Faith and Law

Many Americans frame frictions with China not only as a set of conflicting interests to be managed, but as a decisive battle between Democracy and Autocracy, between Good and Evil. In this formulation, our interests are often equated with the maintenance of our power and our power is viewed in millenarian terms. This tendency is baffling not only to our adversaries, but to our allies as well. Why do we lean on normative language whenever we feel threatened? And how can we make convincing arguments about the threat of Chinese Communist Party governance in a complex, skeptical world that does not view the United States as a moral exemplar and or the last hope of Christendom?Robert Daly, Director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars joined us to discuss this timely topic.Support the show

The toxic divisions, cancel culture and partisan hatred that continue to grip America are a challenge not just for our country but for our faith. Many churches are divided, while many Christians are selecting out of churches they've been a part of for a long time to find a church that more fully lines up with their political views. More than a third of pastors have considered quitting their ministries. But faith is also the answer to our polarization.Andrew Hanauer, President and CEO of the One America Movement joined us to discuss this timely and important topic.Support the show

There is much public outcry about the Supreme Court's leaked draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health. Passions are high on both sides of this issue, further fracturing an already divided nation. However, there is one thing that both proponents and opponents of Roe can agree on -- women and children deserve to be empowered with real options and comprehensive care.Studies have shown that approximately 75% of pregnant women seeking abortion would prefer to parent if their circumstances were different. We partnered with Human Coalition to discuss pro-birth and pro-life solutions that can help make abortion unnecessary and unthinkable.Support the show

Many have missed the deep religious significance of Russia’s recent wars, from the “holy war” against ISIS in Syria to recovery of sacred spaces in the Crimea. Dr. Eric Patterson of the Religious Freedom Institutewill identify key features of Russia’s religious diplomacy across the Orthodox world and key religious aspects of Russia’s geo-politics, from Purim’s necklace to Ukrainian denominationalism.Support the show

For much of American history, our country had no formally established church but it did have a soft religious establishment -- Protestant at first and then Judeo-Christian -- that shaped and grounded our national debates. In the 1960s and 1970s, the collapse of the Protestant Mainline dissolved that center, and our culture wars should be understood as the attempts by different forces to fill that void: Evangelicals and Catholics in the George W. Bush era, "awokened" progressivism today. Even in a supposedly secularized society, our conflicts remain religious, reflecting a quest for a moral and metaphysical consensus that, for now, eludes our grasp.We were joined by Ross Douthat, New York Times opinion columnist.Support the show

Religious liberty is having another significant year at the Supreme Court. Luke Goodrich is VP & senior counsel at Becket, where he represents religious organizations and individuals in religious liberty disputes in courts across the country, including in the Supreme Court.  Mr Goodrich broke down the religious liberty cases at SCOTUS this term--from school choice (Carson v. Makin), to public prayer (Kennedy v. Bremerton School District) to religious symbols on government property (Shurtleff v. Boston), to free speech and LGBTQ rights (303 Creative v. Elenis). He also discussed religious liberty cases from the Court’s rocket docket and emergency docket, such as chaplain prayer in the execution chamber (Ramirez v. Collier) and religious exemptions to COVID vaccine mandates. Support the show

In celebration of Second Chance Month, we partnered with Prison Fellowship to gather a panel of experts, law enforcement leaders, and directly impacted voices for a discussion around improving outcomes among the one in three American adults with a criminal record. We are excited for this opportunity to dive into ways to advance second chances, thoughtful alternatives to incarceration, and success in reentry.Support the show

The central question of this cultural moment, the one behind the most difficult issues we face as a society, is what does it mean to be human. Who are we? What is our value? What is our responsibility to one another? The vision of humanity at the heart of the Christian story is true and good, the most compelling account of who we are, and the best opportunity for Christians to offer life and hope to individuals, communities, and cultures. John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center. He’s a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint,the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of The Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics, and cultural issues. Before coming to the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College (TN). John has co-authored five books: A Practical Guide to Culture, A Student’s Guide to Culture, Restoring All Things, Same-Sex Marriage, and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO. Connect with John at BreakPoint.org, or follow him on Twitter (@jbstonestreet).Support the show

In 1973 in Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court found an implied right to abortion in the Constitution. By the end of this term in June, it will rule on a case - Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Women's Health Organization - that challenges the continuing validity of that holding. Professors Helen Alvaré of George Mason Scalia School of Law and William Saunders of The Catholic University of America will discuss the prospects for overturning Roe.Below are three readings that will provide background to the discussion."Roberts's roadmap to reversing Roe v. Wade", Helen Alvaré, The Hill, March 4, 2022.Amicus Brief of 141 International Legal ScholarsBrief of 240 Women Scholars et al In Support of Petitioners DobbsSupport the show

Abandoning the view of human nature that guided the country’s Founders, Americans for two centuries have justified democracy on false and romantic grounds. We think too highly of ourselves, and this comforting misperception magnifies our partisan polarization, intensifies our frustration with democratic institutions, and heightens our susceptibility to authoritarianism. A necessary first step to a healthier democracy will be to redefine ourselves as “We the Fallen People.”During this Friday Forum, Dr. McKenzie argued that we must take an unflinching look at the very nature of democracy—its strengths and weaknesses, what it can promise, and where it overreaches. For further reading, feel free to read Thomas J. Wilson's review of Dr McKenzie's book, "Reappraising American Goodness: A Review of McKenzie’s We the Fallen People" January 26, 2022 in Providence Magazine.Support the show