(Editor’s Note: Lora Burbage recently attended a learning event at the Acton Institute. She describes her experiences below. GRIH is proud to have reimbursed her airfare to help her make the most of this great opportunity.)

The Acton Institute, a think tank for the study of religion and liberty, holds a very intellectually stimulating annual event called “Acton University”. I was privileged to attend this four day event in June. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, the Acton Institute has organizations in South America, Africa, and Europe. There were 350 in attendance with 51 countries represented at this event. The ideas discussed at this seminar will surely be spread all over the world.

We were allowed to choose from over 50 courses with topics such as: globalization, economics, family, stewardship of the environment, the role of government, and world poverty. In each of the courses, we were shown how biblical principles of freedom and morality can be applied to the ills we face in our society and abroad. I thoroughly enjoyed each class, especially since it examined the philosophy of our problems from a Judeo-Christian worldview. There was a question and answer period after each lecture which was very helpful.

We heard from professors and lecturers from around the world, including Rev. Robert Sirico, the president and cofounder of Acton Institute. At one of the dinner lectures we were privileged to hear from Lord Brian Griffiths. (Besides other positions, he is the Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs, a member of the House of Lords, and at one time served as special advisor to former Prime Minister Thatcher)

As a homeschooling parent, debate coach, and civics teacher, I learned so much that will help me teach and train the next generation. Some of the courses I chose were on economics. As a new student to this discipline, I now have a better understanding of the philosophy behind various schools of thought and how the right to private property is essential to a healthy and flourishing free market economy. Other courses I took were about public policy, where I clearly saw how the rule of law and limited government are so critical to a stable government. These topics have direct connections to the policy resolutions we debate about each year and the civics course that I teach.

I came away with an even greater appreciation for our country, even with its imperfections and deterioration in many areas of society. Yes, we have much work to do to gain back the freedoms we have allowed to erode, but overall our government is stable. As I talked with people from other countries, I realized we take so many of our rights, privileges and opportunities for granted. My roommate at Acton was a lawyer and a teacher of constitutional law in Brazil. She is well versed in our Constitution and teaches it at the beginning of her courses. She remarked that we have made only 27 amendments in the last 200 plus years, while the Brazilian Constitution of 1988 has been subject to 56 amendments. We do enjoy stability because of our foundation that was set upon Judeo-Christian principles.

Mahalo nui loa to Grassroot Institute and Acton Institute for giving me the opportunity to attend this incredibly enlightening University.