E11: Did God’s Image Get Lost in the American Dream?

In this second installment of our four-part series on the image of God, Bria explores the profound connection between Genesis and the Declaration of Independence. If every human being is created in God’s likeness, then the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not privileges—they are woven into our very being. This episode wrestles with the ways we’ve forgotten that truth: in how immigrants are treated, in the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people and women pastors, and in political rhetoric that dehumanizes entire groups. Yet even in the midst of forgetting, the image of God breaks through sometimes in everyday kindnesses like the simple act of recognizing another’s personhood. Through scripture, history, and personal story, Brianna invites us to slow down and remember: denying someone’s rights is denying the very image of God in them. She challenges us to notice those around us who are unseen, to honor their dignity, and to defend their God-given rights. Join us as we ask: what does it mean to live as people who see the image of God—and protect the rights that flow from it?