Acton Line

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we pay tribute to the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, and look to the future of religious liberty in the United States with Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Larry Reed - President of the Foundation for Economic Education - discusses the myths that permeate the progressive worldview, and his new book debunking them: "Excuse Me, Professor: Challenging the Myths of Progressivism". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with Marina Nemat - author, columnist, human rights advocate, and former political prisoner in her native Iran. How does a person survive imprisonment, torture, and threats of execution, and emerge from the experience with the courage to forgive? And how can her experiences shed light on our response to the problems that plague the world today: Islamic extremism, terrorism, and the refugee crisis? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we join Bradley J. Birzer ("Call me Brad") to discuss his new biography of Russell Kirk, and to examine Kirk's role as the founding father of the conservative movement in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jay Nordlinger, Senior Editor at National Review Magazine, discusses his latest book - Children of Monsters: An Inquiry Into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators - on this edition of Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with American Enterprise Institute President Arthur C. Brooks about his latest book, "The Conservative Heart," and why it's so important for people who love liberty tell good stories about how freedom lifts everyone up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Acton Institute Director of Research Samuel Gregg and Director of International Outreach Todd Huizinga discuss the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe, and the strain that the crisis is putting on the European Union. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jared Meyer, Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, discusses his new book - Disinherited: How Washington is Betraying America's Young - On this edition of Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of Radio Free Acton, we speak with John Horvat, author of Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society, about what's wrong with our society and culture and how to fix it. We also look into the latest on Greece's financial problems and how Europe is trying to save its common currency, with analysis of the situation by Acton Institute Director of Research Samuel Gregg. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theologian Wayne Grudem has teamed up with economist Barry Asmus to write a book on poverty entitled The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution. On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we explore the fundamentals of growth and human flourishing, and how Christians should understand economics and aid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Marc bravely battles a late-spring cold to bring you an interview with Jonathan Witt, Managing Editor at TheStream.org, and author of The Hobbit Party: The Vision of Freedom that Tolkien Got and The West Forgot. Was Frodo a small-government type? Find out on Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with Lela Gilbert - author, journalist, and Adjunct Fellow at the Hudson Institute - about her book "Saturday People, Sunday People: Israel Through The Eyes of a Christian Sojourner", and about the very real threat posed to both Christians and Jews in the Middle East by radical Islam. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a group of high school students decide to form a student group to discuss the intersection of religion, liberty, and markets? At Grand Rapids West Catholic High School, they founded The Acton Club. Acton Institute Director of Programs and Educational Impact Mike C. Cook talks with the founders of the club about their experience over the last year in starting the group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we're joined in studio by eminent Catholic scholar George Weigel of the Ethics and Public Policy Center to discuss the pontificate of Pope Francis, his coverage by the global media, and his upcoming trip to the United States. Weigel is joined in stuido by Acton's President and Co-Founder Rev. Robert A. Sirico, and the discussion is moderated by Acton Director of Research Samuel Gregg. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timothy P. Carney is the guest on this edition of Radio Free Acton to talk about the threats to liberty posed by not only Big Government, but Big Business as well. We also talk to Michael Van Beek of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan, about the mission and work of Mackinac. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Ohanian, Director of Programs for International Orthodox Christian Charities, speaks with Acton Institute Director of Communications John Couretas about the current state of the Syrian civil war and the ongoing—and growing—refugee crisis caused by the conflict, which is one of the worst humanitarian crises in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with Ryan T. Anderson, William E. Simon Fellow in Religion and a Free Society at the Heritage Foundation, about what exactly we mean when we say "religious liberty." Is it simply the freedom to worship, or does it entail something more robust than that? We also discuss Religious Freedom Restoration Act legislation in Indiana and elsewhere, and the media's open animus toward such legislation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Burt and Anita Folsom discuss their latest book, "Uncle Sam Can't Count." We examine whether the government has a good track record in subsidizing industry and innovation, and look at some of the unforseen consequences of subsidies in society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk with Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Provost and Professor of Literature at Patrick Henry College. Dr. Veith discusses the influence of the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther's understanding of vocation on the development of capitalism, and gives his thoughts on how young people - and all of us - should view work and education as we discern our vocations in life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Acton Institute Director of International Outreach Todd Huizinga draws on his wealth of diplomatic and international experience to help us understand the history and context of the ongoing financial difficulties of the nation of Greece. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, Elise Graveline Hilton talks about her monograph and provides some basic resources for everyone interested in fighting the scourge of human trafficking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeffrey Tucker, Author, speaker, founder and Chief Liberty Officer of Liberty.me, joins Radio Free Acton this week to discuss the relationship between capitalism and love. It may sound strange - we're used to hearing capitalism described as the creed of the greedy and heartless - but it's quite true. Listen and find out why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of Radio Free Acton, Paul Edwards speaks with Luba Markewycz of the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago, Illinois about the Holodomor - the Great Famine of the 1930s inflicted on Ukraine by Josef Stalin's Soviet Government that killed millions of Ukrainians through starvation. They discuss the Holodomor itself, and the process undertaken by Markewycz to create an exhibition of art by young Ukrainians to commemorate the event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Marc Vander Maas talks with F. H. Buckley, Foundation Professor at George Mason University School of Law and author of a number of books, his latest being The Once and Future King: The Rise of Crown Government in America (Encounter Books, April 2014). The story of American Government is the story of the rise of presidential power, which has seen its fullest, and - for those who believe in the principles of the Constitution and oppose one-man rule - most unsettling flowering in the presidency of Barack Obama. How did a country that was founded on small-r republican principles go from overthrowing the rule of the King George to essentially creating its own elected monarchy, which George Mason, one of the founding fathers, considered worse than the real thing? Buckley discusses this process and our current political dilemma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast, we welcome Gerard Lameiro to Radio Free Acton to talk about the subject of his recent Acton lecture and his book, Renewing America and Its Heritage of Freedom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of Radio Free Acton, Research Fellow Michael Matheson Miller continues his conversation with former US Ambassador to the Holy See Francis Rooney. They discuss the soft power influence of the Vatican on global affairs and some of the ins and outs of international diplomacy from an ambassador's perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Ambassador Francis Rooney speaks with Acton Institute Research Fellow Michael Matheson Miller regarding his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2008. He discusses the Vatican's influence in world affairs, the benefit of using "soft power" in diplomacy, and the history of official U.S. relations with the Holy See. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Michael Matheson Miller - Research Fellow at the Acton Institute - continues his interview with Yale's Sterling Professor of English David Bromwich on his new book, "The Intellectual Life of Edmund Burke." This week's podcast is part 2 of the interview; part 1 can be found in the prior edition of Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we talk about sound money with economist and author Robert P. Murphy. What is money? Why does it have value? What happens when a government detaches the value of money from gold or other commodities? We look at these questions, find out what our dollars are really worth, and look at ways to restore the value of our money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Sarah Stanley speaks with Chelsen Vicari, Evangelical Program Director at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, about her new book Distortion: How the New Christian Left is Twisting the Gospel and Damaging the Faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Michael Matheson Miller - Research Fellow at the Acton Institute - interviews Yale's Sterling Professor of English David Bromwich on his new book, "The Intellectual Life of Edmund Burke." This week's podcast is part 1 of the interview; part 2 will be forthcoming in the next edition of Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we head into the fall of 2014, the world seems in many ways to be a very dark and dangerous place. Between the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Syria (and the resulting slaughter and displacement of Christians in the middle east) and the relentless advance of secularism in the West, many Christians are wondering how Christianity can advance in our modern world. In this edition of Radio Free Acton, Acton Institute Co-Founder and President Rev. Robert A. Sirico talks on this topic with Os Guinness, public intellectual and author most recently of Reniassance: The Power of the Gospel However Dark the Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2017 will mark the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther's posting of his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg Castle Church, the event that would eventually lead to what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. In anticipation of this very significant anniversary, churches, seminaries, colleges, and many other organizations have begun the process of examining the events leading up to and flowing out from the reformations of that time, and a great deal of those organizations have joined together to form Refo500, which describes itself as "the international platform for knowledge, expertise, ideas, products and events, specializing in the 500 year legacy of the Reformation." Dr. Herman Selderhuis - Director of Refo500 and professor at the Theological University of Apeldoorn in the Netherlands - was recently our guest here at the Acton Institute, and he took some time to sit down with Paul Edwards and discuss the legacy of the Protestant Reformation and the work of his organization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean for Christians to use our gifts to fulfill God’s purposes in cultural flourishing? Makoto Fujimura, internationally renowned artist, intellectual, and founder of the International Arts Movement, is well placed to address this question. Fujimura joins host Paul Edwards on this edition of Radio Free Acton to discuss his art, his story of faith, how a “culture care” mindset can change the way we look at a wide range of issues. Follow Mako on Twitter: @iamfujimura Radio Free Acton archive And last, and certainly not least, be sure to follow @ActonUnicorn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Father Hans Jacobse, founder of the American Orthodox Institute and regular contributor to Orthodoxy Today, discusses his experience as a participant and lecturer at Acton University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the end – the goal – of business anyway? Is it to merely maximize a profit or to do good, or some balance between the two? And what exactly does it mean for a business to “do good”? And if I happen to be a person of deep religious faith, do I have to check my faith at the boardroom door? What influence should my faith have on the exchanges I engage in day to day, and what are the practical implications of ethics on how I conduct myself in business relationships? Andrew Abela is the 2009 recipient of Acton’s Novak Award. He has just co-authored a very important book on the subject of the intersection of ethics and morality with business: A Catechism for Business: Tough Ethical Questions & Insights From Catholic Teaching (The Catholic University of America Press). He speaks with Acton’s Paul Edwards on this edition of Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Edwards talks with Wesley J. Smith of the Discovery Institute and author of the Human Exceptionalism blog on National Review Online about the very real threats to the core idea of the dignity of the human person that exist in the intellectual world today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We would all agree that digital technology has made life better in many respects. But in what ways do smartphones, email, social media and the Internet in general bring pressures to bear upon us that diminish human dignity and work against us in the free market, our social connectivity, and the interior life? Douglas Rushkoff has been thinking and writing about these very questions for years. He is a media theorist and author of the book, Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now. He has produced documentaries for CNN and PBS and is regular contributor to the New York Times. He spoke with Acton’s Paul Edwards for this edition of Radio Free Acton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Paul Edwards talks with Lawrence Reed, President of the Foundation for Economic Education, about the changing nature and expanding power of the American Presidency, and what threats that may pose to the liberty of American citizens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of Radio Free Acton, Paul Edwards goes behind the scenes at the premiere of For the Life of the World: Letters to the Exiles, the new curriculum produced by the Acton Institute that examines God's mission in the world and our place in it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On March 28 2014 at the Acton Building in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Acton Institute will be hosting Hidden No More: Exposing Human Trafficking in West Michigan, an event that will examine the pervasive problem of human trafficking, how widespread it is in our state (and beyond), and how the West Michigan community can respond to this crime which too often goes unreported. Human trafficking affects our economy, public safety and is an assault on human dignity, cutting across racial, political and religious divides. Our panelists will draw on the Michigan State Attorney General’s 2013 Report on Human Trafficking to stimulate discussion and generate community-based solutions to human trafficking. On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Acton's Director of Communications John Couretas talks with Elise Hilton, who is organizing the event for Acton. They shed some light on the signs of human trafficking, and discuss ways for all of us to be more aware of this vital issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of Radio Free Acton, we take a look at the current state of the crisis in the Ukraine. Paul Edwards takes the mic as host, and talks with Acton Institute Director of Research Samuel Gregg about the geopolitical context of the crisis and the different force that are currently acting on the Ukraine, making the crisis more acute; he also talks with Acton Director of Communications John Couretas about the religious and social undercurrents that are also at play in the situation. Paul also speaks with an evangelical Christian living in Kiev (who remains anonymous for his protection) in order to obtain a fuller picture of events as they stand at this moment, and for an inside view of the conflict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does Acton University have to offer to a high school teacher? We talk with Becki Essner (AU'11, '12 & '13) about her experiences at Acton U, the things that have impacted her the most at the conferences, and how she integrates the lessons learned at Acton U into her work at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reflecting on the Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI Part 2 by Acton Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Radio Free Acton crew expands this week to include Director of Programs Michael Miller and Acton Research Fellow Anthony Bradley, who join regulars Marc Vander Maas and Ray Nothstine to discuss the fallout from a busy political week. Super Tuesday has come and gone, and the GOP looks likely to have its nominee: Senator John McCain. Mike Huckabee is remaining in the race, but are his economic views hampering him in his effort to unite evangelicals? Barack Obama has inspired many with a campaign that is not afraid to use religious language and references, but how do Obama's beliefs translate into real-world action? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Radio Free Acton, Michael Matheson Miller is joined by Acton's Director of Research Samuel Gregg to reflect on the papacy and legacy of retiring Pope Benedict XVI. This is part one of a two part podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, Amity Shlaes - bestselling author of The Forgotten Man - joins the show to talk about her forthcoming biography of Calvin Coolidge. This edition of RFA was originally released on August 6, 2012. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radio Free Acton hits the web once again, this time featuring an exchange between Hunter Baker, author of The End of Secularism, and Jonathan Malesic, author of Secret Faith in the Public Square: An Argument for the Concealment of Christian Identity. Their conversation continues an exchange begun in the Controversy section of the latest issue of Acton's Journal of Markets & Morality. Should Christians be overt about their faith when operating in the public square, or should Christian identity remain concealed in order to protect the faith from being drained of any real meaning? Baker and Malesic provide some thought-provoking perspectives on this vital question. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There has been quite the uptick regarding the topic because of fears that America has lost its greatness. "America's Destiny Must Be Freedom," is a commentary I penned in June related to that fear, as well as an overview of America's freedom narrative. I also hosted an Acton on Tap on American Exceptionalism last August. I addressed the history of the theological roots, the different strains of thought related to American Exceptionalism, and the debate today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Michael Phelps continues to lead the discussion between Professors Nathan Jacobs and Calvin Seerveld, who previously debated this topic in the Controversy section of our Journal of Markets & Morality. The first portion of that exchange is available at the link for part 1; the remainder of the Controversy can be read by clicking here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.