Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson, Ph.D., is executive vice president of the Religious Freedom Institute in Washington, DC, and past dean of the School of Government at Regent University. His expertise, informed by time at the US Department of State and in the military, is on the intersection of war, conflict, and the ethics of security. He is the author or editor of 15 books, including Just American Wars, Politics in a Religious World, and Ending Wars Well.

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Heroes and Anti-Heroes: A Teachable Moment for the Next Generation

With the lines between good and evil portrayed as ever blurrier, distinguishing heroes, villains, and anti-heroes is critical

The Marshall Plan at 75: An Act to Promote World Peace

The Marshall Plan exemplified the alignment of values and interests good foreign policy should embody.

Just War Reasoning Overcomes Moral Ambiguity on War and Peace

Remarks delivered by Eric Patterson at Catholic University of America on Sept. 13th, 2022 on HR 1009.

Religious Freedom Day 2023 – Jefferson’s Virginia Statutes for Religious Freedom

Jefferson’s vision of freedom of religion continues to challenge Americans to strive for freedom at home and champion for others abroad

Ringing in 2023 With Hope

As the Sun sets on 2022 and rises on ’23, what are we to make of another annum come and gone?

“Silent Night, Silent Guns”: a Review of Tim Demy’s book on the Christmas Truce of 1914

The Christmas truce provides hope that there is a peace beyond the ugliness of warfare and sorrow.

The Danger of Revolutionary Idealism: the Violence of Collectivism

The Rise of Violent, Revolutionary Ideology in the 20th Century and its Christian Realist Tonic.

Neville Chamberlain declaring peace in his time: September 30, 1938
The Folly of Wishful Thinking Idealism: the Indwelling Sin of All Men

Wishful Thinking Idealism, unlike Christian Realism, believes that everyone, even competition, is fundamentally reasonable.

The Song of Deborah: a Call for Responsible Leadership

Human societies do not “fall into” a libertarian peace, nor do they self-organize at the grass-roots level into peaceful communes. No, they fall into anarchy, which is an open invitation to tyranny.

UN Releases Uighur Human Rights Report Despite Chinese Intimidation

The Uighurs would be in a very different situation if we could get Middle Eastern governments to restrict the flow of oil to China or if South Asian governments would say no to China’s tempting low-interest infrastructure projects.