The Progressive Movement of the first two decades of the twentieth century was deeply intertwined with religion, especially Christianity. Without its religious impulses and inspiration and the substantial contribution of Christians, Progressivism may never have developed or had the impact … Continue reading
Faith & Society
Progressives and the Founders: On Natural Rights, the Practice of Democracy and the Diffusion of Power
The Progressive Movement at the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century in the United States confronted a political and social environment that was quite different from the time of the American Founders. In 1790 there … Continue reading
Is There a Message in Lincoln’s Religion for Obama?
Since the Rev. Jeremiah Wright incident during the last presidential campaign, there has been low-level grousing by many Christians regarding Obama’s religious convictions. He has claimed to be a Christian, but there is little traditional evidence of a consistent Christian … Continue reading
Honoring the sausage-makers
Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day. Do you recall the old saying attributed to Otto Von Bismarck: “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made”? As fathers were lauded on Sunday, I suspect that most patriarchs were … Continue reading
V&V FLASHBACK — With Father, Through the Valley of Death
Editor’s Note: This article was first published by The Center for Vision & Values on June 18, 2009. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” (Psalm … Continue reading
Helen Thomas Angers Her Media Colleagues—Finally
This week veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas announced her sudden “retirement.” The source was an insight shared by Thomas outside the White House during a Jewish-American Heritage Month celebration.
Tragedy in Amish Country: Living Levi’s Example
I first met Levi almost 20 years ago. He was about 12. We had just purchased our land from his parents, Jake and Nancy. Being old-order Amish, Jake and Nancy needed a ride to the attorney’s office, so we drove … Continue reading
The Crucible of Faith, Freedom, and Learning: Address to the Grove City College Trustee-Faculty Luncheon
Good afternoon, thank you for joining us here today for our annual celebration of, “Wow, we survived another year!” In all seriousness, congratulations to all of you for another excellent year in the precious story we call the history of … Continue reading
Christian: Never Waste a Good Crisis
I agree with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel when he said, “You never want a good crisis to go to waste.” The moral lesson of this month’s Greek financial crisis was papered over by central banks to avert … Continue reading
Commemorating Mao but Not Mother
Where’s Anita Dunn when you need her? Recall Anita Dunn, who resigned as President Obama’s communications director not long after Glenn Beck had the temerity to broadcast her jaw-dropping affirmation, made in a church no less—at a high-school baccalaureate ceremony—that … Continue reading
Pro-Life Death?—Revisited
In November 2008, just after the historic election of Barack Obama, I wrote a piece titled, “Pro-Life Death?” I noted that America’s choice of Obama as president and, equally important, of a massive liberal majority in Congress, constituted the death of the … Continue reading
Death’s Progress
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared in American Thinker. Progressivism is all-the-rage nowadays, with liberals having jettisoned the “liberal” label for the less maligned tag of “progressive.” This is tactical as much as philosophical. It’s fascinating … Continue reading
Old Pencils
The pencils I bought four years ago for my third and fourth grade Sunday school class are getting shorter while the children who have wielded them are growing taller. The school bus yellow paint is chipped and worn. The pink … Continue reading
A Message on “The Progressive Surge and Conservative Crackup?”
Editor’s Note: As we at The Center for Vision & Values prepare to wrap up our sixth annual conference tonight, we would like to thank everyone who participated in “The Progressive Surge and Conservative Crackup?” For those of you who … Continue reading
Poland: Remembering Two Tragedies
The crash of a Polish airplane in the Russian territory of Smolensk last weekend is a stunning tragedy, taking the life of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, and high-level figures in the Polish government. Upwards of 100 people were … Continue reading
The “Social Justice” Fallacy? Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
Many Christians over many years have been beguiled by the Religious Left’s use of the term “social justice.” This is because Christians rightly love justice and hate injustice. But “social justice”—or, at least, how it’s often used by liberal Christians—isn’t … Continue reading
How to Help the Poor
Most Christians today acknowledge that caring for the poor is a biblical requisite. The primary debate among them is over how we can best fulfill this mandate, which more than 2,000 verses of Scripture prescribe. For example, a group of … Continue reading
Christian Charity: Social Justice and the Good Samaritan
Charity—a loving spirit concretely expressed in unselfish good deeds to one’s fellow man—is a primary Christian duty. Nobody who has read the New Testament can come to any other conclusion. In his parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), Jesus … Continue reading
Hillary Clinton and the Mother Teresa Home for Infant Children
Editor’s note: A longer version of this article first appeared in The Weekly Standard. A few years ago, I wrote a book on the faith of Hillary Clinton. Released in 2007, the book flopped, dismissed by conservatives who didn’t believe … Continue reading
How Christian Were the Founders? The Case of Madison and Jefferson
A recent article in the New York Times Magazine, titled “How Christian Were the Founders’” has evoked extensive discussion, as has the decision of the Texas State Board of Education to include more religious content in social studies books, which … Continue reading
