Defending America’s Founding Principles

Your support attracts scholars like Dr. Mark David Hall — leaders defending truth and training the next generation.

As America marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a Regent scholar is defending our nation’s Christian heritage — and training students to do the same.

Dr. Mark David Hall is one of America’s leading scholars on religious liberty and author of Did America Have a Christian Founding? Recently featured in the White House video series “The Story of America: The Faith of Our Founders,” he explores how Christianity shaped our Republic — and why that truth matters today.

His message is clear: America was founded on the bold claim that our rights come from God, not government. “Chief among these rights is religious liberty, which many Founders referred to as ‘the sacred right of conscience.’”

For decades, he has actively worked to correct what he calls a “profound distortion” of the Founders’ views while equipping students to defend truth boldly in the public square.

Dr. Hall warns against reducing faith to something merely private: “Some political leaders speak of ‘freedom of worship,’ but this suggests that only activities in a church or other sacred space are protected.” Instead, “the First Amendment guarantees all citizens the right to the free exercise of religion.” His students are learning to defend that fuller vision.

“I’ve personally been called into the battle for religious liberty,” he says. His academic work has strengthened legal arguments for prominent First Amendment organizations. Dr. Hall believes Regent is uniquely positioned to prepare the next generation to carry the torch of faith and freedom forward.

That’s only possible because of you.

Every class he teaches, every student he mentors, every legal argument he strengthens — happens because faithful partners invested in Regent.

Your support attracts scholars like Dr. Hall — faculty who actively stand for truth, while equipping students to do the same. You’re preparing graduates who will advocate across every sphere of influence.

“If we want the best and brightest Christian students to come here, that support is critical,” he explains. “I can think of no better place to invest in an academic institution than Regent University.”