In a recent Acton lecture, Greg Forster highlights the work of Whittaker Chambers, the former Soviet spy who converted to Christianity and became one of the most influential public voices in the fight against Communism. Chambers’ most famous and enduring work, Witness, is an astounding personal memoir and a literary treasure. It transcends genres, mixing the thrills of espionage and political intrigue with quiet spiritual reflections and jaw-dropping forays into moral philosophy, all in the service of a simple but...

Soon after Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the church door at Wittenberg (if he even did), Protestants began to be blamed for unleashing many of the destructive influences of Western Civilization. As a Baptist, I thinkthe criticisms are overstated (and thatthe good of the Reformation far outweighs the bad) but they aren’t wholly without merit. There is more than a grain of truth that anunintended effect of the Protestant Reformation was to increase the rapid expansion of secularization....

Many of us thought it was empty rhetoric or that an advisor who had read an economics textbook would talk him out of it. But yesterday President Trump announced he’ll keep his campaign promise to start a trade war by slapping tariffs of 25 percent on foreign-made steel and 10 percent on aluminum. On Twitter, the president followed up with the bafflingly, ment that, When a country (USA) is losing many billions of dollars on trade with virtually every country...

You probably haven’t even heard about it, but yesterday there was an exchange in the Supreme Court that future generations will regard as one of the most significant revelations of our political era. The case of Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky concerns a Minnesota statute that broadly bans all political apparel at the polling place. When Andrew Cilek went to vote in 2010, he wore a shirt bearing the image of the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and a button...

Last night, Coco joined the elite group of animated films to win a “grand slam”: the Golden Globe, BAFTA, theAnnie Award,andan Oscar. Neither of the victories at last night’s 90th annual Academy Awards came as a surprise – fans have dubbed the Best Animated Feature Film category “the Pixar award” – but the blockbuster’s plot touches on how the free market rewards or rebuffs unethical practices, how technological progress brings justice, and the eternal significance of vocation and memory. The...

As the UK beds down for the night, it is blanketed with government alerts that traveling out into the snow-covered landscape might prove deadly – as it already has for 10 people ranging in age from seven to 75. The snowfall may total more than 19 inches, as Storm Emma collides with the “Beast from the East.” Subzero temperatures also strained energy supplies on Thursday, triggering the largest spike in consumer demand in eight years. While far from perfect, the...

The UK government has crafted an educational mandate for religious schools that Sohrab Ahmari at Commentary calls “Orwellian.” Under the proposal, all schools would be required to teach children from age 4 and up “age-appropriate” content that includes information about same-sex marriage and transgenderism. Catholics, evangelicals, Orthodox Jews, Muslims, and others with traditional views on sex and gender would have ply. No exceptions. He notes that a senior government adviser stated it is “not OK for Catholic [or other religious]...

Note: This is post #70 in a weekly video series on basic economics. GDP is the market value of all finished goods and services, produced within a country in a year. But what does “market value” mean? And what defines a “finished good”? In this video, Marginal Revolution University helps us make sense of this important economic indicator by explaining how GDP puted. You’ll learn whythe eggs in your homemade omelet part of the GDP, but the eggs your baker...

‘A statue of Adam Smith on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile’ by Zenit CC BY-SA 3.0 At this year’s LibertyCon Byran Caplan, Economist at George Mason University, and Elizabeth Bruenig, columnist for the Washington Post, debated the perennial question of ‘Socialism vs. Capitalism.’ Both Caplan and Bruenig have posted their opening statements and it is an interesting and engaging exchange. Caplan is charitable, well-reasoned, and clear and Bruenig is both gracious and an engaging storyteller. Bruenig’s story while superficially plausible makes many...

Today The Instituto Juan de Mariana has awarded the “Premio Juan de Mariana” to Acton’s Director of International Outreach Alex Chafuen. This award recognizes an exemplary career in the defense of freedom and liberty. The Juan de Mariana Prize is presented at the Freedom Dinner as a part of Freedom Week. Chafuen was recognized especially for his work at the Atlas Network. During 26 years with Chafuen in a leading role, Atlas brought together more than 450 institutions from almost...