Acton Line

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.

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.