This online conference is an intensive First Look at the new Stoa Team Policy Debate Resolution. Unlike a typical debate camp, there are no lectures on debate theory, no lab groups, and no practice rounds. The focus is on learning about the resolution. Our high-class speakers provide this, from a variety of different perspectives, directly to students.
Understanding Climate Change
Hosted by the Values Advocacy Council in collaboration with IPS, Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, President of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, will give a talk titled, “Understanding Climate Change: Combining the Insights of Biblical Worldview, Theology, and Ethics with Science, Economics, and Politics.” In his talk, Dr. Beisner will address these and other questions: What’s really behind climate-change catastrophism? Sound science, pseudo-religious culture, or something else? Is global warming real, manmade, unprecedented, and an existential threat? How can we know? Why do global elites demand that everyone forfeit abundant, affordable, reliable energy from hydrocarbons (“fossil fuels”) for … Read More
Respect for Marriage Act: Evaluating Biblical Merits
June’s Dobbs Supreme Court ruling effectively overturned Roe v. Wade and set off a firestorm of abortion-focused protests, debate, and fresh political campaigning across the United States. However, the contention has not stopped with abortion but has now spread to the marriage issue, reigniting the debate over whether there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. The re-emergence of this issue to the national spotlight was largely catalyzed by Justice Clarence Thomas’ statement in his concurring opinion to Dobbs that the past ruling on same-sex marriage in Obergefell is “demonstrably erroneous” and that the Supreme Court has “a duty to … Read More
Reflections on the Dobbs Decision
Last month the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Mississippi law banning nearly all abortions in the state. Fierce debate, large protests, and even acts and threats of violence quickly followed, highlighting America’s growing cultural and political division. With many self-proclaimed Christians on both sides of this issue, it is important that we – as principled followers of Christ – set aside our partisan allegiance and personal experiences and consider Dobbs on its Biblical and Constitutional merits. Biblical Merits The central question of the debate over the original Roe v Wade ruling and now the Dobbs v … Read More
Baby Formula Crisis – Economic Lessons
Oftentimes it is difficult to see the effects of government policy until a crisis reminds us just how much damage bad policy can inflict on our economy. A current illustration of this can be found in the current baby formula supply crisis in the United States. While there are factors outside of human control that have contributed (such as panic buying during the COVID scare and a recent bacterial infection at a production facility), government intervention in the marketplace greatly exacerbated the problem. The intervention came in the form of “price gouging” laws and protectionism. Let’s take a closer look … Read More