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WINTER 2021 | VOL.33 | N0.1 ACTON INSTITUTE'S INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RELIGION, ECONOMICS AND CULTURE Political violence, Left and Right The solution to Is Critical Race Theory The ‘Ecocide’ movement: political violence? un-American? a crime against humanity EDITOR’S NOTE Balce Ceneta, File.) rioter in Portland August, 2020. Photo credit: bgcrocker / Shutterstock.com; Right photo, Jake Angeli inside the U.S. Capitol. AP Photo/Manuel (Cover Photo: Left photo, A BLM/Antifa Rev. Ben Johnson EXECUTIVE EDITOR Politics divides; commerce and goodwill unite. That truth has been driven home as waves of politically motivated violence have swept the nation. Ismael Hernandez observes that the underlying ideology driving much of our division “is not drawn from the perspec- tive of black Americans as they collectively reflected on the American experience; this view is derived from applying the radi- cal, socialist analysis of America to black citizens.” He writes, “With such theories spreading like wildfire in academic, cultur- al, political, legal, theological, and judicial circles,” it becomes difficult to “oppose vi- olence by the ‘oppressed’ against the ‘op- pressive’ system without being accused of abetting the oppressors.” I focus on a few of the programs de- COVER STORY signed to end our cycle of recriminations. “According to researchers, the solution is 09 Political violence, Left and Right solutions – specifically, focusing on solving Ismael Hernandez national problems together,” I note, drawing attention to exciting psychological research that can decrease polarization and open the door for our nation to begin healing. Wesley J. Smith of the Discovery Institute presents a well-researched and compelling portrait of the latest strategy to degrade human exceptionalism, property rights, and economic development: investing nature with legal “rights.” Samuel Kronen and Nate Hochman survey Critical Race Theory. Their article makes an excellent supplement to “Critical INTERVIEW IN THE LIBERAL TRADITION Theory, critiqued” by Noah Warren Kelley 05 Is Critical Race Theory 16 Rev. Maciej Zięba in the Fall 2020 issue of R&L. un-American? Rev. Ben Johnson Dustin Siggins outlines commonsense Samuel Kronen and Nate Hochman healthcare reforms. Rev. Richard Turnbull previews the UK’s future outside the EU. 02 Acton Briefs And Acton Institute President Rev. 03 Commonsense healthcare policies Robert Sirico argues the answer to our po- can solve our crisis of legitimacy larization lies in a Bible verse that East- 13 The ‘Ecocide’ movement: a crime ern Orthodox Christians sing every Sunday: against humanity “Put not your trust in princes, in a sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.” 17 Brexit: Freedom beckons As violence metastasizes across our po- 18 Solzhenitsyn: Prophet to America litical spectrum, it has never been more im- 20 Preserving the inheritance: perative for us to commit ourselves to prin- A defense of the great books ciples, not princes, affirming that no earthly figure can command our ultimate loyalty. 22 A revolution of decency This issue has been made possible in ESSAY part thanks to a generous donation from 11 The solution to Jeffrey and Cynthia Littmann. Jeffrey and political violence? Cynthia Littmann are champions of con- Rev. Ben Johnson servation and the good stewardship of our natural resources as a gift from God. 1 WINTER 2021 ACTON.ORG Acton Institute ranks as a Religion adds billions to the Paying all employees the same global think tank leader in economy, study finds salary caused therapists trauma 2020 report Joseph Sunde Rev. Ben Johnson Rev. Ben Johnson ACTON INSTITUTE ACTON INSTITUTE ACTON INSTITUTE As church attendance and religious A psychotherapy practice’s year-long The Acton Institute is not only one of affiliation continue to decline across the experiment with paying every employee an the world’s most influential thought lead- West, many have lamented the spiritual equal salary has disproved the central eco- ers but, according to a new report, our and social side effects, including a weak- nomic thesis of socialism. annual Acton University ranks as the best ening of civil society and the fragmenta- Calvin Benton co-founded Spill, a Brit- conference globally of any presented by tion of community life. But the economic ish firm that offers psychological coun- think tanks which consistently support a impact of such a shift is less discussed. seling via online platforms like Zoom. As free economy. In a new report, The Hidden Economy: Benton and his four co-workers got Spill The University of Pennsylvania’s How Faith Helps Fuel Canada’s GDP, research- off the ground, they opted to take part in a “2020 Global Go To Think Tank Index ers Brian and Melissa Grimm estimate the revolutionary trial: Each one of them would Report” feted Acton with awards in five socioeconomic value of faith and religion to receive the same annual pay of £36,000 separate categories. society. The report, which is published by (approximately $49,240 U.S.). At first, In “Top Social Policy Think Tanks,” the Cardus and focuses on Canada, concludes “there were five people, and everyone was category Acton values most dearly, the re- that religious activity contributes an esti- pretty much contributing the same,” Ben- port rated the Acton Institute among the mated $67.5 billion to the larger economy, ton told the BBC. world’s elite institutions. In 2020, the Ac- making religion “the country’s ninth-larg- The initial returns were promising. Even ton Institute ranked fifth among organi- est enterprise, just behind TC Energy and as the 2020 pandemic closed thousands of zations that defend the free economy, or ahead of Bank of Montreal.” small shops, Benton’s business boomed. 18th globally – behind the Heritage Foun- Drawing from a diverse mix of prior re- COVID-19 demanded remote work, which dation and the American Enterprise Insti- search, the authors stitch together a range of caused burnout among some employees. tute but ahead of the Manhattan Institute. contributions from religious organizations and For others, the lockdown orders them- Acton finished first among mar- institutions, leading to three distinct estimates. selves created unbearable stress. ket-oriented think tanks for “Best Estimate 1: Revenues of faith-based Spill’s cup runneth over. Soon, it had to Think Tank Conference” and in the top organizations ($30.9 billion). The most add more staff. That’s when things began 25 globally, ahead of the Council on For- conservative estimate includes only the to fall apart. eign Relations. revenues of faith-based educational insti- The young startup had a hard time The report ranked the Acton Institute tutions, healthcare providers, congrega- retaining staff members whose expertise ninth in the world for “Best Advocacy tions, media, and charities. yielded greater productivity (like soft- Campaign” – third among free-market Estimate 2: Adding the “halo effect” ware developers, who make far more than think tanks. of congregational social services ($67.5 £36,000 annually in London). On the Despite competing with think tanks billion). The “more reasonable estimate” other hand, it received a glut of applica- of much greater size, and funding, the includes “the broader impact of faith-based tions for clerical positions (which pay an Acton Institute rated in the top third of charity work beyond its direct finances, the average of £10.71 an hour, or £22,276 all “Top U.S. Think Tanks” in 2020 and economic activities of faith-related food annually). Salespeople also wanted a more seventh out of groups that defend free businesses, and the economic value of con- traditional commission based on the per- enterprise. gregation-based substance-abuse recovery centage of their sales, which rewards their Top free-market think tanks outside support groups.” This comes to $36.6 bil- efforts and ingenuity. the United States include the Fraser In- lion – which, when added with estimate 1, “We started to have some people who stitute (Canada, 14), Transparency Inter- totals $67.5 billion. contributed more than others,” said Ben- national (Germany, 53), the Adam Smith Estimate 3: Revenues of religiously ton. “The question started to arise: Should Institute (UK, 56), and the Institute of Eco- affiliated Canadians ($689.5 billion). The this person be paid the same amount as nomic Affairs (UK, 66). authors are quick to emphasize that this is me? That caused a conflict in the team and The U.S. has more think tanks than any not a “preferred estimate,” but they recog- a conversation in the team about whether other single country, with 2,203 – near- nize that “people of faith conduct their af- this experiment was right to continue.” ly as many as all of Europe (2,932). China fairs to some extent (however imperfectly) After a year, Calvin’s staff revolted, ranks second with 1,413. inspired and guided by their faith ideals.” and he instituted a more typical pay scale The report reflects the Acton Institute’s “The data are clear,” the authors con- based on value creation and seniority. growing recognition as the world’s pre- clude. “Religion is a highly significant sec- Ultimately, Benton and his colleagues mier think tank addressing the relation- tor of Canada’s economy. Religion provides verified a well-known fact of human na- ship between markets and morality within purpose-driven institutional and economic ture: People reject socialism, because it is an ecumenical religious context. Your kind contributions to health, education, social inherently unfair. donation helps us improve our impact and cohesion, social services, media, food, and efficacy this year and in the years to come. business itself.” 2 FEATURE Commonsense healthcare policies can solve our crisis of legitimacy Dustin Siggins very day that the partisan rancor over the 2020 presiden- tial election drags on, it poses a challenge to our nation’s Ewell-being.