Fulton Sheen’s Freedom Under God, V: The Roots of the Problem

As we saw in the previous posting in this series, there is a very big difference between social Christianity and Christian socialism.  Christianity (as is all organized religion) is necessarily social, the human person being by nature a political animal.  He — or she — however, is not necessarily socialist.  Thus, while an organized religion may be socialist, it is contrary to human nature for it to be so.  Private property is a natural right which in part defines people as human.

JTW Podcast: The Great Ideas XII, Unsolved Problems of Philosophy

 This week’s podcast continues the series on “the Great Ideas” with Mortimer Adler.  As the description of the video says, “Dr. Adler attempts to show that the disagreements that exist among philosophers are also present in science and religion. He answers the charges that philosophy is useless or at best ornamental in the practical affairs of the world.

News from the Network, Vol. 19, No. 42

The Initiative on Economic Personalism has been making steady progress.  We are currently working on scheduling up to four meetings next week with more to come.  With a modicum of luck, this could also give a boost to the effort to push the Economic Democracy Act:

Fulton Sheen’s Freedom Under God, IV: Social Christianity or Christian Socialism?

As we saw in the previous posting on this subject, the alternatives for a socio-economic system are capitalism, socialism (“Communism”), and what Fulton Sheen called “diffused possession” (“Catholicism”), and others “social Christianity.” Leo XIII expressed a preference for the term “Christian Democracy” over “Social Christianity,” which too easily becomes “Christian socialism.”  (See Graves de Communi Re, §§ 4-5, 10.)

JTW Podcast: The Great Ideas XI, How Philosophy Differs from Science and Religion

This week’s podcast continues the series on “the Great Ideas” with Mortimer Adler.  As the description of the video says, “In this program, Dr. Adler further explores the difference between philosophy and science and religion. He explains the difference between philosophy and science and religion. He explains the different kinds of truth and knowledge as applied to science, religion and philosophy.

News from the Network, Vol. 19, No. 41

The Initiative on Economic Personalism seems to be gaining more traction.  There were a few more important meetings this week and Norman Kurland’s legacy to get some of the recognition it deserves.  Again, this is centered on getting the Economic Democracy Act adopted, but there is much, much more:

Fulton Sheen’s Freedom Under God, III: Stewardship

In the previous postings on this subject — which sort of makes Fulton Sheen sound like the villain in a TV police drama — we looked at what private property is and why private property is important.  Today we look at how ownership is to be exercised, which brings in the concept of stewardship.

JTW Podcast: The Great Ideas X, The Use of Philosophy

 This week’s podcast continues the series on “the Great Ideas” with Mortimer Adler.  As the description of the video says, “This is the first of a series of four discussions on philosophy. In it, Dr. Adler defines philosophy and discusses the relationship of philosophy to science and religion. He also answers the question whether man needs a philosophy of life and reveals his belief that philosophy is useful and, in fact, is the foundation of all learning.

News from the Network, Vol. 19, No. 40

The Initiative on Economic Personalism may be gaining a bit of traction.  There were a number of important meetings this week (with more to come!) and Norman Kurland’s legacy is getting some of the recognition he deserves.  Obviously, this is centered on getting the Economic Democracy Act adopted, but there is much, much more: