Summer 2017 No. 18

In this issue:

Tribute to Stephen V. Monsma 2 The Polarization of White Evangelicals Condensed from a talk given by Kevin den Dulk at the out of an identity. The idea of partisanship-as- Challenges for the Next Conservative/Progressive Summit, Hauenstein Center on identity suggests that we do not rationally weigh President Series 3 May 5, 2017 our ideological convictions and issue preferences The banner headline about religion in the 2016 and then choose parties and Semester in presidential election jumped out from the exit candidates to suit. Instead, it Washington D.C. 4 polls: Eight-in-ten white evangelical voters is the reverse: We start with reported Republican candidate Donald Trump as a set of attachments to Paul B. Henry Lecture their choice. A few months on, political scientists political groups that become Features Ben Sasse 6 have nuanced that number with better data, but no a prism through which we Challenges of amount of analysis will challenge the basic fact understand political choices. Pluralism 7 that white evangelicals reprised their role in 2016 A second revelation: polar- as a reliable bloc within the Republican coalition. ization trumped evangelical Democratic Theory of While white evangelical voters were uneasy with elites. We heard a lot from Hans-Georg Gadamer 7 Trump in the primaries, giving their strongest and about Jerry Falwell, Jr. support to candidates with clearer conservative Symposium on and like-minded folk in the Henry Institute bona fides, rank-and-file evangelicals eventually election, to the point that it Religion and Public 8 Director Kevin den Dulk found their way back to the familiar rut in the might seem that evangelical Life two-track road of American polarization. leaders were in lockstep. But the fact is that the Faith and the Much can be said about this polarization, but election exposed a lot of fracture and conflict Democratic Party 9 I’ll focus on just three revelations about 2016 among evangelical denominational leaders, para- white evangelical voters and about American church executives, best-selling theologians, Student Research religion and civic culture more generally. megachurch pastors, pundits, and media celebrities. Fellows / Civitas Lab 10 The first revelation: polarization trumps Donald The GOP standard-bearer was a lightning rod for a Trump. If I wanted to test the power of white host of deep and long-standing disagreements Clergy Survey 11 evangelical polarization, I would nominate as a among evangelical leaders about church-state GOP standard bearer a twice-divorced casino relations and about appropriate responses to Senior Research owner with a reputation for philandering who dramatically shifting perspectives on race, family, Fellows 12 only recently left the Democratic party and who marriage, and other cultural concerns. If those elites Gary Haugen at thinks repentance isn’t a big deal. So what did the were to hold sway over their constituents, we might 2016 test reveal? Not only that partisan polariza- January Series 12 expect elite differences to result in softer support tion persists under those conditions, but also that for Trump. Yet mass support was strong. I’ll leave partisanship has the potential to re-frame how speculations about why elites seemed to have little partisans understand their basic convictions. Kevin R. den Dulk influence for another day. Institute Director Third, polarization trumps civil society. By civil We need a politics that thrives society, I mean those voluntary associations and Ellen Lanser Hekman when citizens have the capacity to Institute Program organizations that mediate between individuals and Coordinator / deliberate with others across lines the state and provide a seedbed for good citizen- Newsletter Editor of real difference. ship. Polarization is anathema to a healthy civil society, because the clustering of people only www.henry.calvin.edu/ The persistence of polarization is not a difficult 616.526.6870 with others who share their views arrests the email: [email protected] story to tell. Plotting the white evangelical vote development of the civic skills and dispositions 1810 E. Beltline SE over the last five presidential election cycles required for a strong pluralistic society. White Grand Rapids, MI 49546 shows the line remaining largely flat. In that sense evangelicals are a case study: They increasingly the election was ordinary, so the story is as much form their strongest associations with the politically about continuity as change. This leads me to like-minded, even to the point that partisan believe that most of the surprise about the 81 attachments shape “non-political” choices like facebook.com/HenryInstitute percent vote for Trump was less about change marriage and with whom they worship. The so- Twitter: @henry_institute and more about a candidate. The question seemed called “God gap” in American politics is not merely to be: How could white evangelicals vote for a description of how religion shapes our choices of vimeo.com/channels/ him? But that question assumes white evangeli- candidates and parties. The direction of influence henryinstitute cals were voting primarily for a man, rather than can also go the other way, with political identity [continued on page 2] A Tribute to Stephen V. Monsma Page 2 by Henry Institute Director Kevin R. den Dulk Dr. Stephen V. Monsma, Senior Fellow The Polarization of White at the Henry Institute, passed away on Evangelicals February 18, 2017. His role with us at the (continued from page 1) Institute capped a remarkable career of shaping our lived experience of faith; this service in the academy and government, rising level of partisanship within evangeli- with Calvin College bookending that calism is one of the reasons people are career. feeling pushed out of that faith tradition, Steve taught at Calvin throughout the which of course simply intensifies partisan tumult of the late 1960s and early 1970s, identity among those who remain. before serving in both the Michigan My greatest concern is that behind this House (1974-78) and Senate (1978-82). polarization we see a kind of civic After some time in appointed positions challenged and moderated ideological disengagement, which might seem a with the Michigan Department of Natural extremes. Rather, he helped build that strange thing to say. We know that the Resources and the Department of Social tradition. That’s probably illustrated in no strongest partisans are also the most likely Services, he returned to academics, better way than Steve’s friendship and to be voters. They participate—they’re teaching at Pepperdine from 1987 to 2004. collaboration with Paul Henry, who was engaged—in that narrow sense. But in a Along the way, Steve served on the boards Steve’s colleague as a Calvin political broader sense, we need a politics that of Bread for the World and the Center for science professor and co-author, and then thrives when citizens have the capacity to Public Justice, among other organizations. as a state legislator. They came from deliberate with others across lines of real When I asked him a few years ago why he different parties—Steve a Democrat, Paul difference. And in that sense, we are facing had left Malibu for a “retirement” in Grand a Republican—and while they could each profound challenges. ~ Rapids, Steve responded without a hitch: have a partisan edge, they didn’t fall prey “Because this is where you go to do good More about the election and evangelical voting: to encrusted partisan identity. They knew work in the Reformed tradition.” He meant that far greater purposes were at stake than MindPop, Episode 18: https://player.fm/series/ that, and indeed wrote much of his best mindpop their party attachments. It is certainly easy work in his last decade. Trust and Civil Society: https://www.cardus.ca/ to become wistful and wonder if their comment/article/5024/liberal-democracy-has- Steve was a first-rate scholar who approach is possible today, but I often combined his experience in the nitty-gritty trust-issues/ remind myself that they faced their own of policy-making and politics with a intense pressures and yet managed to The Disappearing God Gap: https:// deeply biblical vision of public justice. He global.oup.com/academic/product/the- break through with a distinctive Christian disappearing-god-gap-9780199734702? was especially concerned with how the witness. government might partner with civil There is much more to say about Steve’s public witness. But I think it is worth The Paul B. Henry hearing his own words in the wake of Paul Institute for the Study of Henry’s death in 1993, which reveals something about both of their aspirations: Christianity and

In Paul’s day and in ours there is much Politics too much politics of the self-interested The Henry Institute is a research and civic variety and much too little concern for engagement center that focuses on the justice. We have more than enough cheap, interplay of faith and public life. Founded self-interested, egotistical politicians with at Calvin College in 1997, the Institute inflated opinions of their own importance. is dedicated to convening scholars and They are still too much with us. Paul was practitioners, encouraging high-quality Steve Monsma teaching a political science class research and public commentary, and at Calvin in the early 1970s. one of those public servants who truly earned the appellation ‘public servant’ by fostering citizen involvement through society to advance the social welfare of the diligently seeking to care for the weak and public outreach and education. least advantaged. He often dealt with needy by promoting justice in our land…. We are inspired in our work by the life controversial issues, but he worked with a and legacy of educator and public servant committed yet humane and generous spirit. What a fitting description of my friend Paul B. Henry, who He was disarming that way. Steve as well. ~ committed his life Steve’s teaching and political career to seeking justice started in Grand Rapids. But it would not Additional tributes to Dr. Monsma can be through his deeply found at: https://calvin.edu/centers-institutes/ be quite accurate to say that he merely held convictions henry-institute/programs/institute-research- and thoughtful came out of the tradition of west-Michigan fellows/stephen-monsma-tributes political activism that has often both practice. ~

Challenges for Next President Series Continued in Fall 2016 Page 3 The Henry Institute’s Challenges for the on media neutrality and the duty of Next President series, funded by the Calvin honest reporting. They also discussed the Faith and Citizenship Initiative, continued climate of “fake news,” ways to discern during the 2016 fall semester, with panel truth in the media, and the need to step discussions leading up to the November vote outside our own opinions and communi- that tackled “hot topics” from the election. ties to hear and evaluate what the “other The goal was to encourage examination of side” is saying. various views, helping the audience to be- Foreign Policy: In October, foreign Evert Van Der Heide (left), Scott Vander Linde, come more educated and thoughtful voters. policy considerations took center stage as Adel Abadeer The Challenges series started in the spring Becca McBride and Joel Westra (Calvin of 2016, with panel discussions on the College political science professors) and various aspects of the economy, impacts environment, immigration, criminal justice were joined by Todd Huizinga (Henry of regulating free trade, and how immigra- reform, and events surrounding the presiden- tion effects the economy. Van Der Heide tial primary elections. In the fall, Professor weighed in on the general health of the Micah Watson (from Calvin’s Political economy, whether a U.S. President has any Science Department) continued work with control over increased numbers of domestic Henry Institute student research fellows manufacturing jobs or the current pace and Abbie Schutte and Jonathan Winkle, who future of inflation, and concerns about prepared background papers on the panel economic growth in the U.S. topics, gathered web-based resources, and Post Mortem: The final session of the Challenges series took place as the dust from introduced the topic and speakers at each Becca McBride (left), Todd Huizinga, Joel Westra session. “My fascination with politics and the election was still settling. Kevin den public life has made my work on this project Institute Research Fellow). The three Dulk, Doug Koopman, Becca McBride, very rewarding,” noted Schutte. “Having the panelists talked about the role the U.S. Mikael Pelz, Micah Watson, and Joel Westra opportunity to dig deeper into these public should play in the world today and from Calvin’s Political Science Department policy issues, and exploring various view- whether our military forces should led a post-mortem panel on a remarkable— points and “sides” to the discussion has remain stationed throughout the globe. and to many surprising—election. The helped me to think comprehensively and They also considered the potential shift panelists talked about the concerns and expanded my awareness.” in the focus of U.S. foreign policy from attitudes of different groups in the country, Three fall events took place prior to the the Middle East to Asia, calls to become the feelings of disillusionment, the negative election, with one final session the week more isolationist, and the impact and campaigning, the separation of powers in our after the voting was completed. importance of trade liberalization and federal system of government, and some of global agreements. Comments were the major issues that the President will be made about various “hot spots” around called to address during his term of office. the globe, and the three offered their [The event is available on Vimeo at https:// thoughts about the overall role that can vimeo.com/channels/henryinstitute/227958306.] and should be played by the U.S. in the As the series closed in November, Micah world today. Watson noted, “This has been an excellent The Economy: The week before the experience for me, for the students involved, November election, members of the and for all the audience members who faith- Calvin College Economics Department, fully attended the panels. We were thrilled to including Adel Abadeer, Evert Van Der have between 75 and 125 people at every Heide, and Scott Vander Linde, took up a session, actively engaged in the discussion John Muyskens (left) of the Washington Post and range of topics. Vander Linde considered and asking thoughtful questions in consider- Ryan Struyk of ABC News ongoing health care expense increases, ate and open ways. The past election season was uniquely significant, with complex Faithful Fact Checking: The first the truth about insurance coverage under issues and widely divergent candidates. I’m panel in September featured two recent the Affordable Care Act, aspects of pleased that we were able to provide an Calvin graduates who work in journalism: Obamacare that have been successful, ongoing opportunity for civil discussion and Ryan Struyk from ABC News and John and moral issues surrounding health care considerate conversations.” ~ Muyskens from The Washington Post. The that should be of two discussed roles and responsibilities of concern to Christians. the media, both during elections and as an Abadeer talked about ongoing “check and balance” in the global economic political arena. They also considered how concerns, including Christian citizenship relates to responsible facts and fallacies engagement in politics. Muskyens talked about free trade about the Post’s Pinocchio fact-checking agreements and their Mikael Pelz (left), Kevin den Dulk, Becca McBride, Micah Watson, system. Struyk offered his perspective bearing on both citizens Doug Koopman Diverse Group of Students Spend Semester in Washington D.C. Page 4

Since the spring of 2000, when Calvin Students visited numerous organizations Andrew Oppong College started its Semester in Washington from across the religious and political While at the D.C. program, more than 325 students spectrum, some obviously religious in Constitution have spent their spring semester living in their mission and others more secular. The Project (a non- the city as they explored potential career groups also went to well-known national profit think tank paths. The nineteen students who partici- sites such as the U.S. Capitol, the Library dedicated to build- pated in the spring of 2017 were majoring of Congress, the Pentagon, and heard oral ing bipartisan in ten different areas: political science, arguments at the Supreme Court. consensus on international relations, psychology, social While the experiences are unique, the significant legal work, public health, philosophy, French, students’ perspective about the value of and constitutional Spanish, Chinese, and German. The intern- the semester has a common thread. questions), I worked closely with ship opportunities they pursued also varied According to one: “This semester has attorneys heading the criminal justice widely, providing unique opportunities to helped me grow in my knowledge of program to research, draft and proof the experience real-life work situations, to policies and public life in America and my Oklahoma Death Penalty Report. The consider their plans after graduating from understanding of how our government final report—which was given to the Calvin, and to immerse themselves in the functions. By meeting and speaking with governor and top state officials—argued culture and life of the nation’s capitol. politicians, everything in this area has for a continuation of the state-wide Led by Professor Emily become so much more real to me.” moratorium (at least until flaws in the Helder (Calvin College Helder noted, “Our group was extremely state’s death penalty system were Psychology Department) diverse in terms of a variety of factors examined) which has been in effect since students took two classes, including age, race/ethnicity, economic 2015. The work definitely confirmed my in addition to working background, political affiliations, major, plans to pursue a vocation in the field of four days each week at personality, place of residence. However, law; it was also very fulfilling—my efforts could literally give another Emily Helder their internships. One in our final reflecting time together, many course considered U.S. students noted how much they appreciated human being a chance at life. That mental health policy. It provided a broad the diversity and the friendships they had knowledge made my Semester in overview and examined historical policies formed with people who were quite Washington D.C. more than I could have and current themes, access issues related to different from themselves.” hoped for and beyond memorable! racial and socioeconomic disparity, and assessed changes and developments during Hannah Timmermans the initial months of the new Presidential My time at The Lab School provided growth on a professional administration. and educational level. I was able to learn about different fields of The second course on Faith and Public study (such as social work, teaching, speech pathology), while also Life, “introduced students to various connecting back to my psychology major. The most significant groups and individuals from a range of impact, however, was the amount of trust everyone gave me, perspectives who integrate their religious including the teachers and kids I worked with. I left The Lab with faith with some aspect of American public a sense of confidence I never had before. I also discovered my life,” according to Helder. “The class passion for working with kids and will continue my study of encouraged students to move toward learning differences in the psychological world. Due in part to my integration of their own religious views, experience at The Lab, I am now interning at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health and to extend those perspectives within the Services, working with testing and scoring ADHD and ADD. My time in D.C. has world of work, into their future vocations.” definitely opened opportunities for my future PhD in Clinical Counseling.

2017 Semester Participants

Ama Asamoah—Healthy Babies Project Andrew Oppong—The Constitution Project

Nick Aukerman—Rep. Tim Walberg Ashley Poolman—Bright Beginnings

Esther Banninga—Lutheran Social Services Calen Pos—Global Kids

Christine Hekman—U.S. Capitol Historical Society Kagenza Rumongi—Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Eunice Kim—Court Services and Offender Enrika Sinkeviciute—Collaborative Solutions for Supervision Agency Communities

Angela Kostelyk—German American Heritage Museum Jordan Smith—So Others Might Eat

Sarah Laninga—U.S. Committee for Refugees and Hannah Timmermans—The Lab School

Immigrants Jake Verrips—Sasha Bruce Youthwork

Matt Leistra—American Prospect Magazine Nick Webster—Coalition for Community Schools

Marisol Nieves—Susan B. Anthony Foundation Ashley Zuverink—U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Henry Institute Funds Scholarships for D.C. Semester Page 5 Each year, through the generous support the other hand, is the giving to every man is achieved. of Karen Henry Stokes and the Ron and his proper due.” “Are politics and justice synonymous? Ann Kunnen family, the Henry Institute In her application, Christine Hekman No. But are they antonyms? The answer is provides financial assistance to students reflected on the connection between again, no. Politics do not need to be over- for the Semester in Washington D.C. politics and justice, writing: “Politics is a come in order to win justice for everyone. Program. Winners for the 2017 Semester struggle. But it is not inherently a fight for Rather, we must put aside our own selfish- included Christine Hekman and Ashley an individual’s ness, and harness politics in the service of Zuverink, who were each awarded a $2000 own interests—it our fellow humans... We must all reform Henry Institute Scholarship, and Esther is also a fight for our political goals in a way to advance the Banninga and Kagenza Rumongi, chosen what a person cause of those who cannot advance their to receive $500 travel stipend assistance deems right and own. We are called to seek justice.” awards. just. It was Mikael Pelz, one of the Henry Institute The scholarship application requires through politics board members who helped select the students to submit an essay responding to a that slavery was scholarship winners, noted: “This year’s comment by the late U.S. Representative ended, through applicants wrote thoughtful essays which Paul B. Henry, the Institute’s namesake. In politics that explored values that Paul Henry expressed his book, Politics for Evangelicals, Henry Christine Hekman women gained the in his work as a Christian and a politician. noted, “Politics is the organized struggle right to vote, through politics that schools I was impressed with their evaluations of for the ascendancy of one’s own self- were desegregated... Politics are meant the role we are called to as Christians in interest over that of another. Justice, on to be the means through which justice public life.”

Semester in Washington D.C. (continued from page 4)

Ashley Zuverink While working at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops during the semester, one of my regular tasks was to create a one-page resource to be dispersed to their nationwide network on serving refugee minors who are married, helping to calm concerns regarding the matter, and providing best-practice advice on approaching these cases differently. In general, working at the largest resettlement agency in the country during a busy political time was both challenging and fascinating. The executive orders and potential changes within the first months of this Presidential administration pushed me to be on my toes, but also confirmed for me personally that I want to continue working in the immigrant and refugee sector.

Nick Aukerman Kagenza Rumongi While working in Congressman Tim One of the most memorable experiences during my internship Walberg’s office, I most enjoyed providing was the opportunity to interact closely with Dr. Joseph Siegle, the constituent tours of the Capitol building. research director at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies and an Providing the tours ensured an enriching expert in the area of democratization in developing countries. We education on American history and had a number of one-on-one discussions, including consideration politics, and always led to brief encounters of development and democracy in African countries and whether with members of Congress and sometimes democracy is the best system to foster even the White House. development in post-conflict countries. I gave my first tour just days into my internship in February, Dr. Siegle encouraged me to continue and as spring break neared, tours became daily responsibilities. seeking knowledge and build my passion Every night, I searched for new facts that I could incorporate as for participating in the politics of my a constituent guide, and each day, I learned something new. My country. I was humbled that such an understanding of American history and politics was greatly experienced scholar would take time with expanded. Even now, I sometimes find myself traversing me and answer the many questions I had between rooms across the marble foyer in my mind—a memory about the interplay of politics, democracy that I know will never cease to inspire me! and development. Nick Webster During my internship with the Institute for Educational Leadership on the Coalition for Community Schools team, one of my primarily tasks was to design website pages for the organization. As a psychology major, I became very interested over the course of the semester in the importance of trauma-informed care. When children are going through a traumatic incident, such as abuse or neglect, they are less likely to focus on things like school. The movement toward trauma-informed schools has been gaining traction in recent years, and I was able to create an overview and web resources for schools that are exploring becoming trauma-informed. See the web page at: http://www.communityschools.org/multimedia/traumainformed_care_resources.aspx Senator Ben Sasse Offers Annual Paul B. Henry Lecture Page 6 On April 28, Senator Ben and the future of ultimate. Politics is really important—it’s Sasse offered the 20th annual America. First, I an important way to love your neighbor. Paul B. Henry Lecture. Henry have teenaged But we must limit how much of our identity Institute Director Kevin den children, and I am is grounded in politics. We can—and we Dulk provided the following worried about the should—vigorously contest policies and introduction. country they are outcomes, but it’s not our ultimate identity. “The Henry Lecture honors growing up in. I Post Guttenberg: According to social the life and memory of Paul B. think America is scientists, New England adult culture in the Henry. Tonight we also having a massive 1730s-1770s was possibly the most literate remember someone who identity crisis. population in history. The American shared in that legacy—Steve Second, in the last founding arose when books became viruses Monsma... With a nod to their year and a half, we and spread to the people, and ideas became contributions, let me introduce our 2017 have been muddling through a crisis of printed tools to transform a population. lecturer, Senator Ben Sasse from Nebraska. doubt about shared facts, a crisis of belief Literacy is on the decline in today’s His straightforward commitments include about shared narratives, with narrative world. We are moving away from literacy the philosophy that politics is important, trumping facts for many people. I think and reading, and we are in danger of aban- but not most important; that strong convic- there is great danger of being sucked into a doning some of the mass literacy that made tions don’t have to result in partisan blood way of viewing the moment and beginning sport; that a healthy republic requires hard to think: “we live in a unique moment, and ...politics can’t be ultimate. Politics work on our civic knowledge and practic- the commitments that we share as a commu- is really important —it’s an important es—all convictions that speak directly to nity of Americans aren’t as important to me way to love your neighbor. But we our concerns at the Henry Institute.” as having a strongman who will guarantee must limit how much of our identity is The following remarks are condensed from me security and comfort. Whatever shared grounded in politics. Senator Sasse’s lecture. The full lecture can pledges we have as civic republicans, that’s be seen at https://livestream.com/ not really my concern.” us who we are as a nation. Living post- accounts/343472/events/7113187. So as a framework for the consideration of Guttenberg created not just new books —it It is a privilege to be at this event tonight. our past and future, let me share thoughts created ideas that would be pluralized, with I think Alexis de Tocqueville would about four “posts” and one “pre”: post-fall, mass interpretations to be contested. recognize this Henry Lecture. Over the last post-Guttenberg, post-Philadelphia, post- Post-Philadelphia: We live in a nation 240 years, things just like this have been at industrial, and pre-new Jerusalem. that wrote the First Amendment because the center of America, where we embrace Post-fall: Theologically, we should feel they believed freedom and rights came not lots and lots of civic engagement—but it’s like pilgrims, dual-citizens, a little bit from government, but from God. Govern- not first or primarily governmental. When homeless, and with lots of doubt about our ment is a tool to secure rights, but the rights Tocqueville came to America, he was own moral certitudes. We have an entire come from God. While the idea may have essentially a travel reporter seeking to Scripture that shows us two stories: been brewing as far back as the Magna stories of forgetfulness and the need to Carta, the American experiment at the “We need more people [in politics] who set up memorials and remembrances Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia believe what George Washington believed— of God—along with prophecy about enshrined the idea that government gets its that there is life after political service—a the God who will come again. Over power from people, and we give it enumer- refusal to take permanent power. We should and over we see people who wanted to ated powers. The government doesn’t get to want every American adult to see themselves find certainty and hope in their own define our rights—they are limitless as a part-time politician because of their efforts; who wanted heaven, the because they come from God. Government involvement.“ Kingdom, and resolution to come is simply our method to secure them. right now. Post-Industrial: So what’s going on now? define what America was. When he saw the While we are blessed to live in Why are we so anxious? It’s economic dynamism of the country, he post-resurrection times, we are because we don’t know what traveled to 18 of the states and wrote back to not so different from those Bibli- comes next. We live at a Europe: ‘... I have found the meaning of cal people. We constantly want unique moment in human America—it is the Henry Institute.’ While this to be done. We should see economic history when we the Henry Institute didn’t actually exist, he ourselves living in the moment have moved from being was saying, ‘these Americans believe in this we are in and trusting God for hunter gatherers, to farmers, big middle sphere where people persuade the future. Our tradition is about to the industrial age with other people about things. They generate needing to learn to wait and to urbanization, to where we are ideas together in ways that show amazing hope and to trust. It is critically now. We have permanent love of neighbor and fundamental American important as we think of a uprootedness, permanent innovation and commitment.’ I agree with Christian view of history—and mobility, lack of communica- Tocqueville—I believe this Henry Lecture especially when we get to tion, loss of neighborhood series is a significant piece of that. politics—that we remember we are east of and community—and there is no sign of Tonight, I’d like to talk about two things Eden and pre-new Jerusalem. coming change. that motivate me lately regarding the past All that is to say that politics can’t be (continued on page 7) New Publications Page 7

The Challenge of Pluralism: Church and The Democratic Theory of Hans-Georg Gadamer State in Six Democracies In his recently published book, Henry In the past decade, democracies throughout the world Institute Research Fellow Darren Walhof have struggled to address conflicts over the role of examines the distinctive contribution the religion in their institutions and broader cultures. This writings of Hans-Georg Gadamer have made new edition (co-authored by Chris Soper, Henry to democratic theory. Walhof argues that Director Kevin den Dulk, and Henry Fellow Steve Gadamer’s hermeneutical philosophy Monsma) is a rigorous, systematic comparison of church enlarges our perspective by shifting the view -state relations in the U.S., France, England, Germany, the Netherlands, away from individual citizens to instead and . All six democracies share a commitment to protecting consider what exists between them, thereby allowing us to religious rights of citizens, but with substantially different approaches to envision political realities that are otherwise difficult to see. resolving basic church-state questions. Historical roots of the differences These realities include disclosure of truth in democratic and recent conflicts over Islam and other religious minorities are politics; achieving common ground in democratic dialogue, considered for each country. Additionally, the book assesses each state’s even amidst significant disagreement and diversity; the efforts to protect the religious rights of citizens against the ideal of public and political nature of religious traditions that make governmental neutrality and evenhandedness toward all. The authors claims on and shape citizens; and solidarities that connect us argue that the U.S. concept of church-state separation is unique among to each other and enable democratic action. He argues that political democracies, and that it discriminates against religious groups this awareness enriches theories of democracy and is by denying religious organizations access to government services. They particularly crucial in an era of hyper-partisanship, conclude that the U.S. can learn a great deal about promoting pluralism accelerating inequality, and social conflicts involving racial, and the free exercise of religion from other Western nations. ~ sexual, and religious identities. ~ Sasse at Paul Henry Lecture (continued from page 6) Senator Sasse recently authored a book on the crisis facing America’s young Our jobs, which significantly define our people. The Vanishing American Adult: identity, will continue to be shorter in Our Coming-of-Age Crisis—and How to duration forever more. We’ve lost our Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance is identity markers for providing value within currently available from Amazon or St. our community, for providing security for Martin’s Press. our family. We are headed to a world of multi-career lives, of mid-career/mid-life from the Henry Lecture: reinvention. “The decline of ‘rights of passage’ that America is in the midst of a giant crisis defined the movement to adulthood of loneliness. We’ve lost dense relational community, and hollowing out of friend- provided comfort to ship. A lot of people people because it gave “Political disengagement is a much bigger problem are yearning for a city them a basis to think [than polarization] that enables political polarization that has foundations; a through life. Without among the classes of people who are highly engaged in lot of people are these experiences, we politics. We must re-energize broader civic engagement anxious for someone are missing something where more people understand involvement and are to claim ‘I’m big, and critical. I believe our American society has active in the process.” I’m strong, and I can fix it all.’ lost these guideposts structures and the sense of solid community But politics is never going to fill that and our children are support. Across the nation, we have a whole need. We have a much bigger societal, suffering as a result.” bunch of people who have seen the hollow- cultural and generational crisis that we must ing out of work, hollowing out of local seriously begin to think through together. ~ 2017-2018 “We have to defend the right of speech and assembly and press and religion Paul B. Henry Lecture for people who are not in our communities and people who perhaps are saying things that we not only don’t agree with, but that we may find repugnant. —featuring Melissa Rogers, “It is critically important for American Christians to look for opportunities to formerly special assistant to President Obama defend the rights of other minorities for speech, press, assembly and religion. and executive director of the White House (In Madisonian understanding) every American is supposed to think of ourself Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood as a creedal minority. And the best way to make America work is for a whole Partnerships bunch of minorities to come together with a whole bunch of other minorities and defend other minorities—until we have a framework for liberty. Then we February 21, 2018 at 7:30 pm can sit down over a feast and argue about really important things.” Calvin College Recital Hall —from Henry lecture Q&A Henry Institute Sponsors Religion and Public Life Symposium Page 8 The Henry Institute sponsored the churches of Protestant Latino populations noted Kevin den Dulk, Director of the ninth biennial Henry Symposium on are very diverse in terms of style and Institute. “This event brings together a Religion and Public Life at the Prince political values. “They clearly influence the wide range of people, inviting them to Conference Center on the Calvin social, College campus at the close of April. economic, The event provides opportunities to and the present current research, foster personal political and professional networks and collabora- climate” tion, learn about research opportunities of places related to the intersection of religion and they live public life, and discuss current issues. in, noted share ideas about how our religious beliefs The Symposium included twenty-eight Mulder. “Their religion definitely is a factor different panels with 104 individuals in their lives. We compared Latino call us to service for good, to reform our world and humanity.” ~ presenting their research or participating Protestants to white Protestants, and their in panel discussions. Topics ranged levels of religiosity are higher...The salience See the Program at: https://calvin.edu/ broadly, from American slavery in the of their religion clearly matters.” centers-institutes/henry-institute/programs/ symposium/ 1800s to military intervention and the Several hundred participants attended Church of England; from environmental sessions during the three-day event, taking Some information for this article is from Calvin College Chimes article (5/5/17) by politics to political attitudes of clergy in in academic research, grappling with issues Kathryn Post, Renee Maring, and Josh Parks. the U.S.; from a comparison of Martin at the intersection of religion and public life, Luther and Donald Trump to the politics and interacting with individuals from around of Catholic priests in the United States, Canada, Brazil, China, the the U.S. and Ireland. Netherlands, and the UK. The program Roundtable discussions also made up a included several portion of the program on topics involving projects from the religious freedom and LGBT rights, criminal Institute’s Civitas Lab justice reform, the future of charitable (related article on choice, a Christian response to persuasion Religion and Private page 10). The Visual- and polarization, and international relations izing Faith and Public from a faith perspective. School Enrollment in the Life project set up The event included three plenary events. Era of School Choice three interactive Boston University’s Charles Glenn, an Do school choice policies really help stations, encouraging education policy expert, presented the private schools? Two Henry Institute individuals to use Center for Public Justice’s Kuyper Lecture researchers have been exploring that timely Ipad displays to on Thursday evening. On Friday, Ben Sasse, question for the past several years and find explore photographs (the U.S. that the answer is complicated. In a forth- taken by Calvin Visualizing Faith and Republican coming article in Politics and Religion, Public Life station students to express Senator Mike Pelz and Kevin den Dulk examine the intersections of faith from effects of religion on private school and public life. Abbie Schutte discussed Nebraska) enrollments in the era of charter schools, her research work on the role of faith- delivered vouchers, and tuition tax credits. Prolifera- based organizations in foster care the annual tion of school choice policies has expanded programs. Isaac LaGrand and Calvin Henry Interactive software to identify schooling options for parents, and while this College history professor Kristin Kobes Lecture community resources for recently trend coincides with a decline in private DuMez presented findings on Islamic (related released offenders school enrollment, it is unclear how these fundamentalism and family values policies impact participation among various politics. Julie Bylsma participated in the article on page 6), and a panel on Faith and religious traditions and religiosity. Criminal Justice Reform panel, and also the Democratic Party featured Washington Pelz and den Dulk studied the impact of demonstrated her interactive software Post journalist Sarah Pulliam Bailey, along religion and school choice initiatives on the platform to identify community resources with Michael Wear and Burns Strider, decision to enroll in different types of for recently released offenders in Kent veterans of faith outreach on presidential private schools. Using state-level data, they County, Michigan. campaigns (see related article explored motivations for choosing faith- Mark Mulder (Calvin on page 9). based schools, such as transmission of sociology professor) and “The Symposium provides religious identity versus a desire for secular Erica Buursma presented a unique opportunity to con- goods (such as perceived superior research from their sider questions that political educational levels). They found parental Civitas Lab-related life raises, in particular about motivations to vary partly based on their ethnographic study of how we seek a just society exposure to policies that foster certain kinds Protestant Latinos’ that honors our religious faith of educational options. ~ political views, demonstrating that the through political institutions and ideas,” Faith and the Democratic Party Discussed at Henry Symposium Page 9 Does the Democratic Party have a and what we can accomplish for the “religion problem”? That was the question future—because now we are on the for a lively plenary panel at the 2017 Henry defensive and battling to protect things Symposium. Moderated by Washington that would have been a given if Hillary Post journalist Sarah Pulliam Bailey, and had won. including Burns Strider and Michael Wear Pulliam Bailey: There seems to be a (veterans of Democratic Party faith out- long history of Democrats being comfort- reach during past Presidential campaigns), able with religion when they are dealing the panel considered the 2017 election with people of color. But with white campaign and the future of the Democratic Christians there seems to be a disconnect. Party in reaching out to religious voters. Should we assume white Christians are Pulliam Bailey: What happened with the the staple of the Republican Party and write them off as our voters? Democrats and communities of faith in the Michael Wear (left), Sarah Pulliam-Bailey, Strider: We certainly shouldn’t take 2017 election? Burns Strider Strider: When the dust settles and there Evangelicals off the table—if we did that are 70,000 votes that you could have only confirmed Trump’s message that he we’d never have had a Jimmy Carter or an changed to win, anyone can look at the was the only one who cared about them. or a Bill Clinton. numbers and pick what they wanted to Pulliam Bailey: Let’s spend some time The one thing we all need to think about looking at the Demo- inside the Party is labeling entire swaths One of my first articles for Christianity Today was on cratic strategy going of religious people as being the same. [faith and the Democratic Party]…leading eventually forward. How im- When we examine people and decide that to an interview with Barack Obama, and I remember portant is the issue of if they go to church every Sunday then thinking at that time: “How can someone who is so abortion within the they’re Republicans, but if they don’t then open and so articulate about his faith not resonate with Democratic Party and maybe we have a shot at them—that’s a how should it be bad assumption. You’ve also got to Evangelicals?” handled by the party consider the culture: a Methodist living in Sarah Pulliam Bailey and by politicians? Grenada, Mississippi is very different blame. But I felt that the campaign did a Strider: If we want to from a Methodist living in Boston. There poor job expressing who Clinton is to white win the House of Representatives back, we are so many different ways to look at the Protestants. With a stronger faith outreach have to speak to all Americans with a voice country. scenario to white voters, we possibly could that’s welcoming and affirming… Many We’ve got to get people of faith back have overcome those numbers. Americans [are] feeling on the edges. We inside the Party and get [the Party’s] Wear: The campaign brought [faith should consider the overall situation and attention again. outreach director] John McCarthy on too base groups in the Democratic Party and late. He could have been an amazing asset, how we reconcile that with other parts of I think it’s wrong to say there’s [but things were already so set when he the country that also need to feel welcome. no place for pro-life in the arrived that] he could not impact the grass- I think it’s wrong to say there’s no place for [Democratic] Party. roots organizations. pro-life in the Party— had a Burns Strider Pulliam Bailey: Let’s talk about specific pro-life caucus as part of her office. strategies that Trump used, that Clinton Wear: If the Democratic Party keeps the Pulliam Bailey: I’m curious about could have considered—or started some of abortion debate centered on whether it whether there are religious people on the her own. should be legal or illegal, the Democrats left who we should be watching as future Wear: Pressure was building in evangel- will usually win. But over the last several leaders. ical communities over the Obama years. years, the Party has moved to making Wear: The Democratic Party right now There are two ways to address the is split into basically thirds: one-third situation: relieve the pressure by The future of the Democratic Party will white Christian; one-third non-white proposing different policies that depend on third culture candidates…who Christian; and one-third religiously address concerns, or—as Trump are able to move in and out of different unaffiliated and other faiths. Obama was did—stoke the pressure. Trump cultures in an authentic way. largely able to paper over those asserted that these are extraordi- Michael Wear differences, given his unique abilities. nary times and we need to defend The future of the Democratic Party will Christians, and then portrayed himself as federal funding of abortion and repeal of depend on third culture candidates like the only candidate who could help them the Hyde Act part of the party platform. It’s Barack Obama who are able to move in find a way out. Clinton had opportunity to a completely symbolic effort—it’s not and out of different cultures in an speak directly to these voters’ concerns, to going to happen because you can never authentic way. And I think there’s a lot of give a different vision of the political role pass a budget with that included. And hope for that—I think we just need to of Christians in 21st century America. putting that on the platform damaged the usher in a new generation. ~

Instead, she was silent on the issue, which Party’s chances and hurt our own agenda For much more, and to see the entire discussion: https:/vimeo.com/218808576 Student Research Fellows Participate in Henry Institute Civitas Lab Page 10 As part of the Henry Institute’s ongoing Abbie Schutte Jonathan Winkle efforts to explore the role of Christianity in Senior Freshman public life, each year we support student Major: Political Science Major: Political Science research fellows as part of our Civitas Lab Minor: Sociology, Urban From: Caledonia, MI (formerly the Faith and Citizenship Lab). Studies Calvin College professors mentor student From: Kansas City, MO researchers as they collaborate together on Abbie and Jonathan worked with Calvin political science professor Micah Watson on a scholarly project. Along the way, the Challenges for the Next President series (see page 3). Jonathan was also involved students gain a better understanding of with Henry Institute Director Kevin den Dulk in his research on water and justice. both their research topic and the scholarly Abbie initiated her own research project into church support for adoption and foster process, as well as enhancing valuable care, utilizing her work as the topic of her political science honors thesis and authoring a skills in writing and technology. paper which she presented at the Institute’s Symposium on Religion and Public Life. During the past year, nine student researchers worked on ten different Shiki Hino Julie Bylsma projects, with funding from Calvin’s Faith Senior Senior and Citizenship Initiative, the Henry Major: Economics and Major: Biology Institute’s Civic Education Fund, the Mathematics From: Caledonia, MI Nagel Institute for the Study of World From: Asago, Japan Julie spent her second year Christianity, and the Mellema Program in Shiki spent the summer in the Civitas Lab working Western American Studies. Each student and academic year in the Civitas Lab with on the Returning Citizens and Restorative works primarily in one area of research, Becca McBride (political science Justice project with Jason Van Horn with one professor, but the Civitas Lab professor) focusing on her ongoing work (Geology, Geography and Environmental brings the entire group together regularly and research regarding global interaction in Studies). She graduated mid-year, but to discuss their work, develop community, transnational adoption. continued using specialized software to brainstorm ideas, share project insights, “The Civitas Lab and research with create an interactive map of community and sometimes divide labor. Dr. McBride were much needed opportuni- resources for re-entering Kent County “Over the past fourteen years, the Henry ties for me,” noted Shiki. “As a first citizens as they are released from Institute has supported 67 student assis- generation college student, I wouldn’t have incarceration. She presented her work at tants, connecting them with opportunities known where to search for these challeng- the Symposium on Religion and Public to learn research processes in various ing, yet rewarding academic experiences, Life in the spring, participating on a disciplines while experiencing the caring and I am very grateful to the Institute.” criminal justice reform panel. mentorship of Calvin faculty,” according to Institute Director Kevin den Dulk. “Our Kara Bilkert James Owens mission—to encourage scholarship and Senior Sophomore promote active public engagement—is Major: Sociology, Social Major: Sociology, clearly exemplified in our Civitas Lab and Work Studio Art student research fellow program.” The fall of 2017 will bring new students From: Cleveland, OH From: St. Louis, MO into the Civitas Lab as research fellows to Kara’s second year in the Civitas Lab with Roman Williams from the work on a GIS mapping project, continue Calvin Sociology Department was spent focusing on the Visualizing Faith and Citizen- exploring water and justice issues, and ship Project. The work explored images of faithful citizenship through photos collected pursue other current topics. from Calvin students studying in off-campus programs. “Having the opportunity to explore ideas of faith and citizenship through the medium of photography with students Isaac La Grand who traveled abroad was an inherently unique research process,” according to Kara. Senior “It’s curious to see how first year and senior Calvin students alike view faith and Major: History, citizenship on an international platform.” James joined their efforts during the year as Philosophy well. The project was included as a public exhibit at the Henry Institute’s Symposium From: Grand Rapids, MI on Religion and Public Life in the spring.

Isaac spent his year in the Civitas Lab Two students are working with faculty this summer with Henry Institute funding: working with Calvin College history Katherine Post is examining issues around militant masculinity in evangelicalism professor Kristin Du Mez as she continued with Kristin DuMez (History Department), largely focusing on trends from the 1970s her research on the religious faith and through today. They are examining militant/patriarchal ideology in Christianity with background of for a book instances of accepting, allowing, and in some cases perpetuating, abuse. she will be publishing on the topic. They Isabelle Selles is working with Jeffrey Bouman and Andrew Haggerty of the Calvin also explored the interaction of Islamic Service-Learning Center to review relevant literature on how college affects students fundamentalism and family values generally. They plan to develop a survey for Calvin alumni exploring whether student politics, presenting their research at the participation in service-learning activities while in college influences post-college civic Symposium on Religion and Public Life. and political expression. Civitas Lab Student Researchers (continued from page 10) Page 11

Noah Schumerth Erica Buursma Sophomore Junior Major: Geography and Major: Sociology Architecture Minor: Gender Studies, From: Appleton, WI Spanish, Communications Noah mapped and researched From: Grand Rapids, MI conflicts over public lands in the western United Erica joined the Civitas Lab to work with sociology professor States, working with Professor James Skillen of Mark Mulder. They explored Latino congregations, including attitudes and the Geology, Geography and Environmental activities related to civic engagement, as part of Mulder’s Latino Protestant Studies Department. Congregations Project (funded by a Lilly Foundation grant) and utilized “My work documenting violent incidents against interview transcripts to better understand Latino civic and social engagement. public land agencies taught me how violence and Erica noted, “The Civitas Lab offered me a platform to explore my interests intimidation can go untold or unseen, even in with a supportive mentor and understanding peers. I thoroughly appreciated today’s society,” reports Noah. “The violent talking through research difficulties and exploring new opportunities at the incidents, even against rangers and volunteers, monthly meetings, but I most valued my experience presenting with Professor served as a reminder of the need for God’s love to Mulder at the Henry Institute Symposium on Religion and Public Life, where preside over any political belief or debate.” I encountered research through academic eyes and fully enjoyed my time.” Clergy Study Funded by Louisville Institute Grant Additional Reading on In 2016, Henry Institute Research affiliations, with cultural assimilation Clergy Attitudes & Activism Fellow Corwin Smidt received a $25,000 further diminishing many differences American Evangelicals Today grant from the Louisville Institute to earlier linked to custom and heritage. Written by Corwin E. Smidt continue his research on American Organizationally, religious matters have Published by Rowman and Littlefield in Protestant clergy. Using survey data that changed as well, with more parishioners 2013 covers more than twenty-five years, Smidt embracing faith to attain subjective well- Pastors and Public Life: the Changing is examining the social characteristics, being and resolve personal problems Face of American Protestant Clergy theological perspectives, political views, rather than to understand theological truths Written by Corwin E. Smidt and levels of political activism of clergy or foster faithful living. A larger segment Published by Oxford University Press in in the United States. of American society today contends that 2016 American pastors occupy a unique moral convictions should remain a private position as leaders within religious and matter, and there is growing polarization Pews, Prayers and Participation: public circles as they work at the within American electoral activities. Religion and Civic Responsibility in “grassroots” of American faith life, Social and political environments are America fostering and sustaining spiritual vitality changing, and there are challenges within Written by Corwin E. Smidt, Kevin R. in their congregations. Their collective church denominational structures as well den Dulk, James Penning, Stephen efforts significantly shape the nature of as generational shifts within the Monsma, and Douglas Koopman religious concerns within American composition of the clergy. Published by society. Smidt will compare the new 2017 survey Press in 2008 Additionally, their authority as church information to earlier survey data (from Pulpit and Politics: Clergy in American leaders makes them uniquely influential 1989, 2001, 2009) to trace the impact of Politics at the Advent of the Millennium in public affairs. Churches are key social cultural change on American clergy. For Edited by Corwin E. Smidt institutions that shape the moral thinking those scholars who wish to use the data Published by Baylor University Press in and behavior of their members. As central themselves, data files will be publicly 2004 figures within these moral communities, available through the web-based American pastors play a significant role in the life of Religious Data Archive (ARDA). Upcoming Pruis church members and possess a level of Smidt’s unique research uses survey authority not typically enjoyed by other responses from clergy in 10 Protestant Rule of Law Lecture community leaders. denominations: five mainline (Disciples Are International According to Smidt, the environment for of Christ, Evangelical Lutheran Church clergy has changed dramatically over the of America, Presbyterian Church USA, Institutions Dispensable? past several decades. Religion has become Reformed Church in America, and United —featuring Rod Ludema, Georgetown a matter of personal choice for congre- Methodist Church) and five evangelical University [formerly U.S. Dept. of State; gants. Rising educational levels and denominations (Assemblies of God, White House Office of Economic Advisors] increased geographical mobility have Christian Reformed Church, Mennonite weakened historic ties between social and Church USA, Lutheran Church Missouri November 2, 2017 at 3:30 pm ethnic group membership and religious Synod, and Southern Baptist Convention). Meeter Center Lecture Hall Henry Institute Research Fellow Activities Page 12 Over the past year, the Henry Institute has been pleased to sponsor the work of five senior research fellows. Todd Huizinga published W hat Europe Can Learn from Trump (in German, from Vergangenheitsverlag, Berlin) and an article in Christentum und politische Liberalität entitled “Christian Faith and Politics in the Postmodern Age.” He also presented “The EU and Global Governance” at the Calvin College January Series in 2017 [https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ehY-I_z03MI] and spoke at the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, for Hillsdale College, at the Henry Institute Symposium on Religion and Public Life, and in Belgium, Hungary, the Netherlands and Germany. He gave numerous radio, television and print interviews in the United States and abroad throughout the year.

Stephen V. Monsma published his final book, The Challenge of Pluralism : Church and State in Six Democracies, with J. Christopher Soper and Kevin R. den Dulk (Rowman and Littlefield). He also wrote “What is an Evangelical? And Does it Matter?” for the Christian Scholars Review, which was published in their Summer 2017 issue. Steve died in February after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (related article on page 2).

Corwin E. Smidt published two articles: “The Continuing Distinctive Role of the Bible in American Lives: A Compara- tive Analysis” as part of The Bible in American Life (Philip Goff, Arthur Farnsley II & Peter Theusen, eds.), and “The Role of Religion in the 2016 American Presidential Election (in Zeiutschriff fur Religion, Gesellschaft und Politik). He also presented three papers at the Henry Institute Symposium on Religion and Public Life (one with Mikael Pelz and one with James Guth and Lyman Kellstedt). Smidt served as Past-President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, continued his ongoing research under a Louisville Institute grant surveying clergy in ten Protestant denominations (see page 11), and taught a class on “Analyzing Reform Proposals in the American Presidential Selection and Election Process” at Calvin College. Darren Walhof published The Democratic Theory of Hans-Georg Gadamer (Palgrave Macmillan). Walhof also presented academic papers at the North American Society for Philosophical Hermeneutics in College Station, Texas; at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark; and at the Canadian Hermeneutic Institute in Calgary, Alberta. He served as a moderator of the Henry Institute Symposium on Religion and Public Life. Henry Institute Co-sponsors Gary Haugen at January Series Lecture On January 11, the Henry Institute co- IJM has used field officers, local advocates be allowed to go free. sponsored Until All Are Free: a Look at in policing and courts across the world to “It is time to awake the Slavery Today and the Church’s Invitation bring justice reforms and relief to people.” slumbering giant of the to End It, a lecture by Gary Haugen, CEO According to Haugen, God has placed us church again,” Haugen and founder of International Justice Mission at a unique moment in history: he wants to said. “On the whole, we (IJM). The event was part of the Calvin use us to end slavery permanently. Forty- are sleeping. Each of us College January Series, one of the leading six million people are illegally held in is simply and lovingly lecture/cultural arts series in the country. slavery today—more than at any other time called to wake up our “Gary Haugen has dedicated his life to in history. Slavery is a $150 billion own churches—to join God in this great vulnerable people across the globe who live business, with more profits than Coca Cola, moment of ending slavery.” IJM has called with violence and yearn for justice,” noted Disney, General Electric, IBM, Chevron, for September 24 to be Freedom Sunday Institute Director Kevin den Dulk in his Wells Fargo Bank and Exxon Mobile (www.ijm.org/freedom-sunday), with people introduction at the lecture. “His work as a combined. Yet Haugen believes that while “around the globe asserting that enough is human rights attorney and director of the slavery is more prominent than ever, it is enough.” U.N. investigation into the Rwandan geno- also more stoppable. “Over 160 years ago, Frederick Douglas cide, along with other experiences, showed Every country has laws against slavery, said, ‘Let the people of God array their him the real costs of everyday violence, but it persists simply because there is impu- immense powers against slavery and slave injustice, and violations of citizen’s rights nity. The laws are not enforced, and holding and the whole system of crime and governments are not doing their blood would be scattered to the winds.’” “What gives me hope? That the creator of the God-given job to seek justice. But Haugen continued, “For the first time in universe is a God of justice.” Gary Haugen throughout history, as govern- history, that may be true in our time, but —as well as the opportunities to work ments condone injustice, God has until it is, we just aren’t going away until through the justice system even when it is given common everyday Christians the all are free.” ~ corrupt and complicit in violence —to dignity of responsibility, sending them to See the lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch? restore and rescue victims. Since 1997, governments to demand that the oppressed v=RaKe1SrVHek