Acton Line

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Stephen Smith, dean of the humanities, Temple Family Chair in English Literature, and professor of English at Hillsdale College, about St. Thomas More, William Shakespeare, and Christian humanism. What is the Christian humanist tradition? How does St. Thomas More exemplify that tradition? How was William Shakespeare inspired by More’s life, scholarship, and sensibility? How can we revive the humanities and continue the Christian humanist tradition today? Stephen Smith — Hillsdale College Thomas More Studies The Essential Works of Thomas More What is Christian humanism? A conversation with Bradley J. Birzer The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis | Alan Jacobs De officiis, with an English translation by Walter Miller | Marcus Tullius Cicero On Friendship (De Amicitia) | Marcus Tullius Cicero More’s Letter to Antonio Bonvisi, 1535 The Book of Sir Thomas More

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Andrew M. McGinnis, assistant director of research at the CRCD and managing editor of the Journal of Religion, Culture & Democracy, about the Acton Institute’s recently completed Sources in Early Modern Economics, Ethics, and Law (Second Series). What is historical ressourcement, and why does it matter? What are the challenges scholars face when attempting such work? How can historical scholarship enrich the Church? The world? Andrew M. McGinnis, Ph.D. | Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy Sources in Early Modern Economics, Ethics, and Law (Second Series) | Acton Institute On the Duties of Merchants — Acton Bookshop The Right Use of Moral Philosophy — Acton Bookshop On the Law of Nature: A Demonstrative Method — Acton Bookshop On the Duty to Keep Faith with Heretics — Acton Bookshop Commentary on Proverbs — Acton Bookshop PRDL — Post-Reformation Digital Library Vesuvius Challenge

The 2024 PovertyCure Summit, “Dignity, Agency, & Charity,” was a virtual event put on by Acton’s Center for Social Flourishing. Over two days, participants learned from scholars and practitioners involved in the global struggle against poverty—and against “toxic charity” that hinders people’s ability to rise. On today’s episode, we bring you a panel discussion from the summit, entitled “Finding Solutions to America’s Housing Shortage.” The director of Acton’s Center for Social Flourishing, Michael Matheson Miller, speaks to James Hurling and Charles Marohn about the importance of empowering impoverished households. Subscribe to our podcasts PovertyCure Summit

On today’s episode, Acton’s director of research, John Pinheiro, speaks to Gerard Wegemer, founding director of the Center for Thomas More Studies. They discuss More’s life, writings, and understanding of law, liberty, and citizenship. Subscribe to our podcasts Center for Thomas More Studies

This week, host Dan Hugger is joined by John Pinheiro and Dylan Pahman to discuss the presidential transition. What have past presidential transitions looked like, and how does this one compare? What should we make of the flurry of pardons from Presidents Trump and Biden? How many amendments does our Constitution, in fact, have—and what do they even mean? Who needs them when you have executive orders? And how will those new executive orders affect the economy and civil service? Subscribe to our podcasts Biden Pardons 5 Members of His Family in Final Minutes in Office | The New York Times Family outraged after man convicted in Connecticut killings gets clemency from Biden in drug case | AP News Pardon of January 6 United States Capitol attack defendants | Wikipedia Biden Says Equal Rights Amendment Has Passed, but Does Not Force Certification | The New York Times Birthright Citizenship Is American Citizenship | John Yoo Trump Admin Orders Federal D.E.I. Efforts to Shut Down by Wednesday Night | The New York Times Restoring America Means More Tuskegee Airmen and Less DEI

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Kevin Vallier, professor of philosophy at the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership, about his book-in-progress on American fusionism. How exactly do religion and liberty go together? What can theologians and social scientists learn from each other? Why is fusionism still the only intellectually serious option on offer for American conservatives, and how can it be developed futher? Kevin Vallier All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Li – Acton Bookshop Trust in a Polarized Age - Kevin Vallier - Oxford University Press For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto | Mises Institute The Conservative Mind – Acton Bookshop In Defense of Freedom and Related Essays - Liberty Fund Select Works of Edmund Burke, vol. 2 | Online Library of Liberty Faithful Christian Political Action | Acton Institute The Faithful Christian and the Politics of the Tao | Acton Institute Lord Acton: Historian and Moralist – Acton Bookshop The Fatal Conceit – Acton Bookshop The Roots of American Order: Russell Kirk, Forrest McDonald: 9781882926992: Amazon.com: Books Anarchy and Christianity: Ellul, Jacques: 9781606089712: Amazon.com: Books Amazon.com: Christianity and the Nation-State: A Study in Political Theology: 9781009344593: Chartier, Gary: Books UToledo Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership Journal of Markets & Morality | Markets & Morality Lord Acton: Historical and Moral Essays – Acton Bookshop The Humane Economist: A Wilhelm Röpke Reader – Acton Bookshop Amazon.com: The Libertarian Reader: Classic & Contemporary Writings from Lao-Tzu to Milton Friedman: 9781476752891: Boaz, David: Books Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis | Online Library of Liberty Conversations on Conservatism: Witcher, Marcus, Ball, Blake, Hughes, Kevin: 9781630692162: Amazon.com: Books The Philadelphia Society Human Action: A Treatise on Economics, in 4 vols. (LF ed.) | Online Library of Liberty Lord Acton on Catholic and Modern Views of Liberty – Religion & Liberty Online The Oddest Evening of my Life - David Friedman’s Substack Sources in Early Modern Economics, Ethics, and Law (First Series) | Acton Institute Sources in Early Modern Economics, Ethics, and Law (Second Series) | Acton Institute The Rambler and the Transformative Power of Magazines | Acton Institute Postliberal Order | The Postliberals | Substack The Origins of Woke: Civil Rights Law, Corporate America, and the Triumph of Identity Politics: Hanania, Richard: 9780063237216: Amazon.com: Books

Director of the Acton Institute’s Collins Center for Abrahamic Heritage Nathan Mech mediates a discussion between Mustafa Akyol and Rabbi Reuven Firestone on the current crises in Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations. Drawing from their respective religious traditions, Akyol and Rabbi Firestone confront the challenges of tribalism and discuss how religion can be a source of solutions, rather than problems, for the Middle East and conflicts around the world today. Special attention is given to insights from Mustafa Akyol’s new book, “The Islamic Moses: How the Prophet Inspired Jews and Muslims to Flourish Together and Change the World.” Subscribe to our podcasts The Islamic Moses: How the Prophet Inspired Jews and Muslims to Flourish Together and Change the World Collins Center for Abrahamic Heritage

Though often used, the term “financialization” is largely misunderstood. In order to address this issue, the American Institute for Economic Research commissioned Acton board member and chief investment officer of the Bahnsen Group, David Bahnsen, to write a white paper on this topic. His approach to financialization is simple: that we defend and not demonize capital markets, and clarify and not obfuscate how financial markets enhance our attempts at achieving human flourishing. On today’s episode, Acton’s chief operating officer, Stephen Barrows, talks to David about his paper. Subscribe to our podcasts Financialization and Missed Boats | American Institute for Economic Research

On today’s episode, Acton librarian Dan Hugger sits down Kris Mauren, co-founder and president of the Acton Institute. They discuss why the Acton Institute was founded, what it’s done, and where it’s hoping to go in the new year. Subscribe to our podcasts

On today’s episode, we’re bringing you a rebroadcast from December 1, 2021. Eric Kohn, Acton’s former director of marketing and communications, sits down with Dallas Jenkins, director of “The Chosen,” an online multi-season TV series depicting the life of Jesus. Later in the episode Kohn interviews Jonathan Roumie, the actor who portrays Jesus. The Chosen is the largest crowdfunded media project of all time. At the time of this interview, they had raised 90% of the money for season 3. Now, season 5 is set to premiere on March 27, 2025. Subscribe to our podcasts Watch | The Chosen TV How A Crowdfunded Christian TV Series Could Change Entertainment

In recent years, America’s status as a “Christian nation” has become an incredibly vexed question. This is not simply a debate about America’s present, or even its future—it has become a debate about its past. Some want to rewrite America’s history as having always been highly secular in order to ensure a similar future; others seek to reframe the American founding as a continuation of medieval Christendom in the hopes of reviving America’s religious identity today. In his book “Religion & Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil War,” Miles Smith offers a fresh historical reading of America’s status as a Christian nation in the Early Republic era. On today’s episode, Eric Kohn, former Acton director of marketing and communications, talks to Miles about his book. Subscribe to our podcasts Miles Smith | Hillsdale College Religion & Republic | Miles Smith

On today’s episode, Acton’s director of research, John Pinheiro, speaks with Joe Creech, executive director of the Lilly Network of Church-Related Colleges and Universities. They discuss what’s changed in higher education (for better and worse) and what role the Lilly Network plays. Subscribe to our podcasts The Lilly Network

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Mark Clifford, award-winning journalist and historian of Hong Kong, about his new book Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong’s Greatest Dissident, and China’s Most Feared Critic. Hong Kong has scores of billionaires, but only one of them dared stand up to China while the city’s freedoms were whittled away. What in Jimmy Lai’s extraordinary life explains such courage? Subscribe to our podcasts Mark Clifford The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation The Troublemaker | Book by Mark L. Clifford | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World: What China's Crackdown Reveals About Its Plans to End Freedom Everywhere: Clifford, Mark L. Let There Be Light: How Electricity Made Modern Hong Kong (Center on Global Energy Policy Series): Clifford, Mark The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom [Full Film] Jimmy Lai’s Fight For Freedom Continues | Panel Discussion The Call of the Entrepreneur | Acton Institute

Join Acton Institute’s president emeritus Rev. Robert Sirico as he hosts a live panel featuring Mark Simon, Mary Kissel, and William McGurn as they discuss the resumption of Jimmy’s trial in Hong Kong. Featured in Acton’s award winning documentary The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Fight for Freedom you will hear the insights of these close friends and associates of Jimmy as they examine his prospects for release and the future of freedom in Hong Kong. The panel was streamed live on Monday, November 25, 2024. Subscribe to our podcasts Watch the panel The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai's Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom The Troublemaker | Simon & Schuster

With decades of hindsight, the peaceful end of the Cold War seems to have been inevitable. But in the early 1980s, most experts believed the Soviet Union was strong and stable, and would last into the next century. Ronald Reagan entered the White House with no certainty of what would happen next, only an overriding faith in democracy and an abiding belief that Soviet communism—and the threat of nuclear war—must end. Based on his interviews with senior Reagan officials and thousands of pages of newly declassified documents, Dr. William Inboden, in his new biography “The Peacemaker,” sheds a fresh perspective on President Reagan’s unwavering faith and commitment to freedom during the Cold War. On October 30, 2024, Dr. Inboden was the keynote speaker at Acton’s 34th Annual Dinner. Take a listen. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton On-Demand William Inboden | University of Florida The Peacemaker | Penguin Random House

This week, host Dan Hugger is joined by John Pinheiro, Anthony Bradley, and Dylan Pahman to discuss the results of the 2024 U.S. elections. What do the results say about American society, its politics, its parties, and its future? A wide-ranging conversation from pre-election polls to possible party futures. This episode is a crossover with our other podcast, Acton Unwind. An occasional roundtable roundtable discussion of news and current events through the Acton Institute's lens on the world: promoting a free and virtuous society and connecting good intentions with sound economics. Host Dan Hugger is joined by Acton Institute experts for an exploration of news, politics, religion, and culture. Subscribe to our podcasts 2024 Presidential Election Results | AP News Exit poll results 2024 | CNN Politics How the Trump Polymarket Whale Correctly Called the Election, and Made Nearly $50 Million | Alexander Osipovich, WSJ Pro-Kamala Harris spot targeting ‘real men’ ripped as ‘cringiest political ad ever’ Susie Wiles: Who is Trump’s new chief of staff? | Max Matza, BBC News

While the challenge of poverty has always been a part of the human condition, the rise of modernity and the Industrial Revolution have made the problem more acute, particularly for Christians who know that the poor will always be with us and that we’ve been commanded to look out for the least of these. While we cannot rightly characterize C.S. Lewis primarily as an economic or political thinker, he did address social and political matters in his major and minor works. Perhaps more importantly, his treatment of “mere” Christianity with regard to matters of conviction and practice offers hope that Christians from different backgrounds can find common cause in thinking about, and acting on, such issues. On today’s episode, we present to you the latest installment of the Acton Lecture Series, recorded live at the Acton Building in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In his address, Dr. Micah Watson considers what wisdom we might glean from Lewis’ understanding of how the church should, and shouldn’t, engage the social question. Subscribe to our podcasts The Church Should Give Us a Lead: C.S. Lewis on Modern Social Thought

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Jordan Ballor, Director of Research at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy, about his Religion & Liberty cover story “The Faithful Christian and the Politics of the Tao”. They discuss the nineteenth and twentieth century Dutch political party, the Anti-Revolutionary Party, it’s most famous member the theologian and politician Abraham Kuyper, and the prospects for a distinctly Christian politics today. Subscribe to our podcasts Religion & Liberty Online The Faithful Christian and the Politics of the Tao | Acton Institute Select Works of Edmund Burke, vol. 2 | Online Library of Liberty (libertyfund.org) Unbelief and Revolution (Lexham Classics): van Prinsterer, Groen, Van Dyke, Harry: 9781683592280: Amazon.com: Books Our Program: A Christian Political Manifesto – Acton Bookshop Makers of Modern Christian Social Thought – Acton Bookshop Work info: Calvinism: Six Stone-lectures - Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org) About — American Solidarity Party (solidarity-party.org) Richard Dawkins and Mere Cultural Christianity – Religion & Liberty Online (acton.org) Code of Canon Law - Book II - The People of God - Part I. (Cann. 208-329) (vatican.va) Ecumenical Babel: Confusing Economic Ideology and the Church's Social – Acton Bookshop

On today’s episode, Noah Gould, Acton’s Alumni and Student Programs manager, talks to author Caleb Franz about his new book, “The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism’s Essential Founding Father.” Subscribe to our podcasts The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism’s Essential Founding Father

Named after distinguished American theologian Michael Novak, the Acton Institute’s prestigious Novak Award rewards outstanding scholarly research concerning the relationship between religion, economic freedom, and the free and virtuous society. In recognition of her outstanding research in the fields of family economics, law and economics, and public choice, the recipient of the 2024 Novak Award is Dr. Clara Piano. In this episode, Acton’s executive editor of the Journal of Markets and Morality, Dylan Pahman, sits down with Dr. Piano to discuss the fertility gap, family economics, and the Novak Award. Subscribe to our podcasts Novak Award Clara Piano | 2024 Novak Award Winner Acton University Acton On-Demand

For this episode of Acton Line, we’re bringing you one of the plenary talks from Acton University 2024. Robert and Berni Neal explore the complementarity of business and philanthropy, sharing their personal journey and philosophy on integrating wealth creation and ethical stewardship. Robert, a managing partner at Hager Pacific Properties, and Berni, a dedicated Catholic evangelist, discuss how their faith and values guide their business decisions and philanthropic efforts. They emphasize the importance of delayed gratification, ethical behavior, and the role of stewardship as a collaboration with God. Through personal anecdotes and strategic insights, the Neals illustrate how business can serve as a noble vocation that not only generates wealth but also contributes to the greater good. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton University Acton On-Demand

On today’s episode, we bring you a wide-ranging conversation between Acton librarian Dan Hugger and Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado from Acton University 2024. They discuss the religious heritage of India, democracy, and the promises and challenges of interreligious dialogue today. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton University Acton On-Demand

For this episode of Acton Line, we’re bringing you one of the plenary talks from Acton University 2024. Dr. Anthony Bradley, Acton Institute distinguished research fellow, delves into the complex relationship between childhood trauma and poverty. Drawing from extensive research, Dr. Bradley discusses how adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction can have long-lasting effects on brain development and overall life outcomes. He emphasizes the importance of compassion and community support in mitigating these effects and highlights the critical role of positive childhood experiences in fostering resilience and thriving. Through compelling case studies and personal anecdotes, Dr. Bradley underscores the need for long-term commitment and community-based interventions to break the cycle of poverty and trauma. Acton University is Acton’s flagship conference, focused on building the foundations of human freedom and exploring the intersection of faith and free markets. To learn more about Acton University, please visit university.acton.org. To find additional content from previous Acton Universities, please visit ondemand.acton.org. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton University Acton On-Demand

How should you allocate your personal wealth? How do the decisions you make regarding personal wealth impact your character? In his Acton Lecture Series talk, Kenneth Elzinga discussed Christian stewardship and proposed a new way to think about the relationship between “donor” and “receiver.” Before his lecture, Professor Elzinga sat down with Acton Alumni and Student Programs Manager Noah Gould for a preview. They discussed the professor’s journey to faith, his finding a calling in economics, the importance of the NCAA Supreme Court case he testified in, and Christian philanthropy. Subscribe to our podcasts Ken Elzinga Giving Is Not God’s Way of Raising Money Acton On-Demand

Capitalism didn’t fail—it was ruined, says Ruchir Sharma. In his new book, “What Went Wrong with Capitalism,” Sharma takes you back to the 19th century to illustrate how the reflexes of government have changed. From hands-off to hands-on, from doing too little to help in hard times to trying to prevent anyone from suffering economic pain ever. The result? Expensive state guarantees for everyone: bailouts for the rich, entitlements for the middle class, and welfare for the poor. Sharma says this constant government intervention and relentless spread of bailout culture has build an even bigger state, one that’s surely going to double down on what ruined capitalism in the first place. Subscribe to our podcasts What Went Wrong with Capitalism | Simon & Schuster

Too much of the conversation about poverty, whether in government, among social service providers, or in churches, is animated by highly emotional conventions, trite melodramatic comparisons, and comfortable ideological clichés, says Ismael Hernandez. But how can we change this? How can we do better? In his new book, “Rethinking Charity: Restoring Dignity to Poverty Relief,” Ismael looks at the practical work of authentic poverty relief. The point is to see the poor not as nameless victims but as free, responsible, and creative image-bearers who possess a value far greater than their need. On today’s episode, Caleb Whitmer, the Acton Center for Social Flourishing project manager, talks to Ismael about his new book, the current state of global charity, and the value of every person. Subscribe to our podcasts Rethinking Charity: Restoring Dignity to Poverty Relief

For this episode of Acton Line, we’re bringing you one of the plenary talks from Acton University 2024. In this talk, Dr. Umi Waheeda, co-founder of the Al Ashriyyah Nurul Iman Islamic boarding school in West Java, Indonesia, shares her journey of transforming lives through education and entrepreneurship. Founded in 1998 during the Indonesian riots, the school provides free education, meals, accommodation, and health services to over 15,000 children, supported by 65 student-run business units. Dr. Waheeda discusses the challenges she faced after her husband's death, her innovative approach to self-sustainability, and her vision of creating entrepreneurs who are job creators rather than job seekers. Her story is a powerful testament to the impact of combining principled entrepreneurship with a commitment to the social good. Acton University is the Acton Institute’s flagship conference, focused on building the foundations of human freedom and exploring the intersection of faith and free markets. To learn more about Acton University, please visit university.acton.org. And to find additional content from previous Acton Universities, visit ondemand.acton.org. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton University Acton On-Demand Heterodox Academy

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Daniel Silliman, historian and news editor for Christianity Today, about his new book, One Lost Soul: Richard Nixon’s Search for Salvation. Silliman argues that Nixon’s life was framed by a fundamentally theological struggle: He wanted to be loved by God but couldn’t figure out how. From an idiosyncratic Quaker childhood, to an explicitly modernist youth and final embrace of a Cold War Christianity, did the president ever find the grace he craved? Subscribe to our podcasts One Lost Soul | Daniel Silliman He Told Richard Nixon to Confess | Daniel Silliman, Christianity Today How Christian fiction shaped a culture and a faith | Acton Line

In this episode, Acton’s director of research, John Pinheiro, speaks to Jeremy Beer from Acton University 2024 about the definition of philanthropy, the importance of philanthropy today, and why finding a way to connect identities is the key to success. Subscribe to our podcasts Jeremy Beer | AmPhil Acton University Acton On-Demand

In this episode, Acton director of marketing and communications Eric Kohn talks to Kevin Vallier about his book “All the Kingdoms of the World,” the conversations he’s had with young college students interested in ideas like Catholic integralism and post-liberalism, and where he thinks movements rooted in those ideas are at today. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton University Kevin Vallier All the Kingdoms of the World The Rise and Fall of American Integralism | The Dispatch

In today’s episode, we bring you one of the plenary talks from Acton University 2024. Here Dr. John Tomasi, a distinguished political philosopher and president of Heterodox Academy, delves into the critical role played by universities in supporting a free society. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton University Acton On-Demand Heterodox Academy

Each summer, the Acton Institute welcomes a cohort of students to Grand Rapids, Michigan, as part of our Emerging Leaders Program. This leadership-development program is not your typical internship. Students from across the United States and around the globe get to participate in eight weeks of seminars, networking, and Acton events to develop professional experience, grow their network, and go deeper into the ideas of a free and virtuous society. In this episode, Noah Gould, Acton alumni and student programs manager, talks to three Emerging Leaders about how they found Acton, how they’ve spent their summer, and how they’ll take what they’ve learned into their future vocations. Emerging Leaders Program

Common ground is hard to find in today’s politics. In a society teeming with irreconcilable political perspectives, many people have grown frustrated under a system of government that constantly demands compromise. More and more Americans on both the right and the left have come to blame the Constitution for the resulting discord. But the Constitution is not the problem; it’s the solution, says Yuval Levin in his new book, American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—And Could Again. In today’s episode, Acton director of marketing and communications Eric Kohn talks to Yuval about his new book, the constitution, and how a proper understanding of our system of government can heal our broken politics. Subscribe to our podcasts American Covenant | Basic Books Yuval Levin | American Enterprise Institute

In this episode, Eric Kohn, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, sits down with financial expert David Bahnsen to discuss the current state of the American and global economies, where inflation is at, and the role of the Federal Reserve. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton University Acton On-Demand Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life | David Bahnsen

In the 34-year history of the Acton Institute, never have we had an opportunity to combine Ludwig Von Mises and the Austrian school of economics with mixed martial arts. That is, until Renato Moicano presented us with just that opportunity at Acton University 2024. Hailing from Brazil, Renato has been a professional MMA fighter since 2010 and currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Rather than boasting about himself after a match in April, he took the opportunity to express his enthusiasm for the U.S. Constitution, private property, the Second Amendment—and then gave a shout-out to Ludwig Von Mises and the Austrian school of economics. After this viral clip caught our attention, we welcomed Renato to Acton University 2024 for a conversation with Acton’s co-founder and president emeritus, Fr. Robert Sirico. In this episode, we bring you that conversation. Subscribe to our podcasts Watch the video here Acton University Acton On-Demand Renato Moicano

Gurcharan Das was born in Lyallpur, Punjab, during World War II. His mother noted in her diary that he was a restless child, and by age 3 was a “troublemaker.” He discovered one day, however, that he could also run—and he’s been running ever since. Gurcharan set out to become an engineer but wound up with a philosophy degree from Harvard instead. From there he abandoned a promising academic career to become a salesman for Vicks VapoRub in India’s colorful bazaars, eventually leading him to become CEO of Procter & Gamble India. Then, at the peak of his professional life, he walked away from his corporate identity to become a celebrated writer and public intellectual. He’s written on the classical Indian goals of the ideal life, political reforms around the world, and most recently a memoir entitled Another Sort of Freedom. In this episode, Acton librarian and research fellow Dan Hugger speaks with Gurcharan from Acton University 2024 about his writing, politics in India, and pursuing a life of action. Subscribe to our podcasts Gurcharan Das Another Sort of Freedom | Penguin

For four days each summer, Acton University brings together from around the developing and the developed worlds leaders in business, academia, and the church, as well as students of all ages, for a four-day exploration of theology, philosophy, entrepreneurship, international development, and market-based economics. Hundreds of attendees from more than 75 different countries pack our venue in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to listen to dozens of experts bring thought-provoking presentations on the intellectual and practical foundations of a free society. As you can imagine, a lot goes into putting on a conference of this scale. Most of this work is done by Acton’s programs team under the leadership of Dan Churchwell, director of programs and education. In this episode of Acton Line, Acton’s director of marketing and communications, Eric Kohn, talks to Dan about Acton University—what makes it unique and why you should attend. Subscribe to our podcasts Acton Institute Acton University Contact the Acton Programs Team Acton On-Demand

Resources on Catholic and Protestant social thought abound, but where are the resources for answers to the social question to be found in Eastern Orthodoxy? Dylan Pahman, executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality and research fellow at the Acton Institute, has spent his career tracking them down. In this interview, he and Acton’s librarian and research associate, Dan Hugger, explore the nature and unique approach of Orthodox Christian social thought. Then they drill down into the history of Orthodox communities in the Middle East and their creative responses to invasion, conquest, and flux that allowed them to flourish until the 20th century. The example of these communities demonstrates that the universal call to holiness can be embraced even in the most trying circumstances. Subscribe to our podcasts Notes on Arab Orthodoxy Samuel Noble and Alexander Treiger, The Orthodox Church in the Arab World, 700–1700 Constantin Alexandrovich Panchenko, Arab Orthodox Christians Under the Ottomans 1516–1831 Thomas Wright, Early Travels in Palestine Isaac of Nineveh, Mystic Treatises John of Damascus, Writings

That America has a weight problem is no surprise. According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 70% of Americans are overweight or obese. A wide variety of so-called solutions are on offer from diet gurus, traditional healthcare practitioners, and social media fitness influencers. One need only browse the shelves of bookstores or an Instagram feed to find details of all different kinds of diets promising how “this one weird trick” will help you lose weight quickly, keep it off, and live a healthier life. And yet Americans’ obesity problem persists. How can those in the church find the narrow gate of healthy living and avoid the wide road of bodily destruction without judgment and shame? On this episode, Acton director of marketing and communications Eric Kohn talks to Acton distinguished research fellow Anthony Bradley and Dr. Michael Jones about their coauthored essay in the Spring 2024 issue of Religion & Liberty entitled “A C.L.E.A.N. Diet for the Overweight Christian,” which explores the relationship between diet, health, and the Christian faith. Subscribe to our podcasts Subscribe to Religion & Liberty A C.L.E.A.N. Diet for the Overweight Christian | Religion & Liberty Online Resources from Dr. Michael Jones

In 2022, the Acton Institute launched The Collins Center for Abrahamic Heritage. The mission is to advance research and education on economics, liberty, and human flourishing from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic perspectives. As part of this mission, earlier this year the Collins Center launched a debate series on the relationship between government and religion, featuring robust dialogue between scholars and leaders of different faiths. On today’s episode, we present to you the second of these debates. Moderated by Acton’s director of research, John Pinheiro, senior editor of The European Conservative Sebastian Morello and professor of philosophy at Bowling Green State University Kevin Vallier discuss whether government and religion really should be separate. Subscribe to our podcasts The Collins Center for Abrahamic Heritage DEBATE: Sebastian Morello vs. Kevin Vallier | Christianity and the State

During times of extreme divisiveness, civility can help us transcend important differences and flourish amid them. It is through true civility, the recognition of the innate dignity of others, that we can bridge social, cultural, and political disagreements. In this episode, Alexandra Hudson discusses her new book, “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves,” with Acton’s director of programs and education, Dan Churchwell. How can we empower people to live tolerantly with others? How should our shared humanity inform the respect that we have for others with different lives and opinions? We can’t change others, but if enough of us choose civility, we might be able to change the world. Subscribe to our podcasts The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves | Alexandra Hudson Acton Lecture Series

On today’s episode, Acton librarian and research associate Dan Hugger sits down with Acton research director John Pinheiro to talk about the state of higher education in America and contrast it with the philosophy of liberal learning advanced by the late Fr. James V. Schall, S.J. Has philosophy fled the academy? How does the crisis in higher education compromise the teaching and learning of the liberal arts? What are the perils and promises of liberal learning outside the university? Are the “Great Books” the solution to the crisis? What role should the Christian faith play in higher education? What practical steps can students and teachers take to advance liberal learning in institutions uncongenial to the cultivation of wisdom and virtue? Subscribe to our podcasts Education for a Free Society | Acton Line Podcast Rumble in the Christian College Jungle | Acton Unwind Podcast On Christians and Prosperity | James V. Schall The Great Books: Enemies of Wisdom? | Frederick Wilhelmsen A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning | James V. Schall, S.J. Another Sort of Learning | James V. Schall, S.J. The Life of the Mind: On the Joys and Travails of Thinking | James V. Schall On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs: Teaching, Writing, Playing, Believing, Lecturing, Philosophizing, Singing, Dancing | James V. Schall Education of a Wandering Man: A Memoir | Louis L'Amour Philosophy as a Way of Life | Pierre Hadot The Book of Chuang Tzu | Martin Palmer, Elizabeth Breuilly (translators)

In 2022, the Acton Institute launched The Collins Center for Abrahamic Heritage to advance research and education from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic perspectives on economics, liberty, and human flourishing. As part of its mission, the Collins Center earlier this year launched a debate series on the relationship between government and religion, featuring robust dialogue between scholars and leaders of different faiths. On today’s episode, we present the first of these debates: dean of the Islamic Seminary of America Yasir Qadhi and Cato senior fellow Mustafa Akyol exchange a wide range of ideas on Islam and the state. The dialogue is moderated by Collins Center manager Nathan Mech. Subscribe to our podcasts The Collins Center for Abrahamic Heritage DEBATE: Yasir Qadhi vs. Mustafa Akyol | Islam and the State

The modern world is a busy and complicated place for Christians. Obligations to jobs, friends, and family, along with personal interests, frequently overshadow our relationship with Christ. In spite of all this, John Michael Talbot shows there are many ways to deepen a connection to Christ with a busy life. He's written 28 books, produced 59 music albums, and still maintains an active ministry from Little Portion Hermitage in Arkansas, where he teaches the importance of community living and finding inspiration in the Scriptures. In this episode, Acton's director of research, John Pinheiro, speaks to John Michael about converting to Christianity, the choice to live the monastic life, and the challenges of following Christ in today’s world. Subscribe to our podcasts John Michael Talbot Late Have I Loved You | Troubadour

When celebrated American novelist and short story writer Flannery O’Connor died at the age of 39 in 1964, she left behind an unfinished third novel titled, “Why Do the Heathen Rage?” Scholarly experts uncovered and studied the material, deeming it unpublishable. It stayed that way for 40 years. Until now. For the past 10-plus years, award-winning author Jessica Hooten Wilson has explored the 378 pages of typed and handwritten material of the novel—transcribing pages, organizing them into scenes, and collating everything to provide a glimpse into what O’Connor might have planned to publish. “Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress” is the result. In this episode, Acton alumni and student programs manager Noah Gould speaks to Jessica Hooten Wilson about introducing O’Connor’s unfinished novel to the public for the first time. Subscribe to our podcasts Why Do the Heathen Rage | Jessica Hooten Wilson How Racist Was Flannery O'Connor? | The New Yorker There the Story Stops: Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage? | Sally Thomas, RLO

There is no question today that new technology is changing the way we think about and experience work. Speculation abounds about how the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies will affect the workplace. Worries about machines replacing humans on the job are common. Others, however, are optimistic about the way AI is changing how we work—they see AI as an important tool to promote better efficiency and productivity in the workplace. How will AI change the way work is done? How will it affect the workforce? How will it affect the economy? To answer some of these questions and more, we bring you a panel discussion from our February Business Matters Conference. Acton’s director of programs and education, Dan Churchwell, leads Brent Orrell, Mark Johnson, and Máté Csak in a conversation looking to the future of work and the role disruptive technology will play in it. Subscribe to our podcasts Business Matters 2024: Hope for Work and Enterprise | Acton On-Demand

Gertrude Himmelfarb was one of the foremost historians of Victorian life. She produced page-turning biographies of some of the age’s most intriguing and influential figures, including Lord Acton, Charles Darwin, John Stuart Mill, and George Eliot. She also produced social histories of the period and brought a Victorian sensibility to American politics as a leading conservative public intellectual. In this episode, Acton librarian and research associate Dan Hugger speaks with Nicole Penn, author of an essay just published in National Affairs entitled “The Historian’s Craft,” which deftly explores the life and legacy of one of the conservative movement’s most accomplished women. Subscribe to our podcasts The Historian's Craft | National Affairs Middlemarch | George Eliot The Roads to Modernity: The British, French, and American Enlightenments | Gertrude Himmelfarb The Moral Imagination: From Adam Smith to Lionel Trilling: Gertrude Himmelfarb Write like a Man: Jewish Masculinity and the New York Intellectuals: Ronnie Grinberg Lord Acton: A Study in Conscience and Politics | Gertrude Himmelfarb The Idea of Poverty: England in the Early Industrial Age | Gertrude Himmelfarb The New History and the Old: Critical Essays and Reappraisals, Rev. Ed. | Gertrude Himmelfarb Glad to the Brink of Fear | Nicole Penn A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women's Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870 | Laurel Thatcher Ulrich The Forgotten Greatness of PV Narasimha Rao | The Seen and the Unseen Historian of the Liberal Paradox | Gertrude Himmelfarb Remembering Gertrude Himmelfarb with Yuval Levin | Acton Line Learning from Victorian Virtues | Interview with Gertrude Himmelfarb

Many Christian congregations now offer hybrid worship services: you can worship in person or online. While these options have become increasingly popular, our understanding of them has not kept pace. Furthermore, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence will only complicate matters further. The contemporary church needs a way to make sense of the dizzying influx of emerging technologies, practices, and possibilities. In this episode, Acton director of programs and education Dan Churchwell talks to Rev. A Trevor Sutton, senior pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan, and coauthor of “Redeeming Technology,” about hybrid worship, the effect AI will have on the church, and how to respond to concerns from laity and clergy alike. AI and the Discipline of Human Flourishing | Religion & Liberty Online Church in a Digital Age: Must We Worship Bodily to Worship at All? ‘Redeeming Technology’ | Concordia Publishing House Acton Lecture Series

In this episode, Noah Gould, Acton’s alumni and student programs manager, speaks to Jane Clark Scharl about her verse play, Sonnez Les Matines, which asks, What if John Calvin, Ignatius of Loyola, and Francois Rabelais had their convictions put to the test while navigating their involvement in a brutal crime? Subscribe to our podcasts Sonnez Les Matines | Wiseblood Books Calvin, Loyola, Rabelais: A Murder Mystery | Religion & Liberty The Violent Faith of Cormac McCarthy | Acton Unwind

Our culture tells parents there’s one best way to raise kids: enroll them in a dozen activities, protect them from trauma, and get them into the most expensive college possible. If you can’t do all that, don’t even bother. How’s that strategy going? Record rates of anxiety, depression, medication, debts, loneliness, and more. In his new book, Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be, bestselling author and father of six Timothy P. Carney says it’s time to end this failed experiment. In this episode, Acton director of marketing and communications Eric Kohn speaks to Carney about why he wrote his new book, why we should have more kids, and how to give kids deeper meaning for their lives than material success. Subscribe to our podcasts Family Unfriendly | HarperCollins