Today on Kresta - June 17, 2009

Talking about the "things that matter most" on June 17
Live from Acton University in Grand Rapids, MI

3:00 – Sotomayor, Catholic Supremacy, and Protestant Approaches to Law
The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court raises the prospect that for the first time in history there will be a supermajority of justices on the same court affiliated to one degree or another with the Catholic Church. Indeed, if her nomination is successful—as most experts believe it will be—half of the Catholics who have ever been on the Supreme Court will be serving simultaneously. At the same time the number of Protestants on the court will fall to a historic low—with David Souter’s retirement, John Paul Stevens will be the lone Protestant. With Catholic representation on the land’s highest court at its apex, and Protestant representation at its nadir, the question must be asked whether this reflects a shift in the balance of legal influence reflective of underlying deficiencies in American Protestantism. We talk with Jordan Ballor about Sotomayor, Catholic Supremacy, and Protestant approaches to law.

3:20 – Islam, Markets, and a Free Society
Is Islam compatible with free markets or does it promote collectivism? We take an overview of Islamic sources on the issue of economic freedom and an examination of the newly developing "Islamic capitalism." Also we examine the critical issue of Islam’s ability to take on the challenges of modernity. Mustafa Akyol is our guest.

4:00 – Beyond Contracts / Father’s Day Initiative
Marriage and family play important roles in building and maintaining both a strong society and a market economy. Marriage and family breakdown have short and long term economic costs and myriad externalities. We talk with Jennifer Roback Morse about the family, marriage and going beyond contracts.

4:40 – Is Iran Headed for Revolution?
Before the Iranian election took place, Bridgitte Gabriel said this: “No matter who wins today, it will not make that much of a difference in Iran. All four candidates have been chosen by and approved by the Mullahs out of 450 applicants. Even though some of them are touted as moderates such as Mir Hussein Moussavi, they are all subscribers of the Mullah ideology and philosophy in one form or another. This is the reason why they were chosen to run.” She joins us today and we ask if the unrest in Iran changes her opinion and what this event will mean for Iran and its relationship with the West.

5:00 – America’s Founding and Natural Law
In his book Making Men Moral, Robert George questioned the central doctrines of liberal jurisprudence and political theory. In his next book, In Defense of Natural Law, he extended his critique of liberalism, and also went beyond it to show how contemporary natural law theory provides a superior way of thinking about basic problems of justice and political morality. He joins us today to discuss America’s founding on natural law.

5:30 – The Economic Thought of Augustine and Aquinas
The work of Augustine and Aquinas decisively shaped the early and medieval Christian Church, including its thought about the economic realm of life. Alex Chafuen examines their thought on economic matters, underlines the continuities and distinctions, and illustrates how they contributed to the future direction of economic thinking.