Anew study by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the John Templeton Foundation reports on the extent to which governments and societies around the world impinge on religious beliefs and practices. Here are seven figures you should know from the latest study ontrends in religious hostilities: 1. Of the 198 countries included in the study—covering 99.5 percent of the world’s population—105 (53 percent) experienced widespread government harassment of religious groups, up from 85 (43 percent) in 2014 and 96 (48 percent)...

Note: This is post #29 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. If price controls have negative consequences—and they do—then why do governments enact them? In this video by Marginal Revolution University, economist Alex Tabarrok looks at the example of President Nixon’s wage and price controls in the 1970s. These price controls were popular, because the American public didn’t think that the price controls were to blame for things such as long lines at the fuel pump. Without knowledge...

People of faith in Europe increasingly face exclusion from whole professions because of their moral beliefs. I write about the latest chapter in this tale – how disregarding the free market helped cause it, and how free market economic principles can help alleviate it – in a mentary for The Steam. Ellinor Grimmark, the midwife at the heart of the Swedish court case. Last week, the Swedish Labour Court ruled against Ellinor Grimmark, a pro-life midwife who has been denied...

The faith-work movement has had great success in helping Christians connect daily work with spiritual calling, leading many to shift their approach to economic stewardship. For some, that will translate into a more basic shift in attitude, with continued service at an pany or a long-standing industry. For others, however, it may manifest in sheer economic disruption. Indeed, from Appalachia to Minnesota, churches are increasing their focus not only on the glories of work in general, but of innovation, entrepreneurship,...

Cuban officials have announced the island is turning to genetically modified organisms (GMO) to help feed its increasingly hungry population. Hunger is spreading in Cuba, something officials ascribe to higher levels of tourism. Tourists can afford to pay more for food, so they outbid the native population. The New York Times wrote that food insecurity is “upsetting the very promise of Fidel Castro’s Cuba” (though, in their defense, his reign owed much to their coverage). But Cuba’s use of GMOs,...

Late 16th century icon of Jesus’s decent to Hades and resurrection by Markos Bathas (1498-1578). Public domain. This Sunday Christians all over the world (East and West together this year!) celebrated Easter or Pascha, the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the holiest day of the liturgical year, the beginning of a festive season that lasts for the next forty days. I’m Greek Orthodox, and in Orthodox churches (and Eastern rite Catholic churches) it is traditional for the priest...

On Tuesdaymorning, UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she is proposing a snap election for Parliament on June 8. The House of Commons is likely to authorize the vote on Wednesday, leaving just 49 days until the third national election in three years. Here’s what you need to know. Why is Theresa May calling for this vote now? May says political opposition from the Labour Party, Scottish nationalists, and “unelected members of the House of Lords” is undermining her...

Because of a quirk of the calendar, today (April 18) is tax day, the day when individual e tax returns are due to the federal government. Here are five facts you should know about taxes and tax day: 1. In 1954 the deadline for filing federal taxes was set as April 15. If the 15th falls on weekend, the deadline is moved to Monday. But this Monday was Emancipation Day, a memorating the abolition of slavery in the District of...

Public Domain Last week Dr. Jonathan S. Marko, Assistant Professor of Philosophical & Systematic Theology at Cornerstone University, spoke before some Acton Staff and local scholars on John Locke and the role of Scripture in public morality. The talk, “‘Ready Dug and fashioned’: John Locke on Scripture’s Primacy for Public Morality,” was followed by a lively question and answer session in which Dr. Marko graciously took on ers helping us better understand Locke’s moral philosophy and personal religious convictions. Dr....

Public Domain Scholars from the Acton Institute will be speaking at The Henry Symposium on Religion and Public Life. The Symposium will be held April 27th – 29th, 2017 at the Prince Conference Center on the campus of Calvin College. On Friday April 28th from 8:15 AM to 10:00 AM Dr. Andrew McGinnis and Dylan Pahman will both be presenting papers on the panel Blurring at the Boundaries? Lines Between the Spheres in 19th Century Presbyterian and Reformed Social Thought....