September 2014 Archives

September 23, 2014

More Americans Support Religious Influence on Politics

Americans are tired of religion influencing politics, right? Apparently not. According to a new Pew Research Center study released yesterday, a growing number of Americans think religion is losing influence in American life — and they want religion to play a greater role in U.S. Continue Reading...

September 23, 2014

‘Science:’ You Use The Word, But It Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

“Science.” You know what that means, right? Hard-core facts. Indisputable evidence. No guessing. No “I think.” No opinions. Certainly no faith. If it’s “science,” then there is no arguing. And anybody who doesn’t buy into “science” is clearly wrong. Continue Reading...

September 23, 2014

Religious Proxy Warriors Renew Attack on Fossil Fuels

No sooner does one proxy resolution season end, it seems, then another begins. The religious shareholder activist group As You Sow has announced last week it will continue to push proxy resolutions at Exxon Mobil Corporation in 2015. Continue Reading...

September 23, 2014

Fatherhood and the weight of work in the home

Mothers who have achieved success in corporate America are often asked how they balance the demands of child-rearing with those of their careers, and understandably so. Fathers, on the other hand? Continue Reading...

September 23, 2014

Can Art Help Save The World?

In Grand Rapids, Mich., we await the beginning of ArtPrize tomorrow, the world’s largest free, open-entry art competition. Those of us familiar with ArtPrize know that the entries (remember, ANYone can enter) range from the incredibly ridiculous (bunny mannequins in the Grand River, anyone?) Continue Reading...

September 22, 2014

What Does it Mean to be a Free Person in a Free Society?

Americans in the 21st century are living through a period of rapid social and economic change, says Peter Augustine Lawler and Richard Reinsch, and our established ways of thinking about public questions have not been serving us well. Continue Reading...

September 22, 2014

West Mich. Event: How US and EU Sanctions Affect You

On Tuesday, September 30, 2014, the West Michigan World Trade Association will sponsor a panel discussion: ‘US and EU Sanctions on Russia: How They Affect You.’ Andy Wahl, WMWTA president notes that “This topic is very much on the minds of our members and of critical importance to many in the wider business community.” Continue Reading...

September 22, 2014

The ‘War on Poverty’ and the Unique, Unrepeatable Poor Person

Last week the U.S. Census Bureau released its report, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2013. The agency announced that “in 2013, the poverty rate declined from the previous year for the first time since 2006, while there was no statistically significant change in either the number of people living in poverty or real median household income.” Continue Reading...

September 22, 2014

Don’t Buy The Lie: ‘Freedom To Worship’ Not The Same As Religious Liberty

It seems such a subtle distinction: “freedom to worship” as opposed to “religious freedom.” The phrase, “freedom to worship,” started appearing in 2010, and in 2013, President Obama made the following remarks in his address for the annual Proclamation for Religious Freedom Day: Foremost among the rights Americans hold sacred is the freedom to worship as we choose.” Continue Reading...

September 22, 2014

Welfare, Work, and Dignity

Christians not only have a duty to work for virtue in their souls and the production of material goods in the world, writes Acton’ Dylan Pahman at Humane Pursuits, but also to encourage and enable others to fulfill this divine commandment. Continue Reading...