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.

On November 11, Timothy Shriver gave a lecture on “Moving From a Culture that Divides Us to a Culture that Unites Us.” The event was sponsored jointly by the Office of Civic Engagement and the Wheatley Institute. Tim and his growing team at UNITE, are building around a bold vision to promote national unity and mutual respect across differences. They are working to find solutions that transcend tired debates and old divides.

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney in Conversation with Governor Cox

Conversation with Yuval Levin

How resilient are America’s core institutions in the wake of a tumultuous election?

Bill Allen, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy at Michigan State University

Arthur Brooks, outgoing president of the American Enterprise Institute, believes that each American can root out contempt by proactively sharing warm-heartedness.

Robert P. George speaks at the 10th-anniversary celebration for the Wheatley Institute. He speaks about the liberal democracy each of us can participate in and the constitutional rules that empower our society.

Nicholas Eberstadt, Henry Wendt Chair at the American Enterprise Institute and renowned political economist and demographer, offers a unique look into America's biggest demographic crisis yet: men without work. American men seem to be leaving the labor force in greater numbers than at any other time in the history of the world. The problem is uniquely American. Dr. Eberstadt explores why this is happening, what these men are doing instead, and what consequences it has on the American economy and culture.

Dr. Daniel Mark is an expert on family law and government from Villanova University. He speaks about how each of us have an responsibility to promote religious liberty and human rights.