Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute joins us to talk about foreign policy from the standpoint of a Christian libertarian. We talk about North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and of course, Israel.
In this episode, LCI is joined by the liberty movement's favorite podcaster — historian and entrepreneur Tom Woods — as we dive into constitutional history and try to answer the question, “Is the Constitution any good?” Has it actually been effective at limiting government? Is the government it creates even capable of being limited by a document? What about the heavy emphasis in U.S. politics on the Supreme Court? Would we be better off under the Articles of Confederation? Listen in as we discuss all this and more.
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.
Respect for private property, voluntary exchange, condemnation of theft, and the value of cooperation and service towards achieving common goals flow naturally from Christian thought and habit. This is what defines “capitalism” in the libertarian view. Wealth is a tool given by God, and all who possess such wealth are expected to utilize it for God’s Kingdom and the good of our neighbor. Taxation and regulation tend to destroy wealth, discourage innovation, and centralize power, and therefore hamper our ability to fulfill the calling of God. Where free markets are allowed to flourish, human beings will prosper both materially and spiritually. Additionally, Christian ethics helps equip our economies for service toward God and neighbor.
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.
Humans are created to be social beings, and God’s design is that we work together to develop institutions which promote human flourishing. Insofar as these institutions are voluntary, peaceful, and non-coercive, human beings possess the God-given capacity to solve the worst of problems in the best of ways. Social institutions founded upon mutual cooperation — such as marriage, family, church, organizations, and businesses — are vital for authentic humanity.
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.
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
This episode is second in a series covering our Mission, Vision, and Core Values statement: a concise, systematic presentation of what we stand for as an organization. This episode focuses on why Christian political philosophy should be informed by a holistic view of Scripture, reason, and historical theology.
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.
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.
Capitalism has gotten a bad rap, unfortunately because most people are unaware of what it truly means. Marxism beliefs are creeping into the public's view of economics, causing people to question the morality of a free market. Even Christians are unwittingly accepting Marxist dogma as economic fact. Dr. Jay Richards from the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America joins us to talk about his book, Money, Greed, & God, which takes aim at the faulty beliefs many Christians have about economics and capitalism.
The issue of abortion is of great concern to pro-lifers, yet even libertarians debate the political issues with as much disagreement as the left and the right. Is there a Christian libertarian view? How would it differ from the typical pro-life position? What does it mean to say one is pro-life or anti-abortion? Does it change how we discuss electoral politics? Philosopher and Christian libertarian Kerry Baldwin joins us to discuss this issue.
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.
The left frequently criticizes free market capitalism with inaccurate caricatures and economic fallacies. However, in recent years, many business leaders and academics have been revisiting the philosophical foundations of capitalism and asking: "Is there more to this than just making a profit?" LCI board member and CEO of Conscious Capitalism, Alexander McCobin, joins us to discuss this shift in modern business, respond to criticisms of the conscious capitalist movement, and advance a case for a holistic view of business as a powerful engine for societal good which lifts up employees, vendors, and communities alongside shareholders.
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.
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.
Regardless of your denomination, many American Christians have the sense that something is wrong in the Church today. Have we forgotten our mission and values, and if so, what can we do about it? Joining us to discuss these questions is entertainment industry professional and Christian media expert Jonathan Bock, co-author of the new book, The Way Back.
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.
The gun control debate in the United States has raged on for decades, and in many ways has escalated in recent years. Every time there is a mass shooting, calls for more gun control as the “obvious solution” engulf social media and public policy discussions. Furthermore, faulty statistics and bad arguments tend to run rampant in any discussion. In this episode, legal scholar Trevor Burrus of the Cato Institute joins us to unravel some myths surrounding the gun control debate.
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 cannabis, whether libertarianism can become an idol, why it's difficult to get people to see taxation as aggression, who our favorite theologians are, and much more!
Concern for social justice has become one of the most effective ways for Christians to signal that they care about the world's poor, yet below the surface of this virtue signaling are some important issues about justice itself – of social well-being – and understanding how to be a Christian concerned with the common good. It is important to understand just how the message of the gospel applies to the well-being of the world. Jason Jewell joins us to talk about why a libertarian view of the state, society, and human action are critical concepts to understand before one arrives at a viable pursuit of social justice.
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.
LCI recommends a lot of books for libertarians. Many of our regular readers or listeners may already be familiar with some of the most influential books amongst libertarian Christians, but in this episode, we're going to discuss some other, perhaps lesser-known books (as well as some of the obvious ones), and explain what relevance they have for understanding political and economic theory in light of Christianity.
Books covered in this episode:
It's not the Old Testament that a Christian often goes to for their theological defense of non-violence. Our guest, Matthew Curtis Fleischer, believes that the Old Testament not only sets the stage for a non-violent Jesus, but also believes Christians will find in its pages the foundations for an ethic of non-violence. A lawyer and a libertarian, Fleischer's approach will feel familiar to a libertarian audience as he explores the Scriptures with attention to important clues as to what God was doing with his people.
You don't have to become a radical Christian to begin changing the world. Our guest, psychologist Richard Beck, has written Stranger God to deal directly with what a Christian is to do when they know they should reach out to strangers – those on the margins. In an effort to get away from mere academic discussions of hospitality and overcoming our personal barriers, Beck sought out ministry opportunities that put him directly in the presence of those on the margins.
In this episode, Beck discusses how important it is to take personal responsibility for one's own actions regarding others and how understanding the main principle of comedy improv helped him say yes to strangers in his midst. He even talks with LCI about how we can relate to those who are our “political enemies” (ideologically speaking).
Constitutions are a divisive topic even amongst libertarians, with the debate often centered on the anarchism v. minarchism issue. But as stateless projects like the Seasteading Institute and others gain more traction, even anarchists and voluntaryists are asking: is there a place for “constitutions” in a fully privatized society?
Joining us to discuss is political commentator and author Trey Goff, who recently wrote a model constitution intended for a privatized, stateless society. We cover some of the various strengths and weaknesses of the concept, how it may be improved or altered, and what role it may have in the developing landscape of stateless society projects.