With our newfound economic prosperity and the political liberalization of the West, we have transitioned into an era of hyper consumerism and choice. This involves all sorts of blessings, to be sure, but it brings its own distinctrisks. Whether it bematerialism or a more basicidolatry of choice, such distortions will be sure todiminish ordisintegrateanynumber of areas across society. But the deleterious effects on the family and children are particularly pronounced. Throughout most of human history, children were most often the...

In “The Elves and the Shoemaker,”the famous fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, a cobbler and his wife struggle to survive, barely making enough to eat (never mind investing in the future of their business). One morning, however, they wake to find that theirlast scraps of leather have been turned into a remarkable pair of shoes. Not knowing the source of such craftsmanship — and apparently incurious — the cobbler sells them off at a higher price, gaining new capital...

In a reply to theologian David Bentley Hart, Acton’s Director of Research Samuel Gregg says that instead of engaging in sweeping condemnations of contemporary capitalism, those concerned about the present state of Western culture should focus upon the theological and philosophical errors shaping our time. In an article praising Pope Francis in the December 2015 edition of First Things, the Orthodox theologian David Bentley Hart confesses his bafflement at “the anxiety, disappointment, or hostility he clearly inspires in certain American...

Note: Don’t take this guy’s ship. It didn’t work out well for the last guy. With the newest installment in the Star Wars universe, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, releasing this Friday, I figured we need more Star Wars posts here at the PowerBlog. (Does the Force tend to corrupt?) Because pletely failed to maintain a cautious optimism and am now totally geeked for the new film, I recently re-watched the original trilogy (not that other one, oh no). Among...

Whether they wear boxers or briefs is none of my concern. Nor do I care whether they choose to use a PC or a Mac. When es to presidential candidates one of the least-asked question I want answered is, “What do you mean when you say ‘middle class?’” This undefined group of citizens seems to be a favorite of politicians on both ends of the political spectrum. Reagan and Bush cut their taxes. Bill Clinton and Obama did too (or...

The rise of Islamic State has led to a renewed focus on the persecution of Christians in Iraq and Syria. But as Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan says, “The whole Middle East, without exception, is presently engulfed by a nightmare that seems to have no end and that undermines the very existence of minorities, particularly of Christians, in lands known to be the cradle of our faith and early munities.” And the problem is not just inthe Middle East.In 2013,...

Around the country,Christian groups on college and universitiesare being told that if they want to stay on campus they promise their mission and principles. AsChris Lawrence of Cru notes, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill denied recognition to a Christian fraternity because it would not agree to open its membership to students of different faiths. Because the mission of Alpha Iota Omega is to train Christian leaders, lawyers for the fraternity say UNC’s action violated the fraternity’s rights...

What if told you that between 90-100 percent of Americans are living in “healthcare poverty.” You would probably object and say that while the country certainly has a healthcare crisis, my numbers are surely inflated. After all, most people in the U.S. have access to healthcare. In reply, I explain that while it’s true most people are able to consume healthcare services, they are still in poverty since those services are paid for at least partially by the government or...

Over at the blog of the Catholic University of America’s School of Business and Economics, Drs. Chad and Brian Engelland, authors of an article on consumerism and the cardinal virtues for an ing issue of the Journal of Markets & Morality, share their insights on the challenge of consumerism in mercial society: Is consumerism an inevitable by-product of capitalism? Brian: Capitalistic systems e with the inherent risk that the acquisition of private property can turn into an excessive drive for...

As Christians living in a secular age, there’s a temptation to useChristmas as a wedge to wage epic new battles to restore Christendom. But despite the flurry of hackneyed “War on Christmas” tropes, there is, alas, something rather amiss. Though the battlefront may not be a petty replacement of “Merry Christmas” with “happy holidays,” society is obviouslydevoid of atrue understanding of theseason, diluting a celebration about theinvasion of heaven to a shallow idolatry of tradition for tradition’s sake. Yet, as...