Classical Liberalism: A Treasury Worth Defending

The classical liberal tradition, properly understood, has been the foundation of the American Republic since its founding. The core tenets of this tradition include its commitment both to personal liberty and moral responsibility; its commitment to the rule of law and to limited government; its support for free markets and free enterprise, coupled with a confined but crucially important role for government in aiding those in need; and its support for the freedom of churches and religious associations to spread the Gospel and to leaven society with the spirit of Christian truth. It is a tradition worth defending.

Joseph Prud’homme is the Burton Family Chair in Religion, Politics, and Culture, and the director of the Institute for Religion, Politics,and Culture at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. 

This talk is a part of our Founding Freedoms Lecture Series, that seeks to help Capitol Hill Staff think more deeply about the freedoms bequeathed to this nation – and the religious tenets that undergird them.