American civilization’s genius is in its synthesis of reason and faith. These foundations are under assault today from Islamists and radical secularists. Unless Western culture recovers its confidence within this synthesis and its own capability to magnify individual freedom and achievement, our future is limited.

This sharp commentary increasing and current drop of Western Civilization touches on historical moments-including the building of early universities in the centre Ages as well as the American Revolution-and figures-including Augustine, Aquinas, Edmund Burke, and Adam Smith-that exemplify the faith-reason synthesis in the centre of Western Civilization, as well as the present day villains that threaten to destroy it.