麻豆影院

Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought and Policy is disappointed by the state of political discourse, aims to help to improve it while at CU 麻豆影院

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Francis Beckwith, the 2016-17 Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought and Policy, is now on campus teaching courses, arranging the appearance of guest speakers on campus. He is the fourth person to hold the one-year visiting-scholar position.

Beckwith earned a PhD in philosophy from Fordham University and a master of juridical studies from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. He is professor of philosophy and church-state studies at Baylor University in Texas.

Beckwith recently won the American Academy of Religion鈥檚 . The academy recognized Beckwith鈥檚 book , published by Cambridge University Press in 2015.

The American Academy of Religion鈥檚 awards for excellence honor new scholarly publications that make 鈥渟ignificant contributions to the study of religion,鈥� particularly those of 鈥渄istinctive originality, intelligence, creativity and importance.鈥� The awards will be formally presented at the academy鈥檚 annual meeting in November.

Beckwith fielded five questions about his book, his appointment and the state of political discourse. Following is the exchange:

1.听听听听听 One of your book鈥檚 reviewers praised Taking Rites Seriously as clearing away 鈥渕any of the misunderstandings of religion that have marred discussions of faith and public life and corrupted the constitutional law of church and state.鈥� What is the most common misunderstanding of religion that has corrupted the constitutional law of church and state?

I听think the most common misunderstanding is that the views of religious citizens, especially on contested public questions, are never the result of rational reflection. There are numerous U.S. Supreme Court听opinions over the past 70 years in which some of the justices treat religiously informed views in this fashion. So instead of thinking of the separation of church and state as a wonderful institutional arrangement that allows for the flourishing of religious diversity and a robust and active religious citizenry, it is presented as if it were a proxy for the separation of faith and reason. That鈥檚 not to say, of course, that there may not be听religious views that one may think are in fact unreasonable. But, as I argue in the book, there鈥檚 no one-size-fits-all way to figure that out.听

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Although there was indeed intense reaction from some Protestants, many others reacted with a great degree of charity and kindness. But I think听both reactions are entirely defensible. If someone thinks it was a horrible mistake for me to revert back to Catholicism, I would be surprised, and disappointed, if they had not reacted intensely. I have too much respect for serious听Protestant believers to expect any of them to pretend as if their own beliefs are false. 听On the other hand, there are many Protestants who, though disagreeing with my reversion, continue to remain my good friends and academic听collaborators.听

As for the relationship between Catholics and Protestants, it is in general very good, especially in听comparison to 40 or 50 years ago. There are, of听course, religious divisions in this country, as there have always been. But, ironically, the divisions are probably more听pronounced between听traditional and progressive factions within specific religious communities rather than between听the听communities themselves. So what results is the odd phenomenon in which certain factions of American Protestants hope that a Catholic candidate for public office agrees with the Pope on social issues while certain factions of Catholics hope听the candidate doesn't. 听This would have been unimaginable in the 1940s or 1950s. 听

3.听听听听听 You are this year鈥檚 Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought and Policy: How did your religious and academic training shape your views on or understanding conservatism?

Probably my most formative influence is the family in which I grew up. My parents were regular mass-attending Catholics who were conventional Democrats. So they had both a sense of historical continuity with tradition as well as an appreciation for the role that government could play in making society more just. My siblings and I were always encouraged by our parents to read, discuss and debate听the political and social issues of the day. So this sort of听openness made it seem perfectly natural for me to explore conservative ideas as I entered my mid-20s. 听

4.听听听听听 When you were appointed to this position earlier this year, you made this statement: 鈥淲ith a presidential election upon us, an unexpected Supreme Court vacancy changing the year鈥檚 political trajectory, and so many public questions with which to wrestle, I cannot imagine a more exciting time to be the Visiting Scholar of Conservative Thought & Policy at the University of Colorado.鈥� Do you think the political discourse in the United States is adequately wrestling with these issues?

I don鈥檛 think so. And I think the main reason is because it has become much easier to insulate oneself from the more thoughtful versions of contrary points of view. Whether one is a conservative, a liberal or a progressive, you can create your own cognitive cocoon. You can literally edit out of your life web sites, networks, radio shows, newspapers, etc. that may challenge your point of view and/or push you out of your comfort zone. Combine this phenomenon with the fact that virtually all news is presented as if it were a form of entertainment intended to move the emotions rather than the mind, what results is a toxic brew that makes clear thinking and serious debate nearly impossible.听

5.听听听听听 Also at the time of your appointment, you praised the university鈥檚 leadership for striving to 鈥渃reate an environment in which true intellectual diversity can flourish.鈥� In the short time you鈥檝e been on campus, have you made any observations on the state of its intellectual diversity?

My first couple of weeks on campus have been terrific. I鈥檝e interacted with many members of the campus community in a variety of contexts, including new faculty orientation,听teaching my classes, meeting with students, and leading a lunchtime seminar in the听philosophy department. Obviously, my experience has been limited, but from what I have seen so far I鈥檓 pretty impressed with the campus听environment. I have been especially taken by how some faculty members and graduate students have gone out of their way to offer me a warm welcome.

The is housed in the at CU 麻豆影院.听The program has听upcoming events scheduled, and interested people may stay abreast of events by听.听The program鈥檚 next events include the following: George Yancey of the University of North Texas will give a presentation titled听"Conservatives in Academia: Is听there bias against them?" on Sept. 21;听and a panel of experts will discuss "Why are College Professors Liberal?" (a听Western Civ Dialogue Series Event) on Sept. 22. Francis Beckwith's next public speaking engagement, titled 听""听will听be held on Oct. 17 at Colorado Christian University.听

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