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Editor's note
When it comes to our first freedom, perhaps nobody is more engaged in the public square right now than Russell Moore. He is President of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, a theologian, and a dynamic preacher. I knew of Moore long before he was a public figure. We had both worked for the same U.S. Congressman, but at different times. I heard the Congressman and other staffers praise Moore's work, integrity, and his commitment to his faith on many occasions. I was glad to finally connect with him for the purpose of this interview in this issue.Decentralization is a fundamental principle
This is an excerpt from Guidance for Christian Engagement in Government by Abraham Kuyper. It's the first-ever English translation of Kuyper's Our Program, which was published in 1879. The intention of his work was to inform people participating in the Dutch general elections of 1879. The French Revolution was over, but not the dangerous nature of its collectivist ideas.Breaking bread at Acton University
A rabbi, a school teacher, an economics major and a director of a non-profit sit down for a meal: It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but I assure you, it is not. It is lunch at Acton University.Hildegard of Bingen
God has gifted creation with everything that is necessary . . . . Humankind, full of all creative possibilities, is God's work. Humankind is called to co-create . . . . God gave to humankind the talent to create with all the world. Just as the human person shall never end, until into dust they are transformed and resurrected, just so, their works are always visible.Why is Acton accepting Bitcoin donations?
In December of 2013, the Acton Institute started accepting Bitcoin donations. Bitcoin is the first decentralized digital currency that is created and exchanged electronically. While the currency solely exists in an online capacity, it can be transferred or used to purchase non-virtual goods and services. It allows online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through financial institutions.'Knowledge and power': The information theory of capitalism and how it is revolutionizing our world
A review of Knowledge and Power by George Gilder.'Reckoning with Markets: Moral Reflection in Economics'
A review of Reckoning with Markets: The Role of Moral Reflection in Economics by James Halteman and Edd Noell.Double-edged sword: The power of the Word - Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. This passage is unique amongst the Psalms because the refrain "His love endures forever" is repeated throughout all 26 verses of the Psalm. As the British evangelist and theologian Charles Spurgeon points out, "We shall have this [refrain] repeated in every verse of this song, but not once too often." No matter what we give to the Lord or offer Him, He always offers so much more.The tipped scales against our youth
If you listen to any pop-music outlet today, there is a song titled "American Girl" by Bonnie McKee. In the song's chorus, the line states, "I was raised by a television, every day is a competition." It is unclear whether that line was written out of a sociological observation, life experiences of the songs' writers, or simply because it is catchy.Poverty and ultimate riches
An Interview with Fr. James Schall, S.J.Editor's note
It's always appropriate to discuss the tragedy of poverty, perhaps even more so with the approaching 50th anniversary of many of The Great Society programs. Much of America's government centralization has been motivated by movements to alleviate poverty and care for the downtrodden. An iconic Life Magazine photo spread in 1964 titled, "The Valley of Poverty" visualized for Americans haunting images of poverty in Appalachia. But many agree that the government's war on poverty has largely been a failure with devastating consequences.Creative Destruction
It is heart-breaking: a major city in our nation, Detroit, filing for bankruptcy. For anyone having visited Detroit recently, there are prominent images: rows of ruined houses, empty lots given over to weeds and strewn garbage, empty storefronts and graffiti. Just a few decades ago, Detroit was a major hub of industry, vitality and culture.