For generations, the hallowed words of the Declaration of Independence that we are endowed by a Creator with certain unalienable rights has inspired not only Americans, but millions around the globe. Yet today, many Americans are skeptical or confused about the Declaration’s key claims. On this ID The Future, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes Dr. John West to the podcast to begin a discussion about his latest book Endowed By Our Creator: The Bible, Science, and the Battle for America’s Soul.

In Part 1, West reviews key words and phrases from the Declaration of Independence to reveal what the founders really meant by them and how they the words were shaped by the philosophical, theological, and scientific consensus of the day.