American Exceptionalism, Truth & the Future of Freedom

In this powerful episode of Cornerstone University’s Wisdom & Influence Podcast, host Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño sits down with Dr. Robert P. George — McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, former chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and one of America’s leading Christian public intellectuals — for a wide-ranging conversation on the ideas that shape our nation and our culture. Together they explore what makes America truly exceptional: not superiority, but a shared commitment to the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence and the conviction that all people are created equal. Professor George traces the roots of the American founding through the streams of Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem, arguing that the biblical doctrine of the Imago Dei is indispensable to the American creed. They also confront the darker chapters of American history — slavery, segregation, and the failures of the past — with Professor George making the case for telling “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” while rejecting ideological distortions of history like the 1619 Project.

The conversation then turns to some of the most urgent questions facing our culture today: the resurgence of communism, the corrosive effects of social media silos, the critical importance of free speech, the power of law to shape culture, and the special obligation of Christians — and Christian universities — to be courageous truth-seekers and truth-speakers. Whether you’re a student wrestling with these questions, a citizen concerned about the direction of our country, or someone who simply cares about the pursuit of truth, this episode will challenge, inspire, and equip you to think more deeply about the ideas that matter most.

Cornerstone University is a private Christian university located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, committed to developing bold influencers for Jesus Christ.