Cornerstone University Hosts Dialogue on Christianity and the American Experience
“A republic, if you can keep it.” With these words spoken right after the Constitutional Convention in 1787, just 11 years after the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin warned his contemporaries and all future Americans of the promise and frailty of the United States of America.
America, with all its grandeur, beauty, and promise, has always been frail. Why? Because its very existence rests on our willingness to believe in and live out its founding principles.
As part of its celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Cornerstone University is inviting the community into a public conversation about the ideas that have shaped the American experiment and the role of Christian faith in sustaining it for our families, our citizens, and our future.
On Thursday, March 5, Cornerstone will host Wisdom Conversations: America at 250 – Christianity and the American Experience, an evening of dialogue featuring two nationally recognized public intellectuals: Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Robert P. George. Join hundreds of attendees as two of America’s most respected public intellectuals exchange robust and candid perspectives on America and its future.
Moderated by Cornerstone President Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, the event will explore urgent questions at the heart of America’s civic life: What is the most secure foundation for liberty and rights – God or Government? How can we be united as a nation amidst competing versions of America’s founding? Can America be just and good without God and a spiritual revival of its people? How do we light the spark for a vibrant civic friendship among all Americans?
The event is part of Cornerstone’s ongoing Wisdom Conversations series – a national forum designed to bring leading voices from diverse backgrounds into thoughtful, substantive dialogue about the ideas shaping culture and public life. The series emphasizes civil discourse, intellectual rigor, deep reflection and engagement on today’s most pressing issues.
The “America at 250” theme reflects the nation’s approaching semiquincentennial and invites reflection on how historical influences contributed to America’s founding ideals, and how those influences are interpreted and debated today.
Dr. Cornel West, the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary, is a philosopher, author, and longtime public voice on democracy, race, and justice. A former professor at Harvard and Princeton, he is widely known for his books “Race Matters” and “Democracy Matters,” as well as for his commitment to public engagement.
Dr. Robert P. George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. A legal scholar and political philosopher, he has served on several federal commissions, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. He has written extensively on constitutional law, civil liberties, and moral reasoning in public life.
Together, West and George bring distinct perspectives and intellectual traditions to a shared interest in the moral underpinnings of democratic society.
This conversation is open to students, families, educators, business leaders, and community members interested in engaging foundational questions about America’s past and future. Wisdom Conversations brings the community together to address these questions with truth and grace, explore biblically-grounded, hope-filled solutions, and celebrate our nation’s God-given foundations with gratitude.
Wisdom Conversations: America at 250 – Christianity and the American Experience
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Doors open: 6 p.m.
Program begins: 6:30 p.m.
Cornerstone University, Christ Chapel
1001 East Beltline Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Register today. Registration is free and seating is limited.
Published February 25, 2026, on MLive
