Lectures

Dr. David I. Smith, a Calvin College Professor and Director of the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, has spent his life developing ways to incorporate the Christian values he holds dear into the secular language subjects he loves to teach. In this speech given on March 1 at Brigham Young University, he gives his advice on how to bridge the gap between the two, thus creating an improved learning experience for both teachers and students. He challenges academic norms that have crept into every subject and that cause students to see subjects in a selfish and 2 dimensional way. His discussion is a battle cry to teachers of faith everywhere to teach better, more engaging, and unusual lessons; and not be afraid to use their values to enrich every facet of their teaching.

John D. Caputo discusses the complexities of post-modern religious sentiments.

Robert P. George, McCormick Chair of Jurisprudence, Princeton University, sat down with Richard N. Williams, Director of the Wheatley Institute. Robert P. George discusses the roles of public intellectuals, the virtue of dispassion, and dedicating our lives to the pursuit of truth. George talks about how he came to be involved in the academic field. They delve into the question of why do we argue, and understanding marriage and the importance of conjugal marriage. Religious liberty as a foundational liberty.

Lisa Miller, Professor & Director of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, discusses spiritual development as it pertains to children and adolescents.

Robert P. George is the McCormick Chair in Jurisprudence at Princeton University. In this lecture he discusses just and unjust laws, and political morality. George talks of humanity's ability to flourish or fail to flourish, what religion is, and faith's incapability to be coerced. He goes through and analyzes a quotation from Nostra Aetate, the Declaration of the Church to Non-Christian Religions.

James Smith, professor at Calvin College, makes a case against rising secularism, emphasizing the continued presence of spirituality, and he asserts that a secularist explanation of humanity cannot account for spiritually motivated behaviors.

Darin Davis, professor at Baylor University, addresses the pursuit of wisdom in educational objectives, discussing how the emphasis on values has shifted in contemporary moral and intellectual goals of education.

Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, examines what it means to be an interfaith leader, focusing on the difficulties and benefits of diversity.

This distinguished lecture in civic virtue is sponsored by the James Wilson Institute and the Wheatley Institute and presented by Dr. Daniel N. Robinson, a Fellow of the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford University and a former Senior Fellow at the Wheatley Institute.

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, discusses some keys to a happy and prosperous life with points from his new book "The Conservative Heart: How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America."

John Nagl, headmaster of the Haverford School, argues that teaching the next generation of American thinkers and leaders is just as important as fighting enemies on the fields of battle.

Dr. Stacie Molnar-Main discusses the benefits of teaching children how to participate in democracy. She notes different ways to do so and the responsibility each of us have to civic education in the classroom.

William Damon, professor at Stanford University, explains why education ought to focus more on history and civic education to develop successful citizens.

David Matthews, CEO of the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, discusses the Kettering Foundation's research and origin, and examines how people become citizens and make difficult decisions.

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, explains that happiness lies not in material gains, but in finding purpose in what you do.

Matthew Holland, President of Utah Valley University, presents an argument that Christian charity has played a vital role in shaping America's civil society.

Daniel Robinson, fellow at Oxford University, examines methods for successfully educating citizens, and how educational institutions can shape character in ways that render one of value to others. This lecture was read by Dr. Richard Williams during the Civic Virtue, Civic Life conference that was cosponsored by the McKay School of Education and The Wheatley Institute.