The Libertarian Christian Podcast (Libertarian Christian Institute)

Much of what is being said on the news and social media about abortion by both pro-choice and pro-life activists is just plain wrong. In this episode, three pro-life libertarian women "take the mic" to discuss some of the most common myths about abortion and to present a new way of thinking for libertarians to value both the rights of women and the unborn. While certainly compatible with Christian theology, the arguments presented herein are based on science, embryology, ethics, libertarian political theory, and free market economics. Buckle up! Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

In this FreedomFest Interviews episode, we discuss a serious and controversial topic: the death penalty. Doug interviews Demetrius Minor, the national manager for Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. They discuss Demetrius' personal journey and how a conversation with his pastor led him to change his stance on the death penalty. They also explore the moral, cultural, and political implications of capital punishment, as well as the challenges faced by those advocating for its abolition. Next, Doug interviews Crystal Martin, who shares with us a harrowing story about her family's death and her thoughts on restorative justice. Additionally, they shed light on the current state of the death penalty in the United States and the shifting perspectives within the conservative movement.

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Human flourishing depends on individuals who have an entrepreneurial spirit. In the past several decades, world poverty has plummeted in part due to capitalism and entrepreneurial endeavors. Chris Horst of HOPE International joins us today to talk about the importance of entrepreneurship for human flourishing.

David Forsyth recently welcomed Doug Stuart onto his Freedom Adventure podcast to discuss the Christian case for compassionate border policy.

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Dr. Michael Rectenwald is a former Marxist joining Doug Stuart to explain The Great Reset. Dr. Rectenwald is the author of twelve books, including The Great Reset and the Struggle for Liberty: Unraveling the Global Agenda (Jan. 2023), Thought Criminal (Dec. 2020); Beyond Woke (May 2020); Google Archipelago: The Digital Gulag and the Simulation of Freedom (Sept. 2019); Springtime for Snowflakes: “Social Justice” and Its Postmodern Parentage (an academic’s memoir, 2018); Nineteenth-Century British Secularism: Science, Religion and Literature (2016); Academic Writing, Real World Topics (2015, Concise Edition 2016); Global Secularisms in a Post-Secular Age (2015); Breach (Collected Poems, 2013); The Thief and Other Stories (2013); and The Eros of the Baby-Boom Eras (1991). (See the Books page.)

In this episode Dr. Rectenwald fleshes out questions explaining the connection between Marxism and woke ideology, and that connection to Klaus Schwab's Great Reset, a plan with the World Economic Forum to monopolize the world economy. The discussion highlights some key point including the seemingly innocuous nature of the gateway ideologies to Marxism - namely, social justice, anti-racism, etc. If you've been interested in understanding more about the Great Reset, listen to this episode and consider purchasing Dr. Revtenwald's book.

Main Points of Discussion:

00:00 Introduction

01:03 How did you come to reject Marxism and embrace libertarianism?

04:00 Connection between Marxism and "Wokism"

06:03 Can exploitation explain certain kinds of oppression? Was Marx 100% wrong?

10:30 Why can't a Marxist see the state as an oppressive institution? 

12:56 Is there a kind of social justice that isn't 'woke' or Marxist?

16:11 Woke Capitalism? The Long March - the Socialist takeover of the economy.

24:43 The Great Reset: What is it? 

29:20 The coordination of propaganda shrouded under the cloak of inevitability.

34:43 How to respond to the charge the Great Reset is a conspiracy theory? 

40:43 Conspiracy Theorists echoing an anti-Semitic trope?

42:00 Are you optimistic? What's your proposed solution?

44:03 Please buy the book directly from Michael - get a signed copy

Resources Mentioned:

https://www.michaelrectenwald.com/

Buy directly from his bookstore here: https://www.michaelrectenwald.com/apogee-bookstore

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Doug and Norman answer questions submitted by YOU the listeners on topics ranging from the NAP, self-defense, and military defense to Marxism, the media, and the culture wars.

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Doug Stuart and Dr. Norman Horn joined Buck Johnson on his Counterflow Podcast to talk about Faith Seeking Freedom and field some tough, interesting questions from Buck. If you didn't already catch this great episode on Buck's podcast feed, then you'll definitely want to listen to it now!

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• CLR's 2020 Issue
• Our last episode with Jason 
• Submit at CLR or check out the Mises Scholarship Conference

Cody Cook joins us once again to delve deep into the complex relationship between Christianity, libertarianism, and the contentious issue of violence and military service. Cody Cook, informed by his Christian anarchist and Anabaptist perspective, presents a critical analysis of various biblical passages often cited in discussions about Christians taking up arms or serving in the military.

Cook challenges traditional interpretations of the passage in Luke that suggests Jesus condoned his disciples buying swords, arguing instead for an understanding that aligns with fulfilling specific prophecies rather than advocating for self-defense. Backed by four solid reasons, including historical contexts and Tertullian's insights, Cook makes a compelling case for a nonviolent interpretation of Scripture.

The discussion touches on the delicate balance between the Christian impulse for self-protection and the promotion of long-term peace, debating the impact of Romans 13 on the present-day Christian libertarian thought. Cook and Stuart unpack the nuances around the topics of Christian nationalism and the implications of self-defense within a libertarian framework, understanding that these views may diverge within the Christian community.

Listeners will also get a glimpse into Cody Cook's literary contributions, including his books "What Belongs to Caesar," "Fight the Powers," and "Christian Nationalism," which provide further reading on these complex subjects and are available for LCI Insiders.

The dialogue brings forward the universal question of whether a Christian can reconcile serving as a soldier with their faith, as exemplified by the New Testament figure Cornelius. With a dose of humor and earnest reflection, Doug and Cody invite listeners to reconsider the interpretations that underpin their beliefs regarding violence and nonviolence in the New Testament.

Enrich your understanding of how libertarian principles mesh with Christian ethics and join our hosts as they navigate these critical issues with insight, reverence, and a willingness to challenge conventional viewpoints.

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NT Wright answers our questions about how the Church is to relate to the state and how Christians are to be followers of Jesus in our time and place. What does Church-State politics look like in the United States or in Great Britain? Are they the same? Wright answers our questions in this uniquely recorded episode. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

Join the co-authors of Faith Seeking Freedom to get a "behind the scenes" look at the the book's creation and the content of Chapter 4: Does A Free Society Have Limits?

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Jimmy Song recently welcomed Doug Stuart onto his podcast, Bitcoin Fixes This, for a wide-ranging conversation. Today, we are sharing that conversation with you.

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Jason Rink talks to Max Borders about his book, The Social Singularity, where they discuss the promise of a decentralized world. 

Jack Lloyd, a libertarian voluntaryist who's been promoting the liberty message for over 15 years, speaks about his new book, The Definitive Guide to Libertarian Voluntaryism. He provides an introductory explanation to this and other terms including the anarcho-distinctives: anarcho-capitalism, anarcho-communism/socialism, and why he prefers the term libertarian voluntaryism. Like many libertarians, Lloyd grounds his views in the libertarian principles of self-ownership and non-aggression, but seeks to add an additional layer in the voluntaryist element, namely, answering the question of how we make manifest consent and account for what he calls ethical apartheid.

Lloyd describes a more psychological understanding of how we got to this point with the state and civil governance. He identifies public schooling as a primary source of real, legitimate trauma in the lives of Americans, which results in very real problems in our decision making processes as we become adults. This underlying problem, Lloyd believes, explains why it usually takes a psychological shock to "wake people up" to the reality of what is happening with government and society today. Lloyd insists that we can't be "lukewarm" in our messaging; it's either the hot and energizing or cool and refreshing messaging that motives people to rethink things and take action toward different goals.

In addition to these foundational principles, Lloyd touches on some other topics important to libertarians: animal rights, environmentalism, and children's rights. While many of us have emotional attachments to our pets and other animals for any given number of reasons, Lloyd explains how an ethical system concerning human justice cannot meaningful translate to one upholding a category of animal rights. Certainly, this isn't to say that animals should be treated poorly, but that it doesn't fit into a framework of justice in consistent way. More broadly, problems arising from environmental concerns are best handled in terms of specifying particular property rights, rather than painting in broad strokes.

Lloyd also mentions children's rights. As a former juvenile defense attorney and government school teacher, Lloyd has a passion for children and the trauma, however unwittingly, they're put through as children and the impact that has on their adulthood. He's also sober-minded in approaching the relationship between parent's and children's rights, being careful to adhere consistently with the libertarian principles of self-ownership, non-aggression, and taking into account their developing capacity to meaningful consent. This includes regarding children as self-owners in their own right, not chattel property, but that their parents have the highest claim of guardianship, not the state.

Finally, Lloyd doesn't want to leave people hanging with the answer to "how do we get there?" How do we achieve a voluntaryist form of civil governance? He briefly explains his idea of not-for-profit government, and taxation is not the proper way to fund it.

Main Points of Discussion:

00:00 Introduction

01:22 What is Libertarian Voluntaryism?

06:44 What are the foundational axioms of Libertarian Voluntarism?

10:36 How do we maximize the reach of our liberty message?

14:36 How radical do we have to be in our messaging as libertarians?

19:28 What about animal rights and the NAP?

25:04 Can a libertarian voluntarist be an environmentalist? If so, how?

29:36 Do we owe a duty of non-aggression to other humans yet to be born?

33:38 What about the children?

38:34 What is the not-for-profit government model?

41:12 Concluding Thoughts

Resources Mentioned:

- volcomic.com - thepholosopher.com (Jack's wife's site) - The Definitive Guide to Libertarian Voluntaryism

One of the most common questions we get at LCI is “how do I find a church community where I can belong as a libertarian?” Chuck Gutenson joins us to talk about the values, characteristics, and qualities every Christ follower should look for in a church. How important is doctrine? Does right practice rule over right doctrine? What about “church shopping”? How important is it to be in a diverse church? And of course, what do you do if you’re a libertarian and disagree strongly with somebody else in your church? Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

Richard Beck joins us again to discuss his new book on Johnny Cash. Why was Johnny Cash so popular? How did he bring together gospel and murder songs? Was he an American patriot and how was he a subversive activist? Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

Theologians have struggled for almost the entire history of the Church to analyze and explain the violence attributed to God in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament. As libertarian Christians, this issue is often raised regarding the compatibility of libertarianism and Christianity. Some ancient theologians resolved the conundrum using allegorical interpretation. Many others have argued along the lines of the sovereignty of God and the enigma of certain elements of the divine plan. In this episode, theologian and pastor Greg Boyd gives us his take on the issue as described in his new book Cross Vision (a layman's edition of his larger academic monograph, Crucifixion of the Warrior God). If you're not a fan of this episode, you can try to allegorize it.

In this episode, we interview Hanna Henrikson, the President of Respect America, an organization dedicated to sharing the stories of individuals who have been affected by government coercion. Through these stories, they aim to foster connection and understanding among people from different backgrounds and perspectives. Hannah talks about their partnership with the Institute for Justice and Pacific Legal Foundation, as well as the power of storytelling in bridging political divides.

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Kick off the Christmas season with a cheerful short ebook by Tom Mullen, author of An Anti-State Christmas. Not only will you learn why Tom Mullen believes Jesus was the greatest libertarian, you'll get to read his hilarious poem about Christmas Eve during an era of government control during a pandemic.

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We pride ourselves at LCI on providing great "evergreen" content for Christian libertarians across the world. Nonetheless, addressing what is happening in the world right now is important as well, and to that end, we are starting up a new video series to do just that. We're calling it "Good News Bad News", and you'll be able to find it every few weeks on our Youtube channel. Each episode, our roundtable will talk frankly about 4 to 8 topics that we think are interesting, notable, and in some cases even fun in world events. To make it even more easily shareable, we’ll carve up shorter segments from the whole on single topics as well. We will rotate around with new people from time to time, and for this episode, we've got Doug Stuart, Kerry Baldwin, Matt Bellis, and me discussing cancel culture, a cashless society, Hamilton (the musical!), and civil disobedience – should Christians ever disobey their government?

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Kerry Baldwin was interviewed by Keith Knight of the Don't Tread on Anyone podcast to discuss the Christian libertarian views on women's ownership over their bodies, abortion, the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade.

• Check out Keith Knight - Don't Tread on Anyone, and Kerry Baldwin's work at MereLiberty!
• The Documentary on Restorative Justice: How to Love Your Enemy
• We answer a lot of these questions, and more, in our book Faith Seeking Freedom.
• LCI has been vigilantly covering this topic, make sure to check it all out!

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Jared Byas does theology and business, and he integrates the two in this episode about what it means to do business with a kingdom perspective. Jared has experience with launching businesses as well as organizational planning and family business consulting. He is also the co-host of The Bible for Normal People podcast, where he gets to work with one of his other passions: theology. Jared rarely gets to talk about how he integrates the two, so listen in to hear some insightful advice and stories from a businessman and theologian.

Dr. Eric Larson is an anesthesiologist in private practice in Grand Rapids, MI, and host of the podcast Paradocs. He joins us to talk about his experience with immigration, and he also shares some helpful information on what non-physicians need to know about the medical industry. 

It's still true even if it's a cliche: “kids are our future.” That's why reaching children with the message of liberty is important. Joining us today is author of the Tuttle Twins book series, Connor Boyack, who has not only created a way for kids to learn about liberty, they are excitedto learn about liberty. Boyack tells us a bit of the backstory on the Tuttle Twins, as well as how he as a dad solved a problem for many parents: reaching our children with the message of liberty.

In this episode, Doug Stuart speaks with Nilay Saiya, author of The Global Politics of Jesus: A Christian Case for Church-State Separation. They discuss the two primary ways Christians approach politics and what those errors are. Nilay discusses these approach in juxtaposition to so-called "Christian Nationalism." He posits a third approach which he believes is aligned with historic Two Kingdoms theology and borrows from Catholic social teaching. He called this approach, Prophetic Witness. Nilay Saiya is assistant professor of public policy and global affairs at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His research concerns the influence of religion on global politics. He is author of the book Weapon of Peace: How Religious Liberty Combats Terrorism (2018). He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame.

(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)

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Brian Zahnd joins us again to discuss the themes in his book, "Postcards from Babylon". The American Church is trending toward idolatry, and the Scriptures have a lot to say about what it means to live as exiles in empire rather than embracing the beast itself. With passion and eloquence, Zahnd helps us understand how Christians ought to live in the world but not be "of the world". Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

If you had to let the state do one thing only, what would it be? Roads? Libraries? Primary Schooling? Why or why not? In this episode, Doug and Norman answer this question, as well as discuss the ways in which we can expand our imaginations and offer legit alternatives to state-run goods and services. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

One year ago, it was widely acknowledged and discussed that for good or bad, 2016 had been truly extraordinary. As we now reflect on 2017, what are we to make of it?

In this episode, LCI contributor and Mimetic Theory expert David Gornoski returns to give a Girardian take on some of the top stories from 2017. Mixing theology, philosophy, sociology and anthropology, David helps us to interpret the past year and prepare for what may await in 2018.

Join us for our second episode where we answer questions you have submitted, as well as popular topics from our Facebook group. We talk about pacifism, pledging allegiance, prayer in public schools, what would happen if Adam and Eve never sinned, and more!

It can be difficult to promote liberty to your social circle, which is why we decided to  give you some tips on how to discuss libertarianism, especially to your Christian friends or family. Thankfully LCI has been working tirelessly since its creation to produce and provide pertinent content on the topic of Christianity and a free society!

• Still have questions? Our book Faith Seeking Freedom could be the answer!
•  Make sure to look at our Resources and Perspectives Pages. 
• Have you heard our Faith Seeking Freedom or Libertarian Christian Roundtable podcasts?
• The LCC team is going to Vegas for Freedom Fest 2022! We would love your support or to see you in person!

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Isaac Morehouse is longtime contributor to and friend of the Libertarian Christian Institute, and today he joins us to discuss his organization, Praxis. As its very Misean name suggests, Praxis is about action; specifically, it's about helping people to gain practical experience and skills which matter in real world business situations. For years, conventional wisdom has pushed on innumerable hapless Americans the idea that everyone must go to college --- even if they have no clear path for what line of work they intend to enter and must take on massive debt --- and that only this will prepare the individual for career success. As economic realities overtakes this flawed narrative, countless people find themselves over-credentialed and under-skilled, holding a degree but possessing few skills that employers actually care about. Praxis is in many ways bringing back the old apprenticeship model, in which participants learn practical skills on the job which prepare them for future endeavors. Isaac --- who we like to think of the Christian version of James Altucher --- talks to us about his journey creating Praxis, the lessons he's learned, how the job market is shifting, and what people can do to capitalize on these things. We won't send you any decorative certificates for listening to this podcast, but you'll probably pick up some useful knowledge.

Recently all four authors of Faith Seeking Freedom joined Chris Arnzen on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio to discuss the intersection between faith and politics. They also took listener questions sent in while they were on the air. Enjoy this extended episode!

In this episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, host Doug Stuart interviews John Odermatt, co-founder of the Lions of Liberty Network. John opens up about his journey towards becoming a leading advocate within the criminal justice reform movement, rooted in both personal experience and his Christian faith. His passion for the subject has been fueled by firsthand encounters with the injustices of the system, leading him to create and host the Felony Friday podcast, a platform that raises awareness about the issue and brings powerful stories of redemption from those affected. Odermatt's dedication towards reforming a broken system is a testament to the importance of addressing the consequences of crime in a restorative, compassionate manner.

A major aspect of the conversation about criminal justice reform revolves around the necessity for compassion and grace. Whether discussing rehabilitation, reintegration, or individual struggles, understanding the importance of mercy and forgiveness is an integral part of any lasting solution. As Christians, this approach aligns with the core teachings of Jesus and underscores the value of treating others with respect, regardless of their past mistakes. For John Odermatt, compassion plays a significant role in his advocacy efforts. Through his podcast and personal interactions, he emphasizes that providing second chances and acknowledging the humanity of those who have been through the criminal justice system can open doors for healing and reintegration. Odermatt highlights that one's past should not dictate their future, and a system that embraces restorative justice can foster genuine growth and change.

John Odermatt is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform and libertarianism. He began his journey in the world of podcasting nearly a decade ago, and has since become a co-founder of the Lions of Liberty Network. With years of experience under his belt, John now hosts the popular Finding Freedom Podcast, where he interviews individuals who have faced the injustices of the criminal justice system, as well as those who have overcome adversity and found success after incarceration. Raised in a conservative Christian household, John's personal experiences and background in law have shaped his compassionate approach to reform and liberty.

Main Points of Discussion: 00:00    Introduction     05:57    Pivoting to Finding Freedom     06:26    Criminal Justice Reform     12:28    Compassion and Responsibility     13:18    Growing in Faith     15:13    Taking Command of Our Liberty     19:10    Choosing Your Suffering     22:20    Overcoming Hurdles     23:43    Education in America     28:47    Libertarians during COVID     32:53    Technology and Tyranny     36:10    Resisting Sin and Oppression     39:42    Lions of Liberty Network     40:52    Conclusion

Additional Resources:

- Lions of Liberty Network: https://lionsofliberty.com/  - Finding Freedom Podcast: https://www.lionsofliberty.com/episodes  - Interview with Jacob Winograd: https://www.lionsofliberty.com/episodes/christianity-and-liberty-with-jacob-winograd  - Connect with John Odermatt on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnOdermatt  - Lions of Liberty on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LionsofLiberty 

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Reason's Editor-in-Chief joins us to discuss how to do journalism from a libertarian perspective, some of the unique advantages of that bias in reporting, and why it's important to be properly informed.

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Economists like competition because competitive markets create what the economist Tim Harford calls "a world of truth": we produce, as he puts it, the right things the right way and in the right proportions, with prices guiding them into the hands of the right people. This "world of truth" makes no assumptions about people's preferences, however, and it is entirely possible that people buy and sell things that corrupt their souls--that they exchange the truth of God for a lie, as it were. But this does not mean forsaking competition will make things better. In this episode, Art Carden explores the unintended consequences of government intervention to prevent or promote competition as well as implications of the Imago Dei for exchange and the institutions thereof. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

Libertarian Christian Ben Lewis joins Doug Stuart to discuss a Christian view of Bitcoin and monetary policy. Lewis explains some fundamentals of Bitcoin technology and properties and characteristics of real money and how our fiat currency system not only fails us in a practical sense, but also in a moral sense. Bitcoin is a decentralized technology with a fixed supply, both very important to maintain both the value and prevent monopolization. It uses open source software which is a proven way of building trustworthy source code.

Like gold (and precious metals) Bitcoin has the properties and characteristics of real money: scarcity, verifiability, transportability, durability, and fungibility. Lewis points out that Bitcoin does these things better than gold. Lewis also explains how goods become money, a process from being collectibles, to stores of value, to a medium of exchange and unit of account.

Doug and Ben draw out moral implications of using fiat money versus real money, discussing how decentralized currencies are fundamental to Christian ethics. Lewis appeals to Scripture to make his case using passages like Leviticus 19:36 and Proverbs 11:1. He points out that inflation (debasement of currency) was a problem in the Roman empire and these passages are specifically referencing the value of mediums of exchange used through the ancient world.

What's the time horizon for implementation of Bitcoin as a medium of exchange? It's hard to say, says Lewis, but gives several examples of Christians can use Bitcoin right now to support international Christian ministries. If you're new to Bitcoin or want compelling Christian reasons for adopting it, then please listen to our interview, Honest Scales and Balances: Ben Lewis and the Christian View of Bitcoin.

Main Points of Discussion:

00:00 Introduction 01:28 What is Bitcoin? 03:57 Can you trust the code? 09:20 When does Bitcoin become money? 16:50 Money as a means of choosing what we value 19:35 Petrodollar as an international tool of manipulation 20:59 Why should Christians care about monetary policy and Christian life? 29:30 How long will it take for Bitcoin to replace fiat currency? 34:00 Real world funding of Christian ministries - Afghanistan 36:00 Where and when can you find Ben Lewis? 37:24 Closing thoughts - honest scales and balances

Resources Mentioned:

Find Ben Lewis on his new blog, lewisb.me

Impoverished Afghan women are receiving emergency aid in crypto as the Taliban limits cash withdrawals and millions go hungry by Joshua Zitser, Business Insider

Thank God for Bitcoin: The Creation, Corruption and Redemption of Money by Jimmy Song, et al

Ep 225: Thank God for Bitcoin, with Jimmy Song

Ep 242: A Conversation with Jimmy Song

In this episode, Doug Stuart is joined by author Ryan McMaken to discuss his book Breaking Away: The Case for Secession, Radical Decentralization, and Smaller Politics. After exploring the roots and history of secessionist movements, the conversation moves to a more conceptual discussion where Ryan explains the meaning of decentralization, its associated benefits, and alternatives. Doug then asks Ryan to elaborate on the relationship between localism and federalism and how the tension impacts universal rights.

Acknowledging the recent relevance of secession, Doug and Ryan turn to practical considerations, rounding out the episode with a discussion on nuclear weapons, national debt, and the potential role of blockchain technology.

Ryan McMaken is a senior editor at the Mises Institute and co-hosts the Radio Rothbard podcast. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degree in public policy and international relations from the University of Colorado.

(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)

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On this episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, we respond to questions from you: the listener. Does a Christian's view of libertarianism differ from that of a secular libertarian, or from the philosophy of Ayn Rand? What should we think about ever-recurring issues such as abortion and gay marriage? And how about the much-discussed Great Wall of America? The gold standard, libertarian movies, and even ROADS: we discuss them all and more!

Question: What was the best part about this episode for us? Response: The listeners wrote the script so we didn't have to.

Jamin Andreas Hübner joins us to discuss how libertarian Christians can deal with the problem of being misrepresented by conservatives, progressives, or just about anybody. 

Dr. Phil Magness joins us to help us navigate the rather turbulent area that is Critical Race Theory (CRT). Phil is an economic historian; senior research fellow at AIER, as well as the Independent Institute; and author of multiple books concerning the intersection of race, political economy, international trade, higher education, and American history. We discuss if white individuals can be proponents or critics of CRT, if it is the only valid approach to understanding the problem of historical racial discrimination, the state's role in institutional prejudice, what a critical theory even is, post-modernism, the flawed NY Times' 1619 Project, and the downfalls of CRT in resolving modern racial issues in America.

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In this episode, Doug and Norman talk Church history with Prof. John Mark Hicks of Lipscomb University. Dr. Hicks's recent book Resisting Babel discusses the life and thought of David Lipscomb, an important historical figure in the American Churches of Christ in the 19th century. Living in Tennessee through the Civil War, his experience of the war greatly shaped his views on the state, and many people he influenced took a stand against violence entirely and refused to fight either for the Confederacy or the Union army during their conscription acts. Lipscomb's influence on the Churches of Christ as a "peace church" lasted until the mid-20th century. Resisting Babel was edited by Dr. Hicks and had contributions from multiple scholars from Church of Christ universities.

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How do you process and apply history? What do you really know about history in the first place? ...just trivia, or deep understanding that impacts your beliefs and actions? What's the purpose of government? ...and how does your understanding of history impact how you answer that question? Historian Jeff Nichols, of the History Comes Alive podcast, joins Doug Stuart to answer these questions and more.

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On the day of the 2018 midterm elections, Dr. Art Carden joins Doug Stuart to talk about the elections, how to improve the world after the election (no matter who won), and how to be a better proponent of economics and liberty. 

If you were approached on the street and asked what libertarians believe, what would you say? Would it be succinct? Or would it take a few minutes? Doug and Norman discuss some of the basics of libertarianism, providing both succinct and elaborate answers to common questions about the non-aggression principle, property rights, justice, and more.

(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)

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Do Christians need to be pacifists? What would that even mean or look like? Is it wrong to use a gun in self-defense? Ted Grimsrud, Senior Professor of Peace Theology at EMU, joins us to talk about the biblical roots of pacifism. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

On today's episode, we are joined by libertarian Christian economist Art Carden to tackle one of the most pressing and divisive issues in contemporary American politics: immigration. President Trump's stance on this issue was one of the key factors that propelled his victory in last November's election, but since then many of the hard-line promises he campaigned on have not come to fruition. This has caused some in his base to criticize him heavily, while others are thankful for this change (whatever the cause may be). It's no secret that even libertarians are split on how to think about immigration, and particularly its relation to property rights. Carden walks us through the economics of immigration, but also engages us on the theological-philosophical and ethical dynamics at work in how we think about borders, property, labor, and community. You could build a wall to keep this discussion out of your thinking, but we'd encourage you to take a more 'cosmopolitan' approach by listening to the episode.

On today's episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, we welcome our first guest: Dr. Jamin Hübner. Jamin is a professional theologian from South Dakota, where he currently serves as founding Chair of Christian Studies at John Witherspoon College. No stranger to controversy, he is quickly becoming one of the leading scholarly voices for Christian libertarianism. In this interview, you'll hear Jamin's fascinating intellectual journey towards Christian libertarianism, his take on the relation of the Church to the academy, and what he believes the future holds for libertarian Christian scholars. You'll also hear the official announcement of LCI's newest major program: the Christian Libertarian Review, with Jamin serving as our General Editor. This episode is somewhat longer than normal, but unlike the hollow promises of the state, it does not disappoint.

In this episode, Doug Stuart sits down with Patrick Carroll, a writer and editor at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) and a Libertarian Christian. They engage in a thought-provoking conversation at the Libertarian Christian Institute booth at Freedom Fest in Memphis 2023. Patrick shares his experiences at FEE, his passion for teaching the freedom philosophy to Gen Z, and his approach to writing on various topics. They also explore Patrick's journey to libertarianism, the influences that led him to embrace the philosophy, and his perspective on Christian anarchism.

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What if you just stayed home on voting day? Why would this be a better moral choice? Is there anything lost personally or socially if you choose not to vote? Chris Freiman joins us to talk about why it’s okay to not engage in politics, and why it might be the right moral choice.

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LCI recently released our Mission, Vision and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This document will provide a framework for LCI going forward, and also serve for branding purposes as a broad explanation of what we believe about the intersection of Christian theology and libertarian political philosophy. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring this statement and its five Core Values; discussing why they are in the document, what they mean, why we believe them, and how they fit into the bigger picture.

Core Value #2: A Free and Civil Society Depends Upon Respect for the Non-Aggression Principle

In the summer of 2018 Jason Rink participated in a panel discussion at the Texas Marijuana Policy Conference in Austin, TX. Jason joins us to discuss the conference and share further thoughts on how Christians can think about the issue of cannabis use. 

Kerry Baldwin is back on the show to discuss what critical thinking really is, why it's important, how to do it properly, why so many people seem to lack the ability to think critically, and how to conduct conversations with people using the Socratic method, in order to help them start thinking critically.

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Doug Stuart sits down with Domenic Scarcella, author of Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen: Reflections on the Core Social Conflict Revealed by Jesus Christ's Way of the Cross, to dive into the complex relationship between faith, being a good neighbor, and the expectations of citizenship. Scarcella unpacks the provocative themes of his book, crafted to challenge and enrich the reader's spiritual journey in under an hour, making it an ideal companion for devotion or quiet contemplation during Passion Week.

Throughout the episode, Scarcella discusses the significant shifts in Christian thought since Constantine’s era, highlighting how these changes have blurred the lines between ecclesiastical loyalty and civic duty. Citing the Good Samaritan parable, he emphasizes Jesus' teachings on the juxtaposition of societal roles and personal empathy, urging a return to the gospel's raw truths over societal impositions.

Listeners will engage with Scarcella's critique of modern Christianity's approach to scripture, his advocacy for deep and cognitive consideration of the Bible, and the importance of "insourcing ethics" rather than outsourcing them. His insights into the cognitive empathy presented in biblical narratives, and the competing loyalties faced by believers navigating being a good neighbor against being a good citizen, furnish a thought-provoking discussion.

Additional Resources:

• Amazon (paperback & Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/Good-Neighbor-Bad-Citizen-Reflections/dp/B0CL36FXWS/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
• Barnes&Noble (paperback & Nook): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144379266?ean=9798855665802
• Lulu (paperback): https://www.lulu.com/shop/domenic-scarcella/good-neighbor-bad-citizen/paperback/product-je56729.html?page=1&pageSize=4
• Domenic's Substack: https://GoodNeighborBadCitizen.substack.com
• Connect with Domenic on X: https://twitter.com/GoodNeighBadCit
• Connect with Domenic on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/domenicscarcella/
• Connect with Domenic on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/dom.scarcella/

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Should libertarian Christians only be known for what we are against? Why not be known for what we promote? Doug Stuart makes the argument that advocating for human flourishing is the best way to resonate with those we hope to convince. Audio Production by Podsworth Media.

The Libertarian Christian Roundtable, featuring Jason Rink who was at the Stop the Steal rally in Washington, D.C., discusses the experience of the January 6 protest/riot/insurrection/kerfuffle (nobody knows what to call it!), as well as the mindset behind those at the rally, and the truth about what really happened.

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In this episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, our guest is Matt Whitman, who hosts the 10-Minute Bible Hour and the Ironwood Rhino podcasts. He is a classical liberal, an ordained minister, and a committed husband and father. He's a student of History and the Humanities. He's also the co-host of No Dumb Questions, where he and Destin Sanlon, the other host and creator of the Smarter Every Day YouTube channel, discuss their different views on a wide range of topics, from science and engineering to our current connection with history.

They begin by discussing the history of the relationship between the individual and the collective in different nations. Matt talks about how ancient civilizations built upon one another but ultimately had oppressive regimes, while the Persians realized that citizens’ devotion was expedient for the service of the great king and therefore stressed the importance of tolerance. The Romans introduced a legal standard to ensure tolerance where they thought possible and the authority of the state where desired to keep control. However, Whitman argues that Persia has been misunderstood as an Eastern power when it was a forward-thinking culture that had a significant impact when it came into contact with Greece.

The two then address the Bible's passages, such as Romans 13, that seem to advocate for submitting to the government's authority, arguing that a negative hermeneutic should be used to understand these passages in context with the rest of the Bible. They also discuss Paul's letter to the Roman church and how he cleverly wrote about the ideal government.

The idea of Christian nationalism is discussed, as well as the dangers of mingling state power with faith. Both Matts believe in a more voluntary role for the state in promoting justice. They also discuss the dangers of using authoritarian tactics to combat authoritarianism, citing historical and biblical lessons.

Whitman shares his personal journey from Christianity to atheism and back to Christianity, explaining that it was based on philosophical and epistemological reasons, rather than anger towards God or others. He then emphasizes the importance of patience and tolerance in one's personal life and in politics as a libertarian. The discussion concludes with a discussion of Whitman's work visiting churches and attempting to bring people together.

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Dr. Norman Horn discusses Ayn Rand's controversies and contributions to libertarianism with Stephen Rose of the AnarchoChristian Podcast.

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Max Borders, Executive Director of Social Evolution, joins us to talk about how decentralization is the way out of the social mess we're in, but also how praxis is critical to personally achieving meaning in an age of dying legacy systems and emerging decentralist systems.

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Special guest Corey Nathan joins us to talk about the art of navigating contentious political conversations with grace and understanding.

Corey Nathan shares personal stories and insights, including his own experiences with public figures and the importance of relational interactions over transactional debates in persuasion. He also discusses the challenges of discussing the Israel-Palestine conflict and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging complexity and having empathetic conversations.

Throughout the episode, the conversation centers on engaging in civil dialogue, understanding the urgency people feel about political matters, and disarming contentiousness during conversations. The episode also covers Corey Nathan's personal journey of growing up in a Jewish family, becoming a Christian, and starting a podcast about discussing politics and religion without hostility.

Join us as we explore the wisdom and strategies for having respectful and empathetic conversations about politics and religion in this engaging and enlightening episode.

Additional Resources:

• politicsandreligion.us
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreysnathan/
• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talkin-politics-religion-without-killin-each-other/id1536169792

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We were joined by Dr. Mary J. Ruwart to discuss how she found libertarianism when she realized the "philanthropy" of government services were actually impairing people, what she learned about the harmful nature of regulations while working in the medical industry - which lead to the writing of Death by Regulation, and why we should not trust everything we are told buy the powers that be when it comes to our own health.

• Make sure to check out Short Answers for Tough Questions, which heavily influenced our book Faith Seeking Freedom.
• We also highly recommend reading Dr. Ruwart's other books!
• Learn more about the scary truths behind the health industry at the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN).
• Follow Dr. Ruwart on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

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Roger McKinney, author of God is a Capitalist: Markets from Moses to Marx, joins us to talk about his book, and we dive into the topic of envy and why Christianity's emphasis on the individual enabled society to think about the world differently, suppressing envy of those around us, and participating in enabling the wealth we enjoy in the 21st century.

Today we are going to talk about an issue that is familiar to most Christians but one they might not be inclined to associate with their libertarian beliefs. Christians believe in doing what is called “spiritual warfare,” and this has implications for what it means to engage the world we live in with the power of the gospel. What we hope to do in this episode is open up a discussion about the importance of understanding the battle for a free society within the cosmic framework of spiritual warfare.

Cody Cook is back for a deep dive into the complexities of interpreting Romans 13. Cody challenges traditional readings of these passages, suggesting that the Apostle Paul may have employed irony or even sarcasm when discussing the role of magistrates and the obedience due to them. Are rulers always to be obeyed, and do they consistently execute good? Cody argues otherwise, referencing external literature and historical context to support his claim.

Throughout the conversation, both Doug and Cody shed light on the responsibility of Christians to live a non-violent life, fueled by love that overshadows or catalyzes the judgment against oppressive rulers. They explore the nuanced Greek language and bring to the forefront the scholarly perspectives of T.L. Carter, along with thoughts from NT Wright and Michael Bird, suggesting a more ironic take on Paul's words.

Listeners will be invited to reconsider what it means to honor the magistrate and reflect on the broader implications of a duty-bound Christian conscience in the face of authority. This is a critical examination of libertarian and potentially anarchist views on governance, questioning if the state is indeed the sole model for societal order.

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It's obvious that throughout history, books have been one of the primary methods for communicating ideas. However, certain books stand out above the rest in terms of their perennial relevance and impact across hundreds or even thousands of years; these have come to be known as the Great Books. In this episode, humanities scholar Dr. Jason Jewell joins us to discuss the immense value of the Great Books for sharpening both our Christian faith and our libertarian political philosophy. Covering the last 3,000 years of literature in about an hour would be a Herculean effort beyond the capabilities of we mere mortals, but we do our best to look at some important highlights throughout the ages and what they can teach us about the New Testament era, the development of political philosophy, the history of Christian and non-Christian thought, and the nature of the human spirit. Studying the Great Books is a lifelong journey, and we hope that this episode encourages listeners to be diligent readers and, most importantly, deepens their desire to study the greatest book, the Bible. If you don't know how to read, you can probably skip this episode. But if you understood that last sentence, then don't miss this interview.

This episode was originally recorded for the Bob Murphy show, where Bob and Norman Horn have a provocative conversation that will enlighten both believers and skeptics alike. They critically analyze the tendency of American Christians to support war, in its domestic and foreign applications. Norman gives Bob the best, succinct analysis of Romans 13 he has ever encountered. Bob ends (playing devil’s advocate) by challenging Norman to explain why the Church isn’t just as exploitative as the State. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

Is there a Christian view of economics? If so, what makes The Economic Way of Thinking different for the Christian? Why do people easily believe economic fallacies? Today Dr. Victor Claar joins us to talk about a Christian economic perspective.

What is the biblical portrayal of the state? The Libertarian Christian Institute frequently discusses this question; it has bery important ramifications for how we think about political philosophy. In this episode, we continue our interview series with the authors of Called to Freedom as we are joined by Jason Hughey, author of the chapter on the Bible and government. Jason walks us through the narrative portrayal of the state in the Bible and helps us to see that state officials are sinful people just like the rest of us. As such, they should not be viewed as a special class with some intrinsic ability or right to rule, nor are they exempted from the ethical constraints that bind everyone else. In contrast to political power, the power of Christ is found in the gospel. We also cover some helpful guidelines for thinking about political power and the Bible, some pragmatic considerations, and of course, we get Jason's take on Romans 13.

In this episode, Doug Stuart chats with Lou Perez, speaking as a comedian, about his new book, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: On the Death and Rebirth of Comedy. Perez offers a "behind-the-scenes" of the creative journey for his new book, as well as experiences in the life of professional comedy - especially in today's highly charged and political climate.

Lou Perez was the Head Writer and Producer of the Webby Award-winning comedy channel, We the Internet TV. During his tenure at WTI, he made the kind of comedy that gets you put on lists and your words in the Wall Street Journal: "How I Became a 'Far-Right Radical.'" In addition to producing sketch comedy, stand-up, and opinion writing, he's also host The Lou Perez Podcast.

Perez details some of the back story to his book. He remarks about how his publisher gave him complete creative freedom to "write the book you want." Perez saw this is a unique opportunity to write about things important to him and the problems he saw brewing about community. He also commented about his experience in 2020 and 2021 when several big names in comedy passed away and the effect that had on him.

Don't miss all this and more in our latest episode.

Main Points of Discussion:

00:00 Introduction

03:25 Perez's intrigue with the connection between anarchism and Christianity

05:54 What was the purpose of writing That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

09:35 Creative, Editing, and Publication process

14:25 The mutual respect and community among fellow comedians.

17:26 What's it like to "bomb" a show?

20:40 What's going wrong with comedy today?

23:46 At what point do you old back from? (Dark humor)

32:51 Is Donald Trump funny?

34:45 Do your kids understand your humor?

36:53 What other things have you done besides stand up?

39:11 The fight you had on Twitter

42:30 Concluding Remarks

Resources Mentioned:

Lou's website: https://www.thelouperez.com/

Lou's Wallstreet Journal Article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-i-became-a-far-right-radical-11609370135

Buy the Book! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637582455

In this episode, Norman is joined by Dr. RC Sproul Jr to discuss his new book Growing Up With RC. Dr. Sproul's father, RC Sr., was an acclaimed theologian who passed away in late 2017. RC Jr.'s book honors his faithful gospel legacy, and in the show we pass on some Sproul-inspired lessons and memories that influence our thoughts on both theology and politics today. Audio Production by Podsworth Media

How you respond when you know the mainstream media is selling you lies and deception? What is the appropriate amount of skepticism and rejection of the narrative for a libertarian Christian? Jason Rink joins us to talk about his experience and understanding of the way the corporate press has its audience thinking in a way that supports the state and threatens the wellbeing of a properly-informed populace.

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Parabolic interpretation has been seen through many lenses throughout Christian history. While the deepest theological meaning of the parables carry the greatest importance, there are also important lessons which can be gleaned from the historical context in which the parables occur.

In this episode, Jeffrey Tucker returns to discuss principles of economics in the parables of Jesus. By stepping into first century Israel and looking at the parables as stories which, on their surfaces, resonated with the life and times of Second Temple Jews, we can see that Jesus assumes a world of just property rights, freedom of contract, and economic liberty.

We're celebrating the 300th episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast! This episode was streamed live on Friday, November 11th, 2022. To commemorate this milestone, we announced a big new project: The Christians for Liberty Network (CFLN). This is a network of podcasts that share our mission of educating people about the intersection of faith and politics. Joining CFLN are Mike Maharrey of the Godarchy podcast, Jacob Winograd of the Biblical Anarchy (Daniel 3) podcast, and we've also launched a brand new podcast called the Reformed Libertarians podcast, with Kerry Baldwin and her co-host, Gregory Baus, who is new to LCI. In addition, LCI has re-launched Good News, Bad News, with Matthew Bellis, and the Faith Seeking Freedom podcast. We had a lot of fun with this announcement, as we also invited Doc Dixon back on as our special guest. And all the hosts took some friendly jabs at Doug Stuart, the host of our flagship show. Lots of roasting and good times were had, so enjoy the fun now if you didn't catch the livestream!

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In this thought-provoking episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, our host Doug Stuart and special guest Cody Cook delve deep into the intricate balance between Christian duty and libertarian principles in the context of taxation. Drawing from the insights from Cody's book, we explore the controversial story in Matthew 17, where Jesus addresses the temple tax and lays the groundwork for a Christian understanding of fiscal obligations.

Guided by the Gospel's wisdom, we unpack the statement "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's," and its relevance for libertarian Christians today. Cody Cook challenges the mainstream interpretation of divided allegiance between God and Caesar, arguing that the passage is not inherently contradictory for libertarians. As Jesus adeptly navigates the trap set by the Pharisees and Herodians, we learn the subtleties of non-confrontational tax compliance and the avoidance of unnecessary offense.

The duo also tackles broader questions of ownership and property rights, dissecting passages like Psalm 24 and Job 41:11, to contrast divine and human claims. Cody and Doug offer different hermeneutical perspectives, cautioning against simplistic readings and highlighting the historical and economic contexts of the scriptures.

This episode includes references to "Render unto Caesar," Psalm 24, Job 41:11, Matthew 17, and Matthew 22:15-22.

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Tired of hearing bad arguments about why the state is good, but need a better way to respond? Author Zack Rofer (pseudonym) has you covered with his free e-book, Busting Myths About the State. His concise, well-argued book counters some common myths raised in defense of big government. In this episode, we discuss some of the myths and how to answer them.

In this episode, Doug Stuart welcomes professor Art Carden to the show to discuss his book "Leave Me Alone and I'll Make You Rich: How the Bourgeois Deal Enriched the World." Co-authored by author Deidre McCloskey, the book looks at the history of the bourgeoisie and details the economic impact on global wealth. Art picks up on these concepts in his conversation with Doug, explaining in detail topics like "the Bourgeois Deal", "The Great Enrichment," "innovism," and many more. With roots in history, philosophy, economics, politics, culture, etc, this episode truly has something for everyone, so you won't want to miss it.

Art Carden is a professor of economics at Samford University's Brock School of Business. He has worked with and contributed to a number of other organizations, including the American Institute for Economic Research, the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics, the Beacon Center of Tennessee, the Independent Institute, and the Foundation for Economic Education. He received his PhD from Washington University in Saint Louis.

More information can be found in the "additional resources" section below.

Main Points of Discussion: 00:00    Introduction 03:15    Writing style analysis 04:55    What does "bourgeois" actually mean?  08:22    The Great Enrichment 10:43    Economic growth and the rule of 70 12:34    What about the poor?  14:49    Global wealth distribution 15:50    What is liberalism? 19:20    Christians for Liberty Network Plug 20:02    Capitalism vs "innovism"  23:02    The finer things in life 28:42    Billionaires and special interests 31:15    Salvation from sin: strategies for preaching the gospel 32:17    What is the "Bourgeois deal" and how does it benefit us? 38:02    Art's upcoming book "Strangers with Candy"

Additional Resources: - Leave Me Alone and I'll Make You Rich: How the Bourgeois Deal Enriched the World - https://www.amazon.com/Leave-Alone-Ill-Make-Rich/dp/022673966X  - https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/L/bo61545999.html  - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/51941581  - Art's website: https://artcarden.com/  - Follow Art on Twitter: @ArtCarden - More from Art:  -- https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=508839  -- https://www.aier.org/people/art-carden/  - Our World In Data

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How are libertarians different from conservatives? What should I do about getting a vaccine? How do we deal with social media being hostile to free market ideals? In this episode, Doug and Norman tackle these questions and more from listeners.

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Doug and Norman talk about the birth stories of Christ and how Matthew and Luke both use language and employ storytelling techniques that provide a clear anti-Roman and anti-empire story. This is good news for all because the message of liberation is not only about our personal liberation from the captivity of sin, but the cosmic liberation of captivity from slavery and oppression.

(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)

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We had the pleasure of inviting pastors Neal Karsten and Matt Schneider on to talk about what it means to be decentralized as a church or pastor, what challenges face the Church, and how they are prioritizing discipleship over building permanent churches.

• Learn more on how you can become a disciple at Pastor to Pioneer!
• Check out another great organization Neal and Matt work with, Biglife.

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Dr. Calvin Beisner is President of The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, a network of Christian theologians, natural scientists, economists, and other scholars educating for Biblical earth stewardship, economic development for the poor, and the proclamation and defense of the good news of salvation by God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

Main Points of Discussion: 00:00    Introduction 01:15    Who is Dr. Cal Beisner and what is the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation? 07:52    How combative was the correction of the dominion mandate? 11:50    The "green" study bible 13:05    Human centered approach to the environment 22:15    The conflict of goals between environmentalists and the poor 29:07    Kuznitz curve 31:33    If we could advise those who are negligent about the environment, what would we say? 37:47    Is there a cost of doing nothing? 44:20    Closing thoughts

Additional Resources: - https://cornwallalliance.org/  - https://www.facebook.com/CornwallAlliance  - https://reformedlibertarians.com/episode/climate-alarmism-cornwall-alliance/ 

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What distinguishes Christian libertarianism from secular (or other) forms of libertarianism? Is it mostly a question of motivation, or are there also differences in policy application? Do Christian libertarians sometimes even disagree with one another on policy? In this round table discussion, we explore these and other questions pertaining to what may be considered unique about a Christian perspective on libertarianism.

Joy Buchanan from Samford University’s Brock School of Business joins us to talk about why capitalism benefits everyone, how wealth creation through free trade isn’t obvious, and some biblical support for free market capitalism.

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Special guests Sarah Stone and Evan McClanahan join us to disucss their innovative initiative, Theology by the Pint. This exciting forum has transformed the traditional setting of theological discussions by incorporating a casual atmosphere where young professionals can gather, pint in hand, to delve into deep and sometimes controversial topics.

Sarah and Evan share their experiences of hosting these events, emphasizing the importance of creating a warm and charitable environment even when discussing contentious issues such as LGBTQ matters within the church. Their approach to include diverse viewpoints, like an affirming pastor, showcases their commitment to love and charity in disagreements, and underscores the value of humor and respect in such dialogues. The episode also touches on making theological discussions accessible to a broad audience, from those well-versed in theology to individuals who might feel overwhelmed by complex jargon. Sarah shares her strategy of pausing to clarify terms and encouraging explanatory parenthetical statements to ensure everyone is on the same page.

The conversation further explores the organization's democratic process in choosing discussion topics, the types of government systems they tackle, the impact of political rhetoric on Christian beliefs, and the ever-present challenge of maintaining integrity while hosting diverse and sometimes conflicting views. 

Listeners will also get a preview of upcoming events, including a notable June 11, 2024, gathering with Norman Horn, founder of the Libertarian Christian Institute. Additionally, the episode highlights the community aspects of Theology by the Pint events, which feature social hours, charity spotlights, trivia, and open Q&A sessions allowing for real-time audience engagement.

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For this week, we were joined by Kyle Mann, editor-in-chief and author at The Babylon Bee, to discuss The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness. We also talked about how The Babylon Bee utilizes comedy and satire as an effective way to expose hypocrisy found in "cancel" and/or "woke" culture. Though the content may make you chuckle, there are some sad truths found in the humor. Extreme movements and ideologies such as CRT and woke culture are slowly creeping into American culture, choking out our individual rights.

Show Notes:

• Make sure to check out The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness.
• The Postmodern Pilgrim's Progress.
• The Babylon Bee Guide to Democracy.

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While the future is uncertain, there are trends that point toward potential threats to our financial future and well-being. Chuck Bentley of Crown Financial Ministries has identified seven potential threats to our economic well-being in his new book, Seven Gray Swans. He joins us to talk about a few of them and how Christians should respond to the growing threats of poor and unbiblical thinking.

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On today's episode, Doug is joined by Lawrence Reed, president emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education and the author of many fantastic books, to discuss his newest book, "Was Jesus a Socialist? Why this Question is being Asked Again, and Why the Answer is Almost always Wrong".

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In today's episode, Doug Stuart chats with Neil Shenvi, a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry, about his work in Christian apologetics. If you think there's a disconnect between his education and his work, he explains a bit about that in the opening to the episode, as well as the basis for new found expertise in critical theory. Shenvi's concerns about the influence of critical theory rests in the influence (and resultant damage) to orthodox Christian doctrine by ideas developed by critical theorists. He offers a history of the philosophical discipline; many ways to discern the mechanics of it, how to think through and address the moving target certain nomenclature creates, and much more.

If you know very little about the topic, or believe it's not as bad some say it is, this episode gives a great bird's eye view making connections you might not have previous thought to consider. Shenvi has a very gracious demeanor and way about speaking on this topic; he's sensitive to certain topics of valid concern (racism, abuse, etc), while recognizing the necessary distinctions and why this particular ideology is such a poison. Shenvi is apolitical in his approach. He comes at this with no agenda about politics or political theory.

Main Points of Discussion:

00:00 Introduction

01:15 About Neil Shenvi

03:12 How Christians begin expressing wokism and the common trajectory

07:03 What is critical theory?

09:04 How culture effects economics - the connection to Marxism

11:15 How does post-modernism relate to critical theory?

14:11 The convergence of critical theory and post-modernism (and the significance of this)

16:31 Robin DeAngelo is critical race theorist??

18:07 Academics and activists

20:10 Difference between critical theory and critical race theory?

22:18 James Lindsey's connection of critical theory to neo-Marxism?

25:49 Christians going woke are "just trying to deal with the poor and oppressed"

29:55 How lived experience can be wrongly interpreted

32:48 The woke have a "double consciousness" - lived experience is only valid for those liberated from their (white) blindness.

35:32 Wokeness is internally coherent even if it's realistically incoherent

37:48 Are there any ideas that are redeemable about crt?

42:00 there are some isolated ideas that are valid truth claims

42:43 Error in identifying problems, or just a matter of solutions?

46:55 Interest convergence theory?

50:39 CRT's biggest enemy is liberalism

52:00 Shenvi's book reviews and his professional writing

54:51 Concluding thoughts

Resources Mentioned:

https://shenviapologetics.com

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James Whitford of TrueCharity.us joins us to discuss his passion for serving the poor without the state and how Christians can join the efforts of others to love those in need by offering them a way out of poverty.

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It seems that people are no longer able to have a decent conversation with each other about politics or other controversial topics. Social media exacerbates our tribal tendencies and often we get entrenched in our own beliefs. It often takes the wisdom of one who has had years of experience talking to and discussing hot button topics. There’s no better person for to talk to about this than EconTalk host, Russ Roberts.

Russ Roberts joins us for this episode to discuss what it takes to maintain a civil discussion during the holiday season (or any season!). With insight and wisdom from Adam Smith to his experience as host of EconTalk and a professor, Russ shares with us some very important things about life, both in the personal sphere and the social sphere.

(Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.)

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Intellectual property affects us daily, but is hardly understood by the average individual. Is it something libertarians need to be concerned about? Is it legitimate “property” in the first place? Stephan Kinsella joins us to discuss the important of IP.

Should libertarians make concessions in the political arena in order to advance a better liberty? How the current American political atmosphere made us more trusting of each other? Is a liberal political order amenable to Christianity, and is such an order even possible? Philosopher Kevin Vallier joins us to discuss these things and the contents of his newest book, Must Politics Be War? Restoring Our Trust in the Open Society. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com

We had the privilege of getting the inside scoop with Michael Heise about some of the iconic moments in the Ron Paul presidential campaigns that converted so many to libertarianism, libertarian activism, what led Michael to establish the Mises Caucus, what it means to be a caucus, the effectiveness of grassroots movements to sway a political institution (such as the LP), and Michael's response to his interview with Nick Gillespie. Take human action and make the change you want to see!

Show Notes

• Join the Mises Caucus and take human action!
• Follow Michael as he strives for liberty.

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Lee C. Camp is professor of Theology & Ethics at Lipscomb University in Nashville. He is the author of "Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World" and "Scandalous Witness" and is co-author of "Resisting Babel". He is also the host of the Tokens Show, the world's only long-running theological variety show.

Lee joins Doug Stuart and Norman Horn to discuss the interplay of Christianity, politics, and culture in America, and in particular, the many contradictions therein for many Christians.

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Doug welcomes to the show Mike Maharrey of the Tenth Amendment Center and his friend Colby to discuss the topic of Federalism: What is it ideally? How is it supposed to work? How does it work in reality? How does the US model compare to other representative governments? How should libertarians value Federalism? ....and much more!

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Though the Libertarian Christian Podcast may have a slight bias towards podcasts, we also love a good book. In this episode, host Doug Stuart and Alex Bernardo of the Protestant Libertarian Podcast sit down to talk about their reading habits and the books they've been enjoying recently, ranging from works of fiction like Harry Potter all the way to historical narratives about the Soviet Union. Whether you're looking for some quality book recommendations or just want to know more about the hosts and their approaches to reading, this is a delightful and laid-back episode you're not going to want to miss. 

Alex Bernardo is part of the Christians for Liberty Network and is the host of the Protestant Libertarian Podcast. There, he explores the intersection between protestant Biblical studies and libertarian philosophy, addressing topics related to theology, history, culture, economics, philosophy, and current events from both protestant and libertarian perspectives. 

More about Alex as well as links to all the books discussed in this episode can be found in the additional resources section below.

Main Points of Discussion:

00:00    Introduction     01:45    Kindle, physical copies, & audiobooks     07:24    Highlighters or pens?     11:51    Doug and Alex's reading goals     19:25    Fiction books     32:24    Books that impacted Alex     38:40    What's Alex reading next?     40:14    Books that impacted Doug     44:11    What's Doug reading next?

Additional Resources:

- The Protestant Libertarian Podcast: libertarianchristians.com/shows/protestant-libertarian-podcast/ - Follow Alex Bernardo on Twitter: @ProLibertyPod

- Fiction books:         The Chronicles of Narnia series, by C.S. Lewis         The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling         Amon's Adventure, by Arnold Ytreeide         The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven, by Nathaniel Ian Miller         Space: A Novel, by James A. Michener

- Impactful books          The Peril of Modernizing Jesus, by Henry J. Cadbury         The Artist, the Philosopher and the Warrior, by Paul Strathern         The White Pill, by Michael Malice

- Next up:          The Case Against the Fed, by Murray Rothbard         Ideology and Insanity, by Thomas S. Szasz         The Individualists, by Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi         Fossil Future, by Alex Epstein         The Viking Heart, by Arthur Herman         Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul, by John M. Barry         Biblical Critical Theory, by Christopher Watkin

- Other:         Human Action, by Ludwig Von Mises         Surprised by Scripture, by N.T. Wright         Revelation for the Rest of Us, Scot McKnight         Paul and the Faithfulness of God, by N.T. Wright         The Crucifixion of the Warrior God, by Gregory A. Boyd         Cross Vision, by Gregory A. Boyd         The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling, by The Free Press         The Quest of the Historical Jesus, by Albert Schweitzer

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Elijah Thompson of Dank Pro-Life Memes and TheFetalPosition.comjoins us to talk about elevating the conversation about abortion and help bolster the arguments pro-life advocates make.

Cody Cook, host of the Cantus Firmus Podcast and a theology and film buff, joins us to talk about his new book, Fight the Powers: What the Bible Says about the Relationship between Spiritual Forces and Human Governments. Learn about how the government and the Kingdom of God are at odds and how Christians ought to relate to society and the state.

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God created a world in which our work matters. Often we fall into the mindset of compartmentalizing our lives into sacred or secular categories, but in the Christian life, everything is sacred and eternally valuable (including our work). In this episode, we are joined by pastor, author and ministry leader Tom Nelson to discuss how we can and must bridge the gap between Sunday and Monday, connecting our Christianity with our 'secular' work lives. We also see how a right understanding of free markets fits within the Christian worldview and orients us to better promote human flourishing.

Join the co-authors of Faith Seeking Freedom to get a "behind the scenes" look at the the book's creation and the content of Chapter 13: Christian Misconceptions of Libertarianism. Norman Horn joins Doug Stuart to discuss the book's final chapter and more!

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LCI recently released our Mission, Vision and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This document will provide a framework for LCI going forward, and also serve for branding purposes as a broad explanation of what we believe about the intersection of Christian theology and libertarian political philosophy. Over the coming weeks, we will be exploring this statement and its five Core Values; discussing why they are in the document, what they mean, why we believe them, and how they fit into the bigger picture.

As God is intrinsically relational within the Trinity, so also human beings are created to live in community. Sin has marred the communal relationships for which we were created by pitting individuals against God, against one another, and against the earth for which we are called to be wise stewards. Affirming the dignity, worth, and rights of the individual as an image-bearer of God is a first step toward restoring authentic, Christ-centered community among diverse individuals. Because society is comprised of individuals, a healthy society requires healthy individuals. Through voluntary cooperation and respect for freedom, people can join together to trade, innovate, create, collaborate, share, and build a world that simultaneously respects the individual and betters our neighbor.