The Founding of America

I caught today’s Focus on the Family broadcast – which turned out to be Part 2 (of 2) of “The Founding of America,” with David Barton. I’m looking forward to listening to Part One when I can carve out some time later, and to listening to Part Two again. There are suggested resources at the link, including DVDs for teaching history to kids.

So, for me as well as you: Part One. And, Part Two.

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Book note: City of Man

Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner  were on this morning’s Focus on the Family broadcast discussing how Christians can and should engage today’s culture.  Much of the discussion was tied to material covered in their book: City of Man: Religion and Politics in the New Era.

The discussion was worthwhile, and the book sounds like it might be a good one to read.

If nothing else, listen to this 10:16 bonus audio on Early Christian Response to Government. There is much we can learn from people who offered hope during times of severe persecution.

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American Anthem for Life

An EWTN video of the Walk for Life West Coast.

Cross-posted at Ladies for Life.

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“Agenda”: recommended reading list

I hadn’t heard about the film Agenda: Grinding America Down, until today. My internet connection is bad today, so I could only make it through part of the trailer, but what I saw looked promising. Here is the recommended reading list to go along with the documentary.

Agenda won the Best of Festival Jubilee award in 2010 from the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. Press release here. Hmmm. “The 92-minute film was produced and directed by former Idaho legislator Curtis Bowers.” Somebody from my part of the world… And somebody who has seen government from the inside… Interesting.

hat tip: Franklin Springs blog

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“What Education Ought to Be”

Ronald W. Kirk looks at what education used to be like, how it has degenerated, and why it must improve. He especially addresses Christians who have been settling for too little, both in their children’s education, and in their own lives. See: Publisher’s Corner: What Education Ought to Be.

hat tip: Phil

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Boy Scouts in Libya…

… rise to the occasion.

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Our courts having lost their moral way…

… David Bentley Hart makes A Modest Proposal for restoring sanity to our land. You must promise me that you will read all of it if you read any of it.

His colleague at First Things, Hadley Arkes, traces how we got to the present state of insanity, where thugs are protected and decent people are expected to take their blows quietly.

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Letters from an Ohio Farmer

The Letters from an Ohio Farmer so far:

A Constitutional Conversation (February 10, 2011)

An Experiment in Self-Government (February 17, 2011)

Civility and Powers (March 8, 2011)

 

 

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Quote of the Day

‘America was designed by Providence for the theatre on which man was to make his true figure, on which science, virtue, liberty, happiness, and glory were to exist in peace.’

– John Adams, quoted in ‘The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution’, by Bernard Bailyn, p. 20

hat tip: Scott Ott (on Facebook)

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Os Guinness on civility in the public square

A challenge to Christians, to be champions of civility.

An excerpt:

Misunderstandings surround the idea of civility; it’s frequently mistaken for squeamishness about cultural differences, false tolerance or dinner-party etiquette. Classically, civility is a republican virtue, with a small “r,” and a democratic necessity, with a small “d.” It’s the only way you can have a diverse society, freely but civilly, peacefully.

As Christians, we have deeper motivations still [for championing civility]. Followers of Jesus are called to be peacemakers, with truth and grace; Paul asks us to speak the truth with love. We’re called to love our enemies and do good to those who wrong us. This is our Christian motivation for championing the classical virtue of civility.

Freedom of conscience [upholds] the right to believe anything, but the right to believe anything does not mean that anything anyone believes is right. That is nonsense. We have a right and a responsibility to disagree, to debate, to persuade someone that they’re out to lunch. They may be muddle-headed. They may be socially disastrous. They might even be morally evil, but we have a responsibility to disagree civilly.

Read the whole article.

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