Adam Smith, a philosopher at the University of Dubuque, counterattacks the disenchanted War on Suffering. FPR President Mark Mitchell goes biblical to bring down a heightened politics of insanity. Brass Spittoon podcaster John Murdock looks at a key architect of religious politics and wonders what might happen if his blueprints were followed. Gerald Ford groupie and FPR perfect attendance award winner Jeff Polet opens by reflecting on political goats.
Highlights
Jeff Polet: Introduction
1:30 Statistical sirens
3:00 Humane oxymorons
5:15 Dirty politics
6:15 Animal farm
9:45 Oh yeah, the intros!
Adam Smith: “The Politics of Reenchantment”
10:15 A reading from St. Aldo’s almanac
11:45 Frontlines in the War on Suffering
20:00 Enchanting politics with fairies and green fire
24:00 Institutionalizing flatness
31:00 Supernaturally small
Mark Mitchell: “Politics in Babel”
33:00 Towers trump?
38:00 Name callers
42:00 Crashing symbols
46:00 Abraham skips the bricks
47:15 Hope in failure
John Murdock: “Back to the Future of the Religious Right”
51:45 “The Poll” and holy holes
57:00 Franciscan biography
62:00 White and wrongs
66:00 The limits of integrity
69:00 Polyface politics and ravines made for walking
Resources
Speaker bios and conference videos
Conference co-sponsor Plough
Thanks to Wendell Kimbrough for our theme music
