It is astonishing to see how so many people think unbalanced markets can be regulated into order. They think that stopping abuses with straitjacket regulations will solve all problems. In the case of frenzied markets, this usually addresses the effects not the causes of financial instability. Moreover, most regulations, however good-intentioned, are often circumvented by … Read more
In his masterwork, The City of God, Saint Augustine offers a definition of a people that can shed some light on why we are so fragmented today. He states that a people is “a gathered multitude of rational beings united by agreeing to share the things they love.” In the face of a growing social … Read more
Most people do not realize how the financial systems outside of Christendom were untrustworthy in pre-modern times. The moral structures of the Church created a climate of trust and honesty that was unknown to other civilizations. Historian Rodney Stark relates an astonishing example of the Turks after their defeat in the Battle of Lepanto in … Read more
Modernity is often presented as a negation or suppression of the past. It is considered a novel way of looking at all aspects of society. However, that vision is not based on reality. Modernity did not erase the past but actually built upon it. One of the best definitions of modern history comes from Lord … Read more
The notion of freedom must include a strong dose of self-discipline and restraint. Without this, men cannot be free. The following quote from Edmund Burke (1729-1797) contains timely wisdom for the present. “Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites… Society cannot exist … Read more
The Super Bowl is the most-watched television show in the country. As the premier sports event viewed by tens of millions of Americans, it should reflect the nation and its values. That is not what is happening this year. In fact, for some years now, the organizers of the event have featured performers who send … Read more
The real education of the child begins very early in the child’s development. New research is finding that firm foundations set early are the best guarantee that children will experience success later in life. Liberal educators really do not want to hear such truths. They would prefer to parrot over and over again the mantras … Read more
Upon arriving in Lourdes on pilgrimage on a cold, rainy winter day, I was feeling very much the pilgrim. I was cold, tired, and wet. The long trip had been exhausting and the walk in the drizzling rain from the train station to the hotel had drained me of energy. As I headed to the … Read more
I hate living in a secular world. It involves pretending that we live in a world without God. Religion becomes a personal thing without repercussions in everyday life. In this “real” secular world, God can exist, but not effectively act. Such a perception of God is, of course, false. I would hate to imagine what … Read more
A review of The Age of the Customer: Prepare for the Moment of Relevance by Jim Blasingame, (Florence, AL: SBN Books, 2014). A good book is one that provokes good questions in the mind of the reader. It need not provide all the answers. The important thing is to challenge the person to think about … Read more
