Acton Line

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.

September in Grand Rapids means the return of ArtPrize, which bills itself as a "radically open" art competition, juried by the general public, and awarding the largest cash prize for an art competition in the world - $250,000 for first place. As the competition takes place in the hometown of the Acton Institute - in fact, many artists exhibited their work in our building last year, and will do so again this year - it's hard for us to miss it. And frankly, the questions that have been raised about the impact of such a non-professional, wide-open art contest with such a large prize at stake on the art world (for example, does ArtPrize foster real art, or are artists simply pandering to the public to have a shot at the prize) are too intriguing to pass up. This edition of Radio Free Acton tackles the question of how Christians should steward the arts. The participants, Professors Nathan Jacobs and Calvin Seerveld, previously debated this topic in the Controversy section of our Journal of Markets & Morality (Volume 12, Number 2 - you can read the first part of their debate at this link), and we thought it would be interesting to bring them together for a live exchange as well. Special thanks are due to David Michael Phelps, who agreed to sit in as the moderator of the program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Donald Condit and Kevin Schmiesing join us to discuss the ins and outs of the healthcare system as well as viable options for reforming and improving it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Donald Condit and Kevin Schmiesing join us to discuss the ins and outs of the healthcare system as well as viable options for reforming and improving it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glenn Sunshine, professor of history at Central Connecticut State University, joins us to talk about his book 'Why You Think The Way You Do', which demonstrates the massive impact that Christianity has had in the development of the modern Western worldview. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Radio Free Acton crew takes on the controversy over the highly-publicized statements of Rev. Jeremiah Wright who served as pastor of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ and serves as a spiritual mentor to Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Host Marc Vander Maas is joined by Anthony Bradley and Ray Nothstine, and Acton President Rev. Robert A. Sirico makes his first appearance in the Acton Studio. What is Black Liberation Theology? What are the similarities and differences between Black Liberation Theology and the Liberation theology that rose to prominence in the 80s? What would the early civil rights leaders in the US think about this theology? The RFA crew tackles all these questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of the podcast, we pause to remember the contributions of William F. Buckley to the Acton Institute and to the conservative movement as a whole with Acton President Rev. Robert A. Sirico. The Acton podcast crew is then joined by Professor Joseph Knippenberg from Oglethorp University in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss the Pew Forum's newly released research on the American religious landscape. Why is there so much church shopping going on, and is it good or bad? Finally, we listen in to some bonus audio from Dr. Glenn Sunshine's Acton Lecture Series address, Wealth, Work and the Church. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Radio Free Acton crew discusses whether or not a "rich and famous" lifestyle can produce true happiness, and concludes that money can't buy happiness. Indeed, a life lived in pursuit of nothing more than material gain will lead to emptiness; true happiness comes through a pursuit of a relationship with God, which gives meaning to the rest of life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first edition of Radio Free Acton hits the web with a look at the influence of religion on the upcoming Michigan primary, which takes place on Tuesday, January 15. Host Marc Vander Maas is joined by Acton colleagues Jordan Ballor, Ray Nothstine, and John Couretas to look at the polls, the campaign ads, and the ideas that are defining current Republican politics and the constituencies that seem to be in a fight for the future of the party. John Couretas also talks with Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse about her Acton Lecture Series address, "Freedom, the Family and the Market." Dr. Morse talks about the how the Marxist view of the traditional family still infects modern leftist opinion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.