Co-sponsored by Liberty Fund, Inc., this is an intellectually demanding and stimulating weekend colloquium that explores the foundations of liberty in a mixture of graduate-level text-based, guided Socratic discussion and lecture sessions.

This colloquium is intendended for seminarians, clergy, professionals in religious/ non-profit contexts. 

 

Covid-19 Conference Information

  • The intent is to hold this program in-person with appropriate safety precautions according to the local and federal guidelines. All accepted attendees will be required to follow safe meeting guidelines provided by Acton Institute, which includes wearing a facemask to cover mouth and nose. Individuals not comfortable with meeting in-person, or not able to follow Acton Institute's safe meeting guidelines, should not apply to this program.
  • Should local or federal regulations change, Acton Institute staff will communicate next steps in a timely fashion.
  • Due to current travel restrictions, this program is open to individuals currently living in the USA.

This colloquium explores the place of religion and religious belief in the history of America and considers its significance for liberty, American politics, culture, and the economy. The readings will proceed chrononologically from the pre-founding period to the early twenty-first century. The  colloquium will examine how religion has shaped a changing American culture and how aspecta of the American experiment have affected the character and influence of religious belief in America. It will involve asking questions such as:

  • What was the nature of religious freedom at America's conception?
  • How did it influence other aspects of American thought?
  • How did such ideas change over time?
  • What is the significance of religion for America's political and economic developement?