Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Religious Freedom and the Common Good
Religious Freedom and the Common Good
Feb 20, 2026 5:22 AM

What is the best test of mon good? How do you know if you have a society characterized by the flourishing of persons munity? Andy Crouch argues that we should look at the flourishing of the most vulnerable.

“There are all kinds of conditions in which the affluent, privileged, powerful majority can flourish,” notes Crouch in his talk at QIdeas in Nashville. “But the far more demanding test in any society is the fate of the most vulnerable—the youngest, the oldest, the most frail, the most marginalized.”

Crouch contends that “If you care about the flourishing of persons—especially the vulnerable munity—you will care about freedom of religion.”

(Via: Justin Taylor)

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Making college expensive by making it free
“Most Christians would agree that more flourishing is good and that educational choice is important for us to enhance our God-given creativity,” says Anne Rathbone Bradley in this week’s Acton Commentary. “The question over which many Christians disagree is the means for making these desires possible. Are the tools of policy the best mechanism for increasing educational choice and quality? Or is that better left to the market?” The debate continues but now with a new policy twist. On April...
7 Figures: Restrictions on religion around the globe
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)...
What you need to know about the UK snap election on June 8
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...
Radio Free Acton: Micah Watson on C.S. Lewis and the dangers of democratic education
On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we’re joined by Micah Watson, the William Spoelhof Teacher-Scholar Chair at Calvin College, to discuss the views of C.S. Lewis on democracy, specifically as they relate to the area of education. Lewis was not a fan of democracy, and worried about the effect of democratic inclinations within a culture on the quality of education systems. Watson – joined by Acton Institute Senior Research Fellow Jordan Ballor and Director of Programs and Education Paul...
Hades is a bad economist
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...
Why do governments enact price controls?
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...
Acton Institute scholars at The Henry Symposium on Religion and Public Life
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....
Start-ups for the kingdom: How a Cincinnati church is empowering entrepreneurs
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,...
Understanding the President’s Cabinet: Energy Secretary
Note: This is post #13 in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introductionhere. Cabinet position:Secretary of Energy Department:U.S. Department of Energy Current Secretary:Rick Perry Succession:The Energy Secretary is fifteenth in the presidential line of succession. Department Mission:“The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.” (Source) Department Budget:$32.5 billion...
5 Facts about taxes and tax day
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...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved