#96 - Joe Loconte

The American Revolution was not born of secular Enlightenment ideals, but of a deep, interconnected faith rooted in Protestant Christianity, reason, and revelation—principles embodied by figures like Dr. Benjamin Rush, the subject of a new documentary by Joe LeConte. LeConte argues that modern historiography has systematically erased the role of Christian conviction from the founding narrative, replacing it with a false dichotomy between faith and reason. Rush, a signer of the Declaration, chief surgeon of Washington’s army, abolitionist, and pioneer of humane psychiatry, lived out the golden rule in every sphere of life—advocating for the mentally ill, challenging slavery in Philadelphia, and promoting racial reconciliation in 1793. His life proves that Christian faith did not hinder progress but fueled it. LeConte and host Eric Metaxas dismantle the myth that the revolution was driven by deists like Jefferson, exposing how historians like Ken Burns have ignored or minimized the biblical foundations of liberty, human equality, and religious freedom. The episode is a passionate call to re-educate Americans about the true roots of their republic—where faith and reason were not enemies, but allies in the creation of a free society.