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Welcome to Wheatley Institute

Learn more about our mission and who we are.
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Religious Freedom Annual Review

Religion, Peace, and Human Flourishing: Understanding the Whys of Religious Freedom
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Strengthening society through research-supported work that fortifies the core institutions of family, religion, and constitutional government.

INITIATIVES

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BYU Devotional: Paul Lambert

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Tuesday, July 29
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Pluralism and the Purpose of the University

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday, September 18
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Repairing the Breach in a Time of Toxic Polarization

December 10, 2024 05:34 PM
On December 3, Wheatley Institute joined the National Institute for Civil Discourse for an inspiring event at Temple Emanuel in Denver. Speakers included Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis, former Republican Colorado Governor Bill Owens, and Paul Edwards, director of Wheatley Institute.
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The Tides of Religion

November 19, 2024 06:00 AM
While 84% of the world’s population still affiliates with a faith of some sort, there are clear indicators that people in the United States and elsewhere are abandoning religion. This shift toward secularization may have significant social and psychological consequences, because religion is often linked to better mental health, stronger social ties, and increased rates of marriage and childbearing. This report examines who and how many are leaving religion, which faiths are most affected by disaffiliation, individual and social consequences of a decline in religiosity, and factors increasing the likelihood of returning to faith.
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The Pursuit of Happiness

November 13, 2024 04:00 PM
Wheatley Institute and the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies welcomed Jeff Rosen to BYU campus on Nov 13, 2025 as he spoke on his recent book, "The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America," a New York Times bestseller and an enriching examination of what “the pursuit of happiness” meant to our nation’s Founders and how that famous phrase defined their lives and became the foundation of our democracy.
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What is uniquely special about America?

June 24, 2025 01:10 PM
In his recent Deseret News op-ed, Wheatley Institute Fellow Jeremy Pope explores what truly sets America apart—not its power, but its founding principles. He argues that the nation's exceptionalism lies in the revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality, and self-government articulated between 1765 and 1800. At a time when political rhetoric can obscure these foundations, his piece is a timely reminder of the enduring value of America’s constitutional commitments.
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State May Not Discriminate Among Faiths in Determining What Activity Counts as Religious

June 11, 2025 01:05 PM
Wheatley Constitutional Government Initiative Director James C. Philips contributed an article to the Federalist Society about a recent Supreme Court case regarding the tax-exempt status of Catholic charities in Wisconsin.
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Wheatley Fellow Jeff Flake Reflects on America’s Foreign Policy Responsibilities

May 29, 2025 11:05 AM
In his latest opinion piece for The Washington Post, Wheatley Fellow and former U.S. Senator Jeff Flake reflects on the importance of congressional leadership in shaping American foreign policy. He underscores the need for principled engagement on the global stage and calls on lawmakers to uphold the values that have long guided U.S. diplomacy.
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