government-led prayer?

Last week, visitors touring the second floor of the Museum of the Bible experienced this thoughtful representation. The institution, founded nine years ago in Washington, D.C., presents its 250th exhibition, “Sacred Liberty,” with the goal of sparking curiosity about Christian scripture’s place in history and emphasizing its prominence. According to Senior Curator Anthony Schmidt, the Bible served as a key contextual backdrop during the founders’ debates on government roles and the source of kings’ rights. He notes that while documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, studied on July Fourth, do not directly mention faith, ignoring the Bible’s impact overlooks a vital part of history.

The exhibition, which opened on July 3, maintains the museum’s tradition of using its expansive collection and dramatic architecture to narrate a complex historical story. This is in line with the mission of its evangelical founders and board, who affirm their belief in the Bible’s truth. As part of the “Sacred Liberty” experience, visitors like Linda Britt of Virginia have explored colonial-era artifacts that underscore the religious contexts of America’s founding.

“What they’re trying to say is that the Bible was key to revolutionary discourse, and they’re right. But that’s not the only story,” said Catherine Brekus, a historian of U.S. religion at Harvard. The exhibition highlights evangelical perspectives while excluding others.

Mark David Hall, a specialist in early America and religion at Regent University, sees this exhibition as a corrective measure to address the diminished emphasis on the Bible’s influence in recent decades. He argues that the Bible was the most important text of the American founding, significantly influencing the era in a positive way.

An intriguing aspect of the exhibition is the selection of key artifacts that tell this story. Consider the Aitken Bible, noted as the first Bible printed in English in North America. This Bible, often referred to as the “Bible of the Revolution,” was praised by Congress. However, the true story reveals the conflicting views among the founders regarding religion’s place in the new nation. Notably, Congress refused to finance its printing and denied requests from Protestant clergy to print or import additional copies.

Additionally, the exhibition features a letter from Thomas Jefferson written in 1809 to a Connecticut church. Jefferson praises the Constitution for safeguarding religious liberty, a principle he considered a major legacy of his. He famously described the First Amendment as a “wall of separation between church and state” in a separate 1802 letter. The current exhibition coincides with contemporary Supreme Court rulings that challenge and, some argue, erode this separation, increasing the use of tax dollars for religion and permitting government officials to pray publicly.

The exhibit also displays artifacts representing early Jewish life, such as Judah Monis’s Hebrew textbook, the first of its kind printed in America. Alongside a Jewish prayer book and a marriage contract, these items showcase the Jewish community’s participation in early American society. Although the exhibit highlights Monis as the first Jew to earn a college degree in the colonies from Harvard in 1720, it does not address the discrimination faced by Jews at the time, which included laws barring them from public office.

Among the displayed sermons is one by Jacob Duché, known as the chaplain to the first Continental Congress. His 1774 sermon asked for divine protection for those oppressed, and a similar 1775 sermon is featured in the exhibition. Duché’s story reflects the complex narratives of the era, as he later withdrew his support for the revolution. Reflecting on this, author Warren Throckmorton questions whether God’s perspective on the revolution shifted as Duché’s did.

“Sacred Liberty” provides an interactive experience exploring these themes, offering insights into the multifaceted role of the Bible in America’s founding. Visitors can engage with the material in thoughtful ways, gaining a deeper understanding of the nation’s religious history.