controversial to say that our institutions were framed by christian values, and the judeo^- christian ethick and that's a kind of cultural argument to make. but at the end of the day what are the then defending if we say this is a christian country? as a christian i have been called to defend more than that. i i've been called to speak with conviction to more than that. and to speak to something that transcendses any given culture, and speaking as a christian, i am a christian who happens to be an american, and i travel widely throughout the world, and i travel to nepal and i speak in churchs there and engage pastoral training there, and i work with christians who happen to be nepalies or indians, and it's very important as a christian to keep that perspective and that's a central argument i try to brick out. >> host: when you hear people say america is an exceptional nation, do you agree, disagree? >> guest: that's a great question. there's no doubt i think that america is exceptional. but the doctrine of american exceptionalism is a very, very tricky and controversial idea to engage in. us