Ideas that changed the world

Ideas change the world for better or worse. Three 20th century women with clashing creeds unleashed their ideas on the world for better … or for worse. Margaret Sanger, Ayn Rand, and St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta each affected the world in profound ways.

Wouldn’t it be something if you could get them into a room together for a conversation on how they formed their creeds? Wouldn’t it be even better if you had the great English writer, philosopher, and poet, GK Chesterton on hand to moderate?

Guess what, that’s what Iowans for LIFE did through the power of theater. We distilled the writings and speeches of these prominent 20th century thinkers into a 49 minute evening of breathtaking conversation.

Here is an excerpt, which you can read below and watch above:

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GK CHESTERTON:  My dear St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, what is your creed?

MOTHER TERESA (quietly, calmly):  God is love. Love your neighbor as yourself.  Love until it hurts.

[Pause for the audience to contemplate her simple words.]

So tell me, Mr. Chesterton, what do you make of this clash of creeds?

CHESTERTON: Frankly, I’m baffled. Two of you fine ladies are American citizens, one by birth, the other through immigration.

I’m not sure what to make of you, because America is the only nation in the world that is founded on a creed, and it sounds very different than either of yours.

That creed is set forth with dogmatic and even theological lucidity in the Declaration of Independence.

This Declaration is perhaps the only piece of practical politics that is also theoretical politics and also great literature.

It enunciates that all men …

SANGER (with a smile on her face): … and women!

CHESTERTON: [smiles and bows head] … are equal in their claim to justice, that governments exist to give them that justice, and that their authority is for that reason just.

By inference it condemns atheism, since it clearly names the Creator as the ultimate authority from whom these equal rights are derived.

In many respects, ladies, it seems as if Mother Teresa’s creed which acknowledges a Creator is more American than either of yours.

AYN RAND:  Nonsense, Chesterton! You can ignore reality, but you can’t ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.

America is culturally bankrupt.

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The conversation really heats up when Chesterton asks what they think of abortion. Again … our script is based on the actual words of each protagonist. You can watch the entire performance for free online. Just click here. Be sure to share with a friend.

Some people tune out when the subject of abortion comes up. IFL uses different approaches, including the theatrical arts, to breakthrough the self-imposed barriers each of us is capable of erecting.

A Clash of Creeds forces each of us to think carefully about what we believe … and why.

Watch it now. Let us know what you think of the ideas that changed the world.

[Iowans for LIFE’s banquets are always THE best! You’re going to learn, be well-fed, AND be entertained. Reserve your spot at this year’s banquet, A ROYAL CHILD Christmas Gala. Tables are ten feet apart to respect social distancing protocols.]