The Lincoln Program in America's Founding Principles - 2021-2022 Academic Year

Some Americans on the political left condemn the American Founders - and perhaps even America itself, for being the product of racism. In this view of things, America belongs to people of one race, maybe even still today. Some on the far right seem to agree, except that they're happy about it and wish to preserve it. But what if both groups fundamentally misunderstand America? What if the American idea has always been to affirm that America has always been - in her ideals if not always in practice - a country that belongs to "We the People" who are "created equal"? In the inaugural year of the Lincoln Program in America's Founding Principles, ten students will join Dr. Reddinger in discussing Lincoln's political thought, particularly as seen in his most famous speeches. President Lincoln was one of the great expositors of the political thought of the American Founders. Students will consider his claim that America has never been inherently racist but has always been, both in its ideals and in the U.S. Constitution, a country in which "We the People" truly means people. Students will also consider other questions as well: was Lincoln actually a tyrant? What does economics have to do with Lincoln's political thought? What presidents after Lincoln were faithful borrowers of Lincoln's ideas and statesmanship? What does it mean to be a good statesman? What does it mean to live in a democratic republic? This opportunity is available to Regent University Honors College students. Only ten students will be admitted. Students who are admitted to the program will receive two free books (one a collection of Lincoln's speeches and a second an analysis of Lincoln's political thought by this year's guest speaker). Students will study approximately one speech per meeting for ten meetings dispersed throughout the 2021-2022 academic year. Most discussions will be led by Dr. Reddinger of Regent University, but they will also have the opportunity to meet with and learn from a respect scholar on Lincoln's political thought - Dr. Jason Jividen of Saint Vincent College. Students who complete the program will satisfy 10 (half) of their required Life Leadership Honors Tutorial points for the entire academic year.