Why does religion matter for America 250? 

Philadelphia is widely recognized as the birthplace of American democracy, but it is also the birthplace of American religious freedom. Join us at WHYY Studies as we discuss the importance of religion in the conversation about America 250.

The event will include reflections by six panelists on the question: why does religion matter in reflecting on the nation's semiquincentennial? The conversation will be facilitated by Dr. David M. Krueger, executive director of the Dialogue Institute, and lead scholar of the Religious Freedom Trails project.

The event is a kickoff for the Religious Freedom Trails program, which offers in-person history tours, a tour guide and public history training program, and an app to guide visitors to explore sites that tell the stories of religious pluralism in our city. The project illustrates the important role of religious diversity in the founding of the United States.

The program is made possible by a grant from the Philadelphia Funders Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, and funding from the Enlightened World Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation.