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For immediate release: February 26, 2008
According to Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, professor of Business and Government Policy at Syracuse University's famed Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, it is indeed--or at least seriously handicapped. As lecturer for the Institute's Third Annual Faith and Economics Lecture on Friday, February 15, Dr. Brooks offered a stimulating, fact-filled expose of the roots of charitable behavior in American society. The result? By every empirical standard, he claimed, it appears that faith is the taproot nourishing today's private giving in the American (and, where studied, European) context. In fact, he argued, faith and charity are so closely intertwined in American culture that the increasing secularization of our society jeopardizes not only the unprecedented generosity of our nation but also a number of the social strengths stemming from that generous spirit. But how and why does faith matter to charity? And why should we care?
How? Dr. Brooks noted that faith's relationship to charity could at first appear ambiguous. Consequently, there is, he claimed, a "mixed intuition" afoot that sees "believers" as either more charitable, less charitable or more specifically charitable (i.e., giving only to religious causes). But on the basis of the empirical data now available for American giving behaviors, Dr. Brooks argued that "people of faith outstrip people without faith in charitable giving to both religious and 'purely secular' causes." This is so, he noted, whether the giving in question is "formal" (to and/or through institutional channels) or "informal" (beyond and/or beside institutional channels). So, for example, 91% of religious people give money to charitable causes; but only 66% of self-identified secular people do so. Among religious observers, 67% donate their time as volunteers; but only 44% of the non-observant do so. Similarly, the religious are more likely to give their blood, their change to the homeless or their place in line than the non-religious. In short, Brooks argued, faith (not political alignments, gender, age, race, income, etc.) fuels the most substantial kinds and amounts of charitable giving in American society today.
But why? Does the charity-generating faith (and corresponding practices) of religious people result from their natural (i.e., genetic) dispositions or the faith-framed environments in which they were nurtured? For Brooks, both play a role. Recent studies, he explained, document that 30% to 40% of our political and religious commitments are grounded in genetic factors with which we were born. And yet, he quickly noted, this leaves a large percentage of our identity and moral formation to the nurturing contexts and parental influences to which we are subject from an early age. When it comes to charitable practices, therefore, the possibility of a "giving gene," is not enough (as research on the giving practices of identical twins separated at or near birth indicates). Rather, he argued, faith perspectives nurtured by family, faith community and friends are the most significant factors in the production and prediction of future giving choices for most individuals. But why? In short, Brooks claimed that a correlation exists between the happiness of the faithful and their giving practices. In other words, religious people are happier than non-religious (43% to 23%); and happy people give more than unhappy people do. For happiness and the faith that often sustains it equip us with the readiness (and the generosity) to serve others.
But so what? Why should we care either about the charitable practices of our society or the role faith plays in it? For Brooks, the answer is found in recognizing the significance of the increasing "charity gap" that is developing in our nation. The gap itself stems from two demographic realities occurring in American society today. First, many religious liberals are secularizing. And second, these secular, liberal citizens are producing fewer children. The result, argued Brooks, is an enlarging "charity gap" in which increasingly religious conservatives are carrying the bulk of the charitable load for our society. For Brooks, this is problematic for three reasons: (1) charity should not be a political battleground, which it threatens to become; (2) giving is a major source of American strength, which depends upon the full participation of its citizenry; and (3) the larger the gap the weaker the nation, which should be a concern to us all. The solution: We must recognize (and rejuvenate) faith's role in private charity, while acknowledging that "secular behavior has societal consequences."
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TRANSITION TO A NEW LEADER IS UNDERWAY
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January 6, 2009 |
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Student Apologetics Training Conference 2009
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November 20, 2008 |
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Jan. 23 - 7th Annual Faith & Bioethics Lecture
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November 20, 2008 |
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Former Toro CEO Shares His Leadership Experience
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November 19, 2008 |
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Do Perspectives on Population Matter?
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May 7, 2008 |
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The Tale of Three Ossuaries
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April 21, 2008 |
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Legal Scholar Compares Modern Political Practice to the “Gelasian Thesis”
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March 13, 2008 |
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Deconstructing Secular Economic Guilt
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February 26, 2008 |
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Mayo Bioethicist Offers Bracing Challenge to Churches
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January 25, 2008 |
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Budget Reduction Forces Staff Cutback
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January 25, 2008 |
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Hundreds Gather for First Ever Campus-Based Apologetics Training Conference
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January 5, 2008 |
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What Happens if the Sun Sets on the West?
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November 27, 2007 |
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Is Tolerance Still Tolerable in the West?
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November 16, 2007 |
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Lecture Addresses Question of Unbelief
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November 16, 2007 |
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Does Theology Belong in the University?
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November 9, 2007 |
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Can a Defeated Messiah Save Hollywood Celebrities?
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November 8, 2007 |
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Is God Innocent?
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November 5, 2007 |
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Are America’s Moral Levees Breached?
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November 1, 2007 |
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Does Washington Know the West's Recipe for Freedom?
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October 25, 2007 |
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Whatever Happened to Human Dignity?
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October 15, 2007 |
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Forgiveness Therapy Offers Hope to Abused Spouses
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October 7, 2007 |
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Spiderman Over Science? The Western Embrace of Magic
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October 4, 2007 |
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A Dramatic Wag Challenges Darwin's Worldview
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October 1, 2007 |
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From Reason to Skepticism to Mysticism: Must the West Continue Down This Path?
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September 27, 2007 |
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What Made the West a Uniquely Musical Civilization?
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September 20, 2007 |
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Minnesota Daily Covers First Lecture in Mangalwadi Series
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September 20, 2007 |
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10-part Series to Examine the Soul of Western Civilization
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September 18, 2007 |
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Institute Expresses Condolences to Those Affected by Bridge Tragedy
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August 2, 2007 |
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Three University of Minnesota Veritas Conversations Planned for Fall
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July 27, 2007 |
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Bob Osburn Discusses World Religions on the Radio
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July 24, 2007 |
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Forum to Address Charitable Choice Issue
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July 18, 2007 |
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Institute's New Campus Minister Discusses Student Group
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June 5, 2007 |
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Institute Is Planning 2007-2008 Event Schedule
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June 5, 2007 |
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Os Guinness Is Featured Speaker at the Institute's 25th Anniversary
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April 30, 2007 |
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Trade, Claims Dean, is Critical for the Poor
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April 20, 2007 |
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New Testament Scholar Unfolds Counter-Cultural Implications of Luke and Acts
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April 13, 2007 |
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Dr. Theo Stavrou to Receive Mentoring Award
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April 9, 2007 |
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Christianity Has a “Strange” Understanding of Truth, Says Sweet
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April 2, 2007 |
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Our Modern Understanding of Freedom is Nihilistic, Says Hart
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March 27, 2007 |
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Institute's Library Catalog Now Accessible Online
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March 6, 2007 |
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Religious Persecution is Worsening Globally, Says Marshall
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February 26, 2007 |
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Dialogue Is Essential in Cultivating Civic Engagement, say Wolterstorff and Bernstein
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February 21, 2007 |
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Theo Stavrou to Receive Christian Faculty Mentoring Award
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February 12, 2007 |
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Biblical Feminism Inspired by 19th Century Missionary Movements, Says Haddad
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February 2, 2007 |
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Symposium to Address Civic Engagement
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January 30, 2007 |
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Institute to Offer Recommended Books Through Amazon.com
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January 24, 2007 |
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Palliative Care, Not Physician Assisted Suicide, Says Dr. Robert Orr
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January 24, 2007 |
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Campus Minister Joins Institute Staff
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January 22, 2007 |
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Christian Medical and Dental Personnel Potluck
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January 11, 2007 |
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Cal DeWitt on Speaking of Faith Program
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January 11, 2007 |
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In Search of a Theology of the Soul
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December 27, 2006 |
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Writer Challenges Assumptions of Public Debate
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December 22, 2006 |
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Intelligent Design Proponent Declares State-Mandated Materialism Is Impermissible
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December 7, 2006 |
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Church and State: The Debate at Tate
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December 4, 2006 |
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Flannery and the Fundamentalist South: Opponents of a Nihilistic Church
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November 20, 2006 |
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Oxford Philosopher Offers 2007 Holmer Lecture
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November 13, 2006 |
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Article Claims Jesus' Forgiveness was as Political as it was Religious
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November 9, 2006 |
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Institute Board Member Receives Award
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November 6, 2006 |
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Europe Better Demonstrates the Christian Ideal, Says Middelmann
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November 2, 2006 |
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Turkish Journalist Addresses the Pope's September 12 Lecture
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October 22, 2006 |
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International Journalists Question Media Treatment of Intelligent Design
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October 20, 2006 |
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Minnesota Daily Editorializes for Religion Requirement
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October 11, 2006 |
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“Recover the Wonder,” Declares Esolen
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October 11, 2006 |
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Elaine Pagels Leaves Questions Unanswered
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October 6, 2006 |
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Professor Argues That Modern Education Is “Debunking” Wonder
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October 3, 2006 |
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Conference Stresses Strength of Christian Vision for the Environment
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September 25, 2006 |
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Conference to Address Balance Between the Human, Engineered and Natural Worlds
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June 28, 2006 |
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Institute Fellow Discusses Da Vinci and the Authority of Scripture
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June 26, 2006 |
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Consumerism Conferences Ends With Call for Green Martyrs
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May 3, 2006 |
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Michael Novak Lectures on Clash of Civilizations
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April 28, 2006 |
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Lecture to Address Clash of Civilizations
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April 18, 2006 |
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David Shenk Offers Response to Lecture Report
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April 17, 2006 |
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Institute Lectures Span Economics, Education, and Ethics
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April 7, 2006 |
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Conference to Challenge Consumerism’s Grip on American Christianity
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April 4, 2006 |
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Muslim-Christian Dialogue at the University of Minnesota Is Strategic
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March 24, 2006 |
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Philosopher Peter Singer Speaks at the University of Minnesota
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March 24, 2006 |
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Institute Welcomes Two New Staff Members
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March 22, 2006 |
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Institute Board Chair Wades Into Intelligent Design Debate
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March 20, 2006 |
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Freedom of Conscience Is Central to Religious Liberty, Says Faith and Law Lecturer
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March 8, 2006 |
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Lecture to Address How to End the Culture War Honorably
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February 23, 2006 |
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Veritas Forum Concludes with Lecture on the Resurrection
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February 4, 2006 |
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Krister Sairsingh Defends Truth in Opening Veritas Forum Lecture
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February 2, 2006 |
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Father Neuhaus Addresses Culture Wars
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December 26, 2005 |
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Richard Winter Addresses Desire for Perfection
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December 21, 2005 |
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U Student Named Rhodes Scholar
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November 29, 2005 |
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Ganssle Addresses Reason and the Knowledge of God
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October 11, 2005 |
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Michael Behe Spoke to Packed Crowd of 500
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October 4, 2005 |
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Online Christian Studies Library Now Available
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August 5, 2005 |
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Writer Criticizes Embryonic Stem Cell Fairy Tales
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July 29, 2005 |
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Nancy Pearcey Book Wins Award
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July 14, 2005 |
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Conference to Honor Former U of M Professor Rutherford Aris
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July 7, 2005 |
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"The Bench" Promotes Worldview Understanding
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April 22, 2005 |
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Professor Reedy Lectures on Christian Faith and Economics
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March 23, 2005 |
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Author Makes Case for Preserving the Life of Terri Schiavo
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March 23, 2005 |
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Udo Middelmann Addresses Issue of Being Human
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March 9, 2005 |
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Dallas Willard Lecture on TV
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January 4, 2005 |
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Dallas Willard Challenges the Academy
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November 9, 2004 |
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How Do We Achieve Cultural Authority?
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November 3, 2004 |
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Overflow Crowd Hears Author of The Question of God
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October 27, 2004 |
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New Article Challenges Some of Our Allegiances
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October 15, 2004 |
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John Angus Campbell Delivers Challenging Lecture
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October 1, 2004 |
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Gay Marriage Debate Draws Overflow Crowd
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September 17, 2004 |
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Institute Lectures to be on Cable Access TV
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August 23, 2004 |
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Institute Releases Exclusive Interview With Nancy Pearcey
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August 12, 2004 |
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Professors Challenge Stem Cell Research
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August 6, 2004 |
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Institute Announces New Giving Opportunities
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August 4, 2004 |
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Institute Announces New Class
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July 22, 2004 |
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L'Abri Celebrates 50 Years This Month
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June 17, 2004 |
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Institute Concludes 2003-2004 Lecture Season
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April 27, 2004 |
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God and the Global Marketplace
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March 24, 2004 |
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Dramatic Price Reduction for Christian Studies Courses
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March 15, 2004 |
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Deconstructing The Da Vinci Code
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March 10, 2004 |
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Nancy Pearcey to Lecture on Christian Mind
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March 10, 2004 |
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New Book Looks at Missions and Entrepreneurial Strategies
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March 2, 2004 |
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Institute Involved in Public Debate
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February 13, 2004 |
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Business Ethics and Faith
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February 11, 2004 |
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Institute-related Faculty to Lecture on Religion and Science
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February 11, 2004 |
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O'Connor Examines Udo Middelmann's Critique of the American Church
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February 6, 2004 |
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How Do We Distribute Our Wealth?
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February 6, 2004 |
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Business Lecture Series Resumes on February 2
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January 28, 2004 |
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Dr. John Patrick to Deliver Annual Pro-Life Lecture
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January 14, 2004 |
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Has Society Disconnected Sex From Marriage?
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January 14, 2004 |
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Biblical Reliability Conference to Address Challenges to Scripture
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January 5, 2004 |
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Intelligent Design Symposium Held at the U of Minnesota on November 15
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November 18, 2003 |
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What Role Does Art Play in Our Daily Lives?"
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October 17, 2003 |
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Did Chief Justice Moore Go Too Far?
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October 17, 2003 |
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Are Christians Suffering Persecution at the Hands of Liberals?
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October 14, 2003 |
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Michael Paulsen Lecture Will Tackle Conventional View of Religion in the University
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October 2, 2003 |
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J. Richard Pearcey Challenges Madonna
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September 26, 2003 |
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Business Lecture Series Begins Monday
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September 25, 2003 |
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Vishal Mangalwadi Receives Honorary Doctorate
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September 19, 2003 |
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Thought-provoking New Article on the Message of Media
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September 16, 2003 |
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New Testament Survey Course to Begin in January
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November 29, 2002 |
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Dr. Jeffrey Polet Highlights the "Monstrous Logic of Terror"
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Rutherford Aris Passes Away
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5th Annual Faith and Law Lecture, March 9
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Faculty Mentoring Conference Brought Together Scholars From Around the Country
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Bob Osburn speaks March 9 at 3:30 pm
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Two U of M Professors Debate Intelligent Design
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Dr. Kent Talked About Role of Ideology in Shaping Scientific Thought
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Does Proselytizing Make Enemies or Disciples?
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Wheaton Scholar Finds Value in Judeo-Christian Values for Biodiversity Conservation
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Narnia on Tour Comes to Twin Cities
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Nancy Pearcey to speak on C-SPAN
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Nigel Cameron Addresses Cloning Issue
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More Than 600 People Attended Biblical Reliability Conference
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Schapp Sees Hope for the Future of Literature
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Gay Marriage Debate on TV
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University Professor Discusses 'Axiomatic Christianity'
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