birth of freedom shorts series

November 03, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: Is it appropriate to consider the religious views of political candidates?

Acton Media’s latest Birth of Freedom short video is a timely message in the face of tomorrow’s election. In this video, William B. Allen, Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University, discusses how faith, “the most compelling part of one’s existence”, ought to fit in when evaluating a political candidate. Continue Reading...

October 28, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: How did Plato and Aristotle justify slavery?

In this week’s Birth of Freedom short video Sam Gregg, author of On Ordered Liberty, discusses the views that two influential ancient philosophers held regarding human equality and the practice of slavery. Continue Reading...

October 20, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: How did Christian slave owners justify slavery?

This week’s Birth of Freedom Video Short features Susan Wise Bauer, author of The History of the Ancient World. She addresses the question, “How did Christian slave owners justify slavery?”, describing how slave owners operated under a false (prescriptive instead of descriptive) understanding of the New Testament’s teaching concerning slavery. Continue Reading...

October 13, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: What happened to China’s Industrial Revolution?

Acton Media’s seventh Birth of Freedom short features Rodney Stark, author of The Victory of Reason. In the video, he discusses the question “Why didn’t China have an industrial revolution before the west?” Continue Reading...

October 07, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: Christianity and Human Equality

In the sixth Birth of Freedom video short, William B. Allen addresses the question, “What was Christianity’s Role in the rise of the idea of human equality?” In his discussion, which traces the Judeo-Christian origins of a “universal perspective,” he concludes that “what informs the spirit of Republicanism in the modern era, is this long development, this slow working-out of a specific revelation from God that leads human beings into the discovery of the fullness of their personality in the recognition of their universal status.” Continue Reading...

September 29, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: Is Secularism Neutral?

In this week’s new Birth of Freedom short video, expert Robert P. George explains why it is impossible for secularism to function as a neutral ground for debate. Acton Media’s video shorts from The Birth of Freedom are designed to provide additional insight into key issues and ideas in the film. Continue Reading...

September 22, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: Poverty in Medieval Europe

“If medieval Europe was so great, why were most medievals poor?” This is something you might wonder after viewing Acton Media’s new documentary, The Birth of Freedom. However, in this new video short, expert Sam Gregg reminds viewers that in order to make meaningful comparisons regarding the living standards of peasants in Medieval Europe, we must be mindful of historical context and technological progress to that point. Continue Reading...

September 15, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: Inventions in the “Dark Ages”

In this, the third video in Acton Media’s series of shorts accompanying its latest documentary The Birth of Freedom, Glenn Sunshine demonstrates how belief in human dignity spurred invention and innovation during the middle ages. Continue Reading...

September 08, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series: Judaism and Human Rights

The second in Acton Media’s series of shorts accompanying its latest documentary The Birth of Freedom, this new video asks the question, “How has Judaism contributed to human rights?” In the video, John Witte Jr. Continue Reading...

September 02, 2008

Birth of Freedom Shorts Series

Today Acton Media released a new video short titled, “What is Freedom?” In this short, experts William B. Allen and Samuel Gregg discuss the nature and implications of true freedom. The clip is first in a series of shorts designed to supplement Acton Media’s latest documentary, The Birth of Freedom. Continue Reading...