Sanctified Memory: Daniel Lee Hill on Theology, Slavery, and Public Witness

📜 Did abolitionists fight slavery with theology? And what does that mean for us today?

Though slavery was abolished over 150 years ago, its legacy haunts American Christianity—and our public life. In this timely episode, theologian Dr. Daniel Lee Hill, author of Bearing Witness, joins the show to unpack what the 19th-century abolitionists can still teach us today about faith, justice, and public responsibility. A professor at Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary, Dr. Hill highlights three often-forgotten figures—Maria Stewart, William Still, and David Ruggles—who combined Christian conviction with courageous action to resist oppression.

We explore the theological roots of the abolitionist movement, the contradictions of using the Bible to both justify and dismantle slavery, and how theology is still used today in debates around incarceration, immigration, and LGBTQ inclusion. Hill’s insights challenge both apathy and despair—calling us to archive, mentor, and organize in our time as the abolitionists did in theirs.

👤 Guest Bio

Dr. Daniel Lee Hill is a theologian and assistant professor of Christian theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. He is the author of Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Abolitionists and holds a PhD from Wheaton College. His work explores ecclesiology, public theology, and the intersections of history and justice.