Faith and Law

From the earliest years after the death and resurrection of Christ, the affirmation "Jesus is Lord," that is, Jesus is King, has been the fundamental Christian confession of faith.  But is he King? And if he is, what difference does it make in the corridors of power and in everyday living?Support the show

A comprehensive report just out from the non-partisan Pew Research Center confirms findings from its previous reports: Almost three-quarters of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is severely restricted. These consistent findings raise significant moral, humanitarian, and national security issues for the United States. For more than 15 years, the US has had a statutory requirement to advance religious freedom in its foreign policy. Unfortunately, America's IRF policy has accomplished precious little under three administrations. Farr will discuss the high stakes in religious persecution, the reasons for US failures, and how we might succeed should we choose to do so.Support the show

Christians and all people of good will should be concerned about poverty at home and abroad, and want to do something about it. Unfortunately, there is strong disagreement about how to do so. One way to resolve the disagreement is to consider the top ten conditions that allow countries to prosper, the lack of which correlates with poverty. Since there is one known pathway to widespread prosperity, the prudent strategy is to help others find their way up the path, rather than seeking to forge a new and untested one.Support the show

Conservatives are known for their love of liberty, but what about justice? Do conservatives love justice, too, and if so why don't they talk more about it? Henry Olsen will discuss these questions in the context of conservatism's continued electoral challenges.Support the show

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While expressions of faith remain common in political discourse today, the actual policy decisions of political leaders seem less connected to that faith. Today, too, our culture - while still seeming to expect a president to have a faith - rejects faith as an explanation for those decisions. Ronald Reagan's faith, however, was a driver of some of his most profound moments as President--including the breaking up of the Communist Bloc.Rev. John Boyles is a former pastor of National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, the church of President Ronald Reagan during his Adminstration. Rev. Boyles served under President Reagan as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Ethical Values. As the President's minister he made a pastoral visit to the persecuted Russian Pentacostals taking refuge in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. During the Reagan Administration, Rev. Boyles set up the first VOA international broadcast of an English language Christmas Eve service in 1982 into the Soviet bloc, broadcast from President Reagan's church. A graduate of Yale Divinity School, Boyles became Presbyterian Chaplain at Yale and associate pastor of the Church of Christ in Yale and as Director of Dwight Hall, the university's community service and religious activities organization.Support the show