Anthony Gill, a political science professor at the University of Washington, dives into the intricate relationship between politics and religious freedom. He explores the historical conditions that have shaped religious liberties and examines the U.S. Constitution's commitment to religious freedom. Gill also discusses the economic factors influencing faith in early America, alongside the shifting stances of political leaders in various countries on religious rights. Additionally, he contemplates the resilience of religion in a secular world and its impact on societal norms.
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Religious Liberty's Origins
Religious liberty arose from practical needs, not just philosophical ideals.
Economic necessity, like the need to populate colonies, drove early adoption of religious freedom.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Latin American Examples
Chile and Brazil adopted religious freedom early due to their dependence on trade.
Argentina reversed its tolerance under Perón to gain political favor from the Catholic Church.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Religious Freedom in Russia
Russia initially embraced religious liberty after the Soviet Union's fall.
Later, it clamped down to bolster the Orthodox Church and national identity under Putin.
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Published in 1776, 'The Wealth of Nations' is Adam Smith's magnum opus that laid the groundwork for modern economics. The book critiques mercantilist economic theories and introduces the concept of the 'invisible hand,' which describes how individual self-interest leads to societal benefit. It emphasizes the division of labor, the accumulation of capital, and the importance of free markets. Smith argues that a nation's wealth is not measured by its gold and silver reserves but by the stream of goods and services it produces. The book also outlines the core functions of government, such as maintaining defense, enforcing civil law, and promoting education, while advocating for limited government intervention in market activities.
Preference Falsification
Preference Falsification
Timur Kuran
The Political Origins of Religious Liberty
The Political Origins of Religious Liberty
Anthony Gill
Throughout history, wars have been fought for the sake of religious liberty. So how have political systems expanded religious freedoms, and is it only done to benefit those in power? Anthony Gill, a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington, sits down to share his thoughts on this intriguing subject.
Professor Gill has dedicated much of his career to the research of political economy and religion & politics. Narrowing his focus on church-state relations, religious liberty, and religious economies, he is on a mission to flush out how the expansion of religious liberty occurred – and what gave rise to it. This resulted in him writing Political Origins of Religious Liberty, a representation of this research all in one place…
In this episode, we cover the following:
The conditions that are necessary for there to be religious liberty.
Why the U.S. put religious freedom into its constitution.
What led Professor Gill to pursue the economic study of religion.
To learn more about Professor Gill and his work, click here now!
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