FIRST THINGS magazine is partnering with Christendom College to host an intellectual retreat this coming June in Washington D.C. — but time is running out to sign up.
The topic of retreat will be the Common Good: “What is the place of the Common Good in political life?”
Through seminars, discussions, and the reading of historic texts, participants will lean in to reflect on “the nature and function of the Common Good” from a Godly perspective.
See all the details here: www.firstthings.com/events/the-common-good
FIRST THINGS magazine is a project of the Institute on Religion and Public Life. This interreligious, nonpartisan research and educational 501(c)(3) organization publishes 10 editions each year.
The Institute was created “to confront the ideology of secularism, which insists that the public square must be ‘naked,’ and that faith has no place in shaping the public conversation or in shaping public policy.”
Richard John Neuhaus and his colleagues in 1989 wanted to build a space where false presumptions could be questioned, debated and discussed in an educated and fair manner.
The mission of the IRPL to “articulate a governing consensus” is in support of several Biblically sound concepts.
As the FIRST THINGS website defines them, the Institute stands for “a religiously pluralistic society that defends human dignity from conception to natural death; a democratic, constitutionally ordered form of government supported by a religiously and morally serious culture; a vision of freedom that encourages a culture of personal and communal responsibility; and loyalty to the Western tradition that provides a basis for responsible global citizenship.”
It is a blessing that God is allowing FIRST THINGS magazine to circulate so broadly. Especially great news, the highest circles of America’s great minds are using this as a source for conversation and contemplation.
Besides the publication, the Institute on Religion and Public Life also hosts several intellectual events for the public as well as private programs.
The Common Good event is under their category of Intellectual Retreats. These events are held twice a year and the public square is invited to attend. Intellectual Retreats provide readers with a series of seminars and other environments.
Intellectuals of the Institute’s leadership, editors, and authors present a certain topic, “The project aims to equip individuals to serve as a leaven in our culture, supporting the long term advancement of a truly free society,” as FIRST THINGS notes.
At The Common Good retreat, participants will gather in Washington D.C. on Friday, June 7th through Saturday, June 8th. The host site is Catholic University of America, a campus that has long-held high standing amongst our nation’s greatest minds.
The aim of this retreat is not only to pour information, but so much more to host discussion.
In order to do this, reading materials are a large aspect of the weekend’s experience. Participants will receive the full list upon signing up, but authors include Plato, Augustine, Hayek, and Milton Friedman.
The hosts have a few goals for this retreat and make these plain to those considering attendance.
Indeed, as expected, their mission for the retreat is presented quite like an academic syllabus:
– Develop a nuanced understanding of how philosophy and religion can mutually inform and shape our views on the common good.
– Consider the future of the common good in light of classical and more contemporary commitments, diagnosing contemporary maladies and reflecting upon sources of renewal.
– Reflect on human beings as workers, church members, families, and members of society ordered to the highest good.
If you feel drawn to this stellar engagement, make arrangements now before spaces fill up or registration closes — time is running out.
More information can be found on the FIRST THINGS website, at www.firstthings.com/events/the-common-good
