We explain what becoming and being a Reformed Christian and a Reformed libertarian is and means in basic terms. We say why one should, and how one can, become a Reformed Christian and a Reformed libertarian. We explain what libertarianism is, and why every libertarian is already a religious libertarian. We mention the ultimate purpose in becoming a Christian, and part of how Reformed Christianity grounds our view of libertarianism. We briefly explain how the Reformed view of Romans 13 is compatible with libertarianism. And we conclude with three general things a non-Christian can do to facilitate their discovering that Christianity is true.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/024
Main Points of Discussion
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Episode description
02:06 What it means to become and be a Christian
05:38 What we mean by libertarianism
09:54 Why every libertarian is already a religious libertarian
15:55 The ultimate purpose in becoming a Christian
18:20 How Reformed Christianity grounds libertarianism
25:27 What about Romans 13?
29:19 Recap
30:12 Three things to discover Reformed Christianity is true
Additional Resources
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
An interview with Dr. Jonathan McIntosh on several of his presentations at The George Buchanan Forum. We discuss errors in Calvin’s view of civil government, and we mention the God-ordained check on abuse and tyranny. We then discuss McIntosh’s outline of a classical or Thomistic natural law tradition approach to libertarianism, and his critique of the Aristotelian-Thomist view of politics. We also discuss the neglected figurative or typological character of old covenant civil law by scholastic thinkers. We conclude with information about The George Buchanan Forum and other articles from McIntosh.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/023
Main Points of Discussion
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Episode description
01:30 Guest intro and background
10:11 Errors of Calvin’s view of civil government
15:21 Value in such critique and why Calvin’s erroneous view is popular
19:53 Comments on Reformers vs Calvin and obsta principiis
23:03 Natural Law Libertarianism
31:59 Moral realism, harm, and double effect
39:32 Errors of a Thomist view of politics
43:56 Neglected “figurative” or typological character of Mosaic civil law in a scholastic view
51:18 Respective specifications of moral and civil law
56:00 Errors of an establishmentarian view
1:00:21 The George Buchanan forum
Additional Resources:
A discussion of "What Is Culture?," Part 1 of the Reformed Libertarianism Statement. Other episodes are mentioned in which some points from episode 4 are elaborated, and the meaning of subjective sanctification of culture is reiterated. The definition of culture, and why it’s addressed is further explained. The model of reciprocally influencing layers of culture is elaborated, illustrated, and related to the study of historical process. And the promotion of so-called "cultural Christianity" is considered.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/022
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
A discussion of a Reformed Two Kingdoms view, and the possibility of a distinctively Christian view of the believer’s cultural activity according to an orthodox Neo-Calvinism, in contrast with a Scholastic view. Key points from episodes 4 and 19 are summarized, and the Two Kingdoms view being addressed is described. The use of the term Scholasticism is explained against an objection. And a key difference between Neo-Calvinism and a Scholasticized view is variously illustrated.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/021
Main Points of Discussion
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Episode description
02:08 Key points from episode 4 on Christian cultural activity
07:09 Key points from episode 19 on religious non-neutrality
09:23 Reformed Two Kingdoms distinctions
13:41 The views of David VanDrunen
18:43 The term Scholasticism as modified Aristotelianism
24:04 Reiteration of key difference between Neo-Calvinist and Scholastic views
25:58 More about VanDrunen’s views
27:52 Religious views of a saltshaker
32:43 The question of logical norms
34:54 Similar to interpreting Scripture
36:20 Religious views of limited civil governance
40:35 Conclusion
*Usually we catch these things, but Gregory didn't catch his mispronunciation of philological til later.
Additional Resources
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
In a series of highlights from earlier episodes, Kerry and Gregory explain what the Reformed Libertarians Podcast is about, their confessionally Reformed view of Romans 13, what their practical strategy is, how the goal they are working towards is entirely realistic, and how they address a prominent objection raised by, perhaps, most people.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/020
Main Points of Discussion
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description
01:10 First highlight from episode 1: https://reformedlibertarians.com/001
09:56 Second highlight from episode 2: https://reformedlibertarians.com/002
16:12 Third highlight from episode 8: https://reformedlibertarians.com/008
26:33 Fourth highlight from episode 12: https://reformedlibertarians.com/012
37:43 Fifth highlight from episode 14: https://reformedlibertarians.com/014
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
In this bonus episode, we interview Dr. David VanDrunen. We consider his reply on several points to Pastor Taylor Drummond's critical article that we discuss in episode 17. The title of that article is "Fool's Gold?: A libertarian analysis of VanDrunen's account of state legitimacy" and it examines particular arguments in David VanDrunen's book Politics After Christendom.
VanDrunen expresses his appreciation for Drummond's article and our episode discussing it, raises questions concerning immoral complicity if the state is taken to be illegitimate, offers some clarification about his (up to this point) not having differentiated monopoly states from non-monopolistic civil governance in his writing, raises questions concerning what sort of consent is normative for the customary legal order's own legitimacy and its authorizing function, raises the question of when abuse or injustice might categorically disqualify one from rightfully possessing authoritative office and its relation to political resistance, and, at the end, responds to our proposal how a fuller, non-aggressionist view of proportionality in the lex talionis of the Noahic Covenant entails a conclusive argument in favor of the exclusively "protectionist" purpose of civil governance law.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/bonusC
Main Points of Discussion
00:00 Introduction
00:09 Episode description
02:15 Prefatory statements
05:37 The question of immoral complicity
16:30 Clarifying matters of complicity
21:13 The question of civil governance vs. monopoly state
27:55 Distinguishing normativity from de facto (non-)conformity to norms
31:00 The question of legitimizing consent
35:56 Distinguishing compliance under duress (by aggression)
40:45 The question of abuse/tyranny and de-legitimization
45:20 The question of a conclusive protectionist-only view
49:32 Remaining uncertainty about Scriptural “regulative principle” for civil governance
52:29 Closing remarks
Additional Resources
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
A reading of edited excerpts from the article “On The General Relation Of Religion, Metaphysics, and Science” by Dr Roy A. Clouser, presenting the Neo-Calvinist view of what has been called The Myth Of Religious Neutrality. The predominant Scholastic view of the general relation is summarized, followed by a summary of the Neo-Calvinist, or Reformational view. According to the Neo-Calvinist view, the way in which religious belief guides theories is then summarized, the view of religious belief is further explained, how religious belief within a given metaphysics affects science is further explained, and a prominent objection is answered.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/019
Main Points of Discussion
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Episode description
03:29 The Scholastic View
07:46 The Neo-Calvinist (Reformational) View
13:34 Scientific theories guided by a basic view of reality
17:47 A basic view of reality guided by a religious belief
19:02 More about religious belief
27:11 How religious belief within a metaphysics affects science
37:03 Example of atomic theory
40:13 An objection answered
Additional Resources
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
We discuss the teaching mission of the institutional church, its relation to the church’s statements of faith, and what the institutional church must and may not teach about politics on several important points. We talk about the Reformed confessional view of submission to civil governance, the recent failure of some churches in the face of unlawful state dictates, the error of theonomic views, and how a biblically Reformed covenantal hermeneutic informs a correct view of general equity.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/018
Main Points of Discussion
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Episode description
01:00 Why are we discussing this?
02:15 What is the church’s teaching mission?
05:07 One way the Reformed confessions are part of the church’s mission
07:34 False teaching about submission to God-ordained civil governance
13:43 Not a matter of political theory
14:53 False teaching of original and so-called “general equity theonomy”
19:28 Proper meaning of general equity
24:30 The Reformed biblical covenantal hermeneutic
30:39 Recap
32:53 Disestablishmentarianism and Biblical criterion of proportional retribution
Additional Resources:
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
An interview with Pastor Taylor Drummond about his article “Fool’s Gold?: A libertarian analysis of VanDrunen’s account of state legitimacy,” which appreciatively, but critically, examines arguments in the book Politics After Christendom by Dr. David VanDrunen. Pastor Drummond introduces himself and recounts how he became a confessional, Calvinistic Baptist, and a libertarian-anarchist. He speaks about how VanDrunen’s biblical arguments for the legitimacy of the state fail his own standard for justifying the state. Drummond also explains how VanDrunen’s theoretical argument is at odds with his own view of law, justice, and rights, and is in tension with many of his economic and theological insights.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/017
Main Points Of Discussion
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Episode description
01:50 About Pastor Drummond
06:54 VanDrunen’s brief biblical arguments and Drummond’s response
17:22 Monopoly, Noahic covenant, and negative natural rights
24:26 VanDrunen’s view of customary legal order
27:50 Drummond’s response on law and rights
34:44 Need for clearly distinguishing just and unjust coercion
38:56 Protectionism, sin, politicization, and inefficiency
47:29 Concluding thoughts
Additional Resources
Article discussed: “Fool’s Gold?: A libertarian analysis of VanDrunen’s account of state legitimacy,” by Taylor Drummond: https://libertarianchristians.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CLR-5-Drummond.pdf
Politics After Christendom by David VanDrunen: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310108845/
Taylor Drummond
congregation: Grace Community Church, Allentown PA https://gracecommunityallentown.org/
Politics substack: https://thearchy.substack.com/
Theology site: https://servantofthesovereign.wordpress.com/
Other books mentioned:
The Road To Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek: https://mises.org/library/book/road-serfdom
The Law by Frederic Bastiat: https://mises.org/library/book/law
Foundations of Economics: A Christian View by Shawn Ritenour: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1556357249/
The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0895261715/
For A New Liberty by Murray Rothbard: https://mises.org/library/book/new-liberty-libertarian-manifesto
Christian Libertarian Review call for papers 2024: https://libertarianchristians.com/2024/02/03/call-for-papers-2024-volume/
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
An introduction to a Reformed view of the Kingdom of God in its 5 elements and its 5 covenantally-administered epochs, culminating in the Kingdom’s definitive consummation in the New Creation. The relation between Christian cultural activity and the Kingdom of God is also clarified.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/016
Main Points of Discussion
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Episode description
01:03 Kingdom of God as the New Creation and central to Bible and all reality
03:25 5 “Royal” Elements
Ruler, Realm, Reign, those Ruled, Regulation by Covenant
05:31 Covenant in Scripture as oath-commitment
Covenants as administering Kingdom of God
07:20 5 Epochs
1. Probation/Proffered
2. Promised
3. Prefigured
4. Present-Inauguration
5. Parousia-Consummation
& See "The Grid": https://upper-register.com/papers/kline_grid.pdf
10:22 Contrary to postmil, premil, and heresy* [see note below] of popular “Evangelical” Dispensationalism
12:15 1st Epoch: Probation – the Covenant of Works
“Eschatology Precedes Soteriology”
17:10 2nd Epoch: Promised – the Protevangelium (Gen. 3.15) and Abrahamic Covenant
The Seed is Christ, the Land is New Creation, the Blessing is Salvation by grace alone, thru faith alone, in Christ alone
19:24 3rd Epoch: Prefigured – the Old Mosaic Covenant
Temporary and typological theocracy
Suspension of normal operations of “common grace”
Non-free market and coercive punishment of non-aggressive immorality
Typological principle of works (covenant blessings & curses)
24:03 4th Epoch: Present-Inauguration – the New Covenant
The gospel, salvation accomplished in history
Crucial distinction between (a) “subjective recognition of Christ’s reign” involving the implications of Christian beliefs for all of life -vs.- (b) “objective realm” of Christ’s Kingdom as the new heavens&earth, presently and uniquely manifest as the institutional church (not as common culture or society)
The gospel, church, and presently-inaugurated Kingdom are NOT “political”
30:23 5th Epoch: Parousia-Consummation – the everlasting, full realization of the New Covenant
Flesh & blood (pre-glorified human nature) cannot inherit the Kingdom, and so requires eschatological transformation, glorified incorruptibility
*Note
Differing forms of Dispensationalism (heretical or not) have been used by some to justify the worst of the United States government’s murderous, warmongering foreign policy. One of Dispensationalism’s erroneous beliefs (in all its forms) is that after the first advent of Christ, God’s promise to give the physical territory of Canaan to the physical descendants of Israel remains in effect.
A doctrinal “heresy” can be understood as a teaching that denies some point of orthodox creedal teaching. The heretical teaching we had in mind (and should have specified) is the belief that prior to Christ’s first advent, or during the era of the Law (or Old Covenant), salvation was not by grace through faith in Christ, the promised Savior. Not all forms of Dispensationalism teach this, however.
For further discussion of Dispensationalism, see this lecture on The New Covenant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynilaJANdoM
Additional Resources:
A reading of Kerry Baldwin’s article on biblical inerrancy, which discusses a blog post by Pete Enns in which he says why he believes the Bible has errors, and no one is obligated to obey Romans 13. Resources for a better (non-biblicist) view of inerrancy and a better view of Romans 13 are recommended. The hosts also give an update about new episodes.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/bonusB
00:00 Start
00:09 Update
00:49 Intro to Kerry's article
01:46 Enns wrong on Romans 13
04:42 Enns confuses biblical inerrancy with biblicism
07:03 A non-biblicist view of inerrancy
08:35 A better view of Romans 13
10:00 Covenantal sensitivity
11:49 Conclusion
Additional Resources:
Does Biblical Inerrancy Threaten Libertarianism? by Kerry Baldwin
https://reformedlibertarians.com/does-biblical-inerrancy-threaten-libertarianism/
Episode 14 of The Reformed Libertarians Podcast, Does Political Representation Make Sense?, with Gerard Casey
https://reformedlibertarians.com/014
Note on the danger of biblicism by Terry Johnson and Shane Lems
https://reformedreader.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/the-danger-of-biblicism/
Different views of biblical inerrancy by Kam Weng Ng
https://krisispraxis.com/archives/2016/06/inerrancy-of-the-bible-defined-and-defended-part-1/
The Framework Interpretation of Creation Days by Lee Irons
https://upper-register.com/papers/framework_interpretation.html
The Truthfulness of Scripture by Michael Horton
https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/the-truthfulness-of-scripture
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy
https://www.alliancenet.org/international-council-on-biblical-inerrancy
Well-versed Inerrancy by Kevin Vanhoozer
https://henrycenter.tiu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/2013April_Vanhoozer-inerrancy.pdf
Video presentation on well-versed inerrancy by Kevin Vanhoozer
https://vimeo.com/79158043
Can The Bible Contain Errors? by Greg Beale
https://faculty.wts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2011-Spring-Inspired.pdf
Audio presentation on inerrancy by Greg Beale
http://media1.wts.edu/media/audio/gkbeale_lecture_copyright.mp3
Review of Enns' book against inerrancy by Greg Beale
https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/49/49-2/JETS_49-2_287-312_Beale.pdf
The Erosion Of Inerrancy by Greg Beale
https://amazon.com/dp/1433502038
Romans 13: A Reformed View by Gregory Baus
https://libertarianchristians.com/2021/11/24/romans-13-and-stateless-civil-governance-a-reformed-view/
Episode 2 of The Reformed Libertarians Podcast, What Does Romans 13 Say About Civil Government?
https://reformedlibertarians.com/002
Episode 42 of The Biblical Anarchy Podcast, Why Isn't the State Biblically Justified? Resolving Romans 13 Objections, with Gregory Baus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBbFFBwMaLQ
Episode 14 of The Biblical Anarchy Podcast, Does The Conquest of Canaan Conflict with Anarchism? with Gregory Baus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3KFqcQlPuA
Reformed Libertarians Podcast hosts' appearances elsewhere
https://reformedlibertarians.com/appearances/
Also see a highly-relevant article on a pattern of turning ex-vangelical, especially as among women, by Kerry Baldwin
https://mereliberty.com/theology/pattern-of-deconstruction-women/
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network
Audio Production by Podsworth Media.
Summary - Reformed Libertarians Podcast Announcement
We're taking a short break for summer, but listen for some other information and plans for the Reformed Libertarian podcast when we get back.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/bonusA
Additional Resources
https://reformedlibertarians.com/about-our-logo/
https://reformedlibertarians.com/reformed-libertarianism-statement/
https://reformedlibertarians.com/articles/
https://reformedlibertarians.com/resources/
https://reformedlibertarians.com/signup/
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
A discussion of whether a Reformed Christian view of civil governance is compatible with theocracy. We explain how the term "theocratic" has been used, and two key elements of a theocratic view (namely, the monopoly state and civil establishment of religion) that must be rejected in a genuinely Christian view of civil governance. We also touch on how some who support a theocratic view go wrong in their eschatology.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/015/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description
01:27 About the history of the term https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/political-science-and-government/political-science-terms-and-concepts/theocracy
02:22 All of life, and so all politics, is ultimately guided by central religious commitments
04:45 The objectionable sense of "theocratic" is not entailed by the universality of central religious commitments and their ultimate guidance of all of life
05:28 Two key elements of theocracy are "a monopoly state" and "civil establishment of religion"; Monopoly explained
07:41 Just and unjust uses of coercion; The obligation of non-aggression; The illegitimacy of all states
12:13 A simple analogy
15:12 Establishmentarianism explained https://reformedlibertarians.com/against-civil-establishment-of-religion/
16:46 The unique, symbolic, and temporary (now obsolete) old Mosaic covenant theocracy involved suspension of the common grace order; It was a temporary symbolic-intrusion of final judgment and the kingdom of God, now inaugurated in the new covenant institutional church, and yet to be consummated in the New Heavens and Earth
19:59 While the old covenant was in effect, it was not a violation of non-aggression https://reformedlibertarians.com/002 ; Now, in the new covenant era, the normal operation of the common grace order has resumed; This entails prohibition of establishmentarianism and monopoly, enacting either is antichrist
22:03 Genuinely limited governance, required by God's ultimate sovereignty, according to a consistent Christian view, entails non-monopoly and non-establishment
24:17 Recap
25:10 The under-realization of inaugurated eschatology in the new covenant by postmillennialism and so-called optimism that often accompanies a theocratic view
Additional Resources
More about the temporary suspension of the normal operation of common grace and the eschatological-intrusion within the old covenant theocracy : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3KFqcQlPuA
More about sphere sovereignty : Episode 09 - https://reformedlibertarians.com/009 Episode 12 - https://reformedlibertarians.com/012
More about the underrealization of inaugurated eschatology in the new covenant as held by a postmil view (Gaffin refers to postmil's de-eschatologizing) : https://www.newhopefairfax.org/files/Gaffin%20Theonomy%20and%20Eschatology.pdf
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com/ and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
An interview with Dr. Gerard Casey about his article "The Indefensibility of Political Representation." Dr. Casey introduces himself and recounts how he became a libertarian anarchist. He speaks about the idea of legitimate command and various options proposed to justify the state's supposed authority. He summarizes some of his examination of political representation from his article. He also talks about what real democracy was like, and closes with a reflection on caring for the poor in a free society.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/014/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description
Article discussed (25 min read), "The Indefensibility of Political Representation" by Gerard Casey : https://mises.org/library/indefensibility-political-representation
Audio presentation (18 mins) : https://mises.org/library/which-be-master-indefensibility-political-representation
01:51 About Dr. Casey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_Casey_(philosopher)
Academia page: https://ucd.academia.edu/GerardNCasey
Interviews by Dr. Casey: https://www.youtube.com/@caseyinconversation6380
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Casey5122dark
05:18 Libertarian conversion
The Theory of Money and Credit by Ludwig von Mises : https://mises.org/library/theory-money-and-credit
10:07 Principles of legitimate command
15:11 Options proposed to justify the state
The main option in the West today is the idea of "representative" democracy which is equated with self-governance
17:54 Hannah Pitkin's analysis and the basic incoherence of political representation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna_Fenichel_Pitkin
The Concept of Representation by Hanna Pitkin : https://www.amazon.com/dp/0520021568?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
25:44 Inevitable bureaucratic obstacles
BBC2's "Yes Minister" : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_Minister
29:46 Actual democracy and sortition
Against Elections by David Van Reybrouck : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1847924220?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Jury Nullification: https://fija.org
37:24 "Let The Poor Starve?" by Gerard Casey https://reformedlibertarians.com/let-the-poor-starve-gerard-casey/
How Govt "Solved" The Healthcare Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFoXyFmmGBQ&list=PLwrDNUO5MDu8WYU5oB7l037lvAEjSoPBr&index=7
Books by Dr. Gerard Casey:
(2012) Libertarian Anarchy : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1441144676?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2013) Murray Rothbard : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1441100792?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2017) Freedom's Progress? - a history of political thought : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1845409426?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2019) ZAP - free speech and tolerance in light of the Zero Aggression Principle : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1788360176?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2020) After #MeToo : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1788360273?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
(2021) Hidden Agender : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1788360583?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
"Meddling In Other Men's Affairs: The Case For Anarchy" by Gerard Casey https://reformedlibertarians.com/meddling-in-other-mens-affairs-the-case-for-anarchy-by-gerard-casey/
Also see Episode 7: Can Libertarians Be Conservatives? : https://reformedlibertarians.com/007
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com/ and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
A reading of the essay "What Do We Mean By Sola Scriptura?" by W. Robert Godfrey, which focuses on explaining some key features of the Protestant principle or doctrine of Sola Scriptura (that is, Scripture Alone). Godfrey defines the principle, discusses several Bible passages that teach it, and answers 4 basic objections.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/013/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description
Article read: https://reformedlibertarians.com/mean-by-sola-scriptura-robert-godfrey/
It appears as the first chapter in the book Sola Scriptura : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1567693334?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
02:07 Introduction
Sola Scriptura is one of the two main issues that separates Protestants from non-Protestants, along with Sola Fide (that is, justification by faith alone).
Book mentioned Justification By Faith ALONE : https://www.amazon.com/dp/187761193X?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
04:30 Definition and some passages that teach it
"Scripture alone is our ultimate religious authority [ie, infallible rule]... [and] all things necessary for salvation, concerning faith and life, are taught in the Bible clearly enough for the ordinary believer to find it there and understand."
For a more elaborate statement see the Westminster Confession of Faith
chapter 1 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_01
20.2 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_20
21.1 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_21
31.2-3 : https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_31
14:44 The sufficiency of the Bible as God's Word
15:37 Different senses of the term "tradition"
19:16 Tradition vs. the Bible
21:43 Tradition vs. Tradition
24:44 Recognition of the "canon", or the specific writings that constitute the Bible
Book mentioned The Structure of Biblical Authority by Meredith G. Kline : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1579100694?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
33:03 Unity in the interpretation of the Bible
Additional Resources
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
A discussion of the main points of Kerry Baldwin’s article on the plausibility of stateless civil governance and the common difficulty in imagining such a society. We talk about factors that may contribute to the failure of imagination such as the mere-exposure effect, the Overton window, and plausibility structures. Also mentioned are several examples of historically existing non-monopolistic civil governance. Spontaneous order is explained in terms of a consistent sphere sovereignty, and we provide resources on how civil governance can be practically and realistically provided without the state.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/012/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description
Article discussed https://libertarianchristians.com/2018/05/07/plausibility-of-a-stateless-society/
01:18 Previous episodes in series
1. Law and order, and the question of legitimacy https://reformedlibertarians.com/003
2. Human sinfulness, and the question of necessity https://reformedlibertarians.com/005
3. Economics and social hierarchy, and the question of inevitability https://reformedlibertarians.com/009
01:57 Main points of article on failure of imagination, and the question of the plausibility of stateless (non-monopolistic) civil governance
03:10 Reasons for difficulty in imagining non-monopolistic civil governance
Bias towards the familiar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mere-exposure_effect
05:21 The Overton window
The range of thinkable ideas in a society https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window
08:58 Plausibility structures
Social realities that reinforce or help a belief seem true https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plausibility_structure
10:14 What about the roads? https://mises.org/wire/government-road-management-there-better-way
10:42 Historical examples of non-monopolistic civil governance
Previously mentioned:
Ancient Ireland: https://mises.org/library/private-law-emerald-isle
Law Merchant: https://fee.org/articles/the-law-merchant-and-international-trade/
Not-so-wild West: https://mises.org/library/not-so-wild-wild-west
Other examples:
Quaker Pennsylvania https://mises.org/library/pennsylvanias-anarchist-experiment-1681-1690
Medieval Iceland https://mises.org/library/medieval-iceland-and-absence-government
Zomia (south Asian highlands)
text: https://mises.org/library/art-not-being-governed
audio: https://mises.org/library/james-c-scott-art-not-being-governed
[ index for The Libertarian Tradition podcast: https://mises.org/library/libertarian-tradition?page=2 ]
13:01 Division of labor makes stateless society more plausible https://mises.org/wire/division-labor-clarified
13:46 Somalia is better-off without a state https://mises.org/library/rule-law-without-state
14:58 recap on Sphere Sovereignty https://www.academia.edu/32356017/Dooyeweerds_Societal_Sphere_Sovereignty_2017_revision_
Reformed Libertarianism Statement https://reformedlibertarians.com/reformed-libertarianism-statement/
18:55 Polycentric emergent societal order
Popular-level article https://fee.org/articles/spontaneous-order/
Video essay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQhkrYqA7S4&list=PLwrDNUO5MDu8WYU5oB7l037lvAEjSoPBr&index=9
Bibliographic essay https://oll.libertyfund.org/page/the-tradition-of-spontaneous-order-a-bibliographical-essay-by-norman-barry
Example of the price system https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkPGfTEZ_r4
22:31 Practical outlines for how non-monopolist civil governance can be provided
Chaos Theory, by Robert Murphy
text: https://mises.org/library/chaos-theory-two-essays-market-anarchy-0
audio: https://mises.org/library/chaos-theory-two-essays-market-anarchy-audio
The Machinery of Freedom, by David Freidman
video summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTYkdEU_B4o&list=PLwrDNUO5MDu8WYU5oB7l037lvAEjSoPBr&index=11
2nd edition free [pdf]: http://www.daviddfriedman.com/The_Machinery_of_Freedom_.pdf
3rd edition: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1507785607?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
An interview with Lawrence W. Reed, President emeritus of The Foundation for Economic Education, about his booklet, Great Myths of the Great Depression. We talk about the Progressive Era as the context for the government policies that brought about the Great Depression, and discuss several commonly misunderstood elements that caused or perpetuated the Great Depression. We conclude with a note about personal character.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/011/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description Book discussed: https://fee.org/resources/great-myths-of-the-great-depression/
01:51 About Mr. Reed https://www.lawrencewreed.com/about Books by Mr. Reed https://www.lawrencewreed.com/books
03:07 Mr. Reed's background and faith
07:13 Jesus is NOT a socialist https://www.amazon.com/dp/1610171608?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
09:56 The Progressive Era
15:34 Progressive population control The eugenics movement, by Bradley Thomas https://fee.org/articles/the-progressive-ideas-that-fueled-america-s-eugenics-movement/
18:27 Monetary policy and the Fed https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLALopHfWkFlGvgxFXosWmjzSGw95IFa1t
24:21 Tariffs, income tax, and stifling trade https://fee.org/articles/its-more-important-to-be-american-than-to-buy-american/
29:06 New Deal disasters https://fee.org/articles/fdr-campaigned-on-fiscal-restraint-in-1932-he-delivered-just-the-opposite/
34:32 Government causes inflation https://fee.org/articles/35-government-is-an-inflation-fighter/
36:21 Wagner Act disasters
41:12 Minimum wage https://fee.org/articles/38-the-minimum-wage-helps-the-poor/
44:59 The importance of personal character https://fee.org/articles/character-liberty-and-economics
Further Resources
The Progressive Era, by Murray Rothbard https://mises.org/library/progressive-era-0
America's Great Depression, by Murray Rothbard https://mises.org/library/americas-great-depression
What Has Government Done To Our Money, by Murray Rothbard https://mises.org/library/what-has-government-done-our-money
The Case Against The Fed, by Murray Rothbard https://mises.org/library/case-against-fed-0
The Great Depression, by Hans Sennholz https://mises.org/library/great-depression
Herbert Hoover and the Great Depression, by Tom Woods audio: https://mises.org/library/14-herbert-hoover-and-great-depression
Truth about the Great Depression, by Thomas DiLorenzo audio: https://mises.org/library/9-truth-about-great-depression
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
An interview with Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, President of The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation about politically-concocted climate alarmism in contrast with climate realism, based on genuine scientific study. We also talk about destructive governmental emissions policy, and the environmental Kuznets curve.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/010/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description https://www.cornwallalliance.org Dr. Beisner's dissertation: https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/2698
01:51 About Dr. Beisner How he became Reformed
06:34 Some of Dr. Beisner's past work Coalition On Revival: https://www.reformation.net/the-17-worldview-documents.html Hebert Schlossberg's book Idols for Destruction: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0891077383?tag=kerrybaldwin-20 Beisner's book Prosperity and Poverty: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1579108083?tag=kerrybaldwin-20 Beisner's book Prospects for Growth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1592449832?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
09:08 How the Cornwall Alliance began The Cornwall Declaration: https://cornwallalliance.org/landmark-documents/the-cornwall-declaration-on-environmental-stewardship/ Highlights: https://cornwallalliance.org/about/our-history-in-highlights/
10:05 Why the work of the Cornwall Alliance is important 2006 A Call to Truth, Prudence, and Protection of the Poor - An Evangelical Response to Global Warming: https://cornwallalliance.org/landmark-documents/a-call-to-truth-prudence-and-protection-of-the-poor-an-evangelical-response-to-global-warming/ 2009 Declaration: https://cornwallalliance.org/2009/05/evangelical-declaration-on-global-warming/ 2014 Reiteration: https://cornwallalliance.org/landmark-documents/a-call-to-truth-prudence-and-protection-of-the-poor-2014-the-case-against-harmful-climate-policies-gets-stronger/
16:23 Ways the Cornwall Alliance does its work Cornwall agenda: https://www.cornwallalliance.org/docs/cornwall-stewardship-agenda.pdf Blog: https://cornwallalliance.org/category/blog/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cornwallallianceforthestew1587 Created to Reign Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1939979 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CornwallAlliance Twitter: https://twitter.com/CornwallSteward
19:19 How should we evaluate climate alarmist claims? Dr.s Beisner and Legates' book (Forthcoming April 2023) Climate and Energy: The Case For Realism https://www.regnery.com/9781684512676/climate-and-energy/
Hot Talk, Cold Science by Fred Singer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1598133411?tag=kerrybaldwin-20 Why you shouldn't be alarmed: https://www.cornwallalliance.org/docs/global-warming-why-evangelicals-should-not-be-alarmed.pdf Feedback and climate: https://cornwallalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sen.pdf Examination of policy: https://www.cornwallalliance.org/docs/an-examination-of-the-scientific-ethical-and-theological-implications-of-climate-change-policy.pdf
Orlando 23-25 February 2023 Climate Conference: https://climateconference.heartland.org
36:35 About so-called "net zero" emissions policy https://www.buzzsprout.com/1939979/12131215-brief-what-can-t-be-done-won-t-be-done
46:09 About the Kuznets curve https://cornwallalliance.org/2018/12/fighting-climate-change-make-the-world-cleaner/
Further resources:
BONUS AUDIO: About the Founding and Formation of the Cornwall Alliance http://reformedlibertarians.com/010
Francis Schaeffer's (1970) Pollution and the Death of Man: The Christian View of Ecology https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433576953?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Real Climate Science with Tony Heller https://realclimatescience.com/the-five-top-arguments-against-climate-alarmism/
Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change https://climatechangereconsidered.org
Master Resource: Free-Market Energy Blog https://www.masterresource.org
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change, by Marc Morano https://www.amazon.com/dp/1621576760?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
A discussion of the main points of Kerry Baldwin's article on economics, social relations, and the question of the inevitability of the state in a properly-functioning society. Robert Nozick's economic argument for the immaculate conception of the state, and Russel Kirk's social argument for states are both answered. A non-monopolistic view of civil governance is placed in terms of "sphere sovereignty" and a non-individualistic and non-collectivistic view of society.
https://reformedlibertarians.com/009/
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description Article: https://libertarianchristians.com/2018/04/11/economics-hierarchy-states-inevitability/ Part 1 on law and order and the question of civil governance legitimacy: https://reformedlibertarians.com/003 Part 2 on human sinfulness and the question of civil governance necessity: https://reformedlibertarians.com/005
01:45 Summary overview of article
03:20 The economic argument for the state's supposed inevitability, as presented by Robert Nozick in his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia https://www.amazon.com/dp/0465051006?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
04:24 Murray Rothbard's refutation of Nozick's hypothetical "immaculate conception of the state" Text: https://mises.org/library/robert-nozick-and-immaculate-conception-state Audio: https://mises.org/library/29-robert-nozick-and-immaculate-conception-state
04:43 Nozick's false assumption about contract and Rothbard on title-transfer view of contract Text: https://mises.org/library/property-rights-and-theory-contracts Audio: https://mises.org/library/19-property-rights-and-theory-contracts
06:39 Nozick's false assumption about dispute resolution and Bob Murphy's "Wouldn't Warlords Take Over?" on the realistic alternative to combat Text: https://mises.org/library/wouldnt-warlords-take-over Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7fJCtv90Pc
07:55 Nozick's false assumption about agreements and organizational merger and the counter-example of Ancient Ireland's non-monopolistic legal order https://mises.org/library/private-law-emerald-isle
09:53 The social argument for the state's supposed inevitability, as presented by Russel Kirk in his 10 Conservative Principles, from the principle of variety https://kirkcenter.org/conservatism/ten-conservative-principles/ from his book The Politics of Prudence https://www.amazon.com/dp/1932236554?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
12:09 The Reformed Libertarianism statement https://reformedlibertarians.com/reformed-libertarianism-statement/ Why the worst rise to the top of the state https://fee.org/articles/hayek-was-right-the-worst-do-get-to-the-top/
13:10 The neocalvinist and reformational view of society (sphere sovereignty) as a superior alternative to individualistic and collectivistic views of society https://www.academia.edu/32356017/Dooyeweerds_Societal_Sphere_Sovereignty_2017_revision_
14:56 Praxeological / methodological individualism (recognizing that only individual persons properly act) is not an individualistic view of society
16:35 Society is not a single thing, nor something normatively governed "overall"
18:44 No specific community normatively governs all the others of that same kind, whether familial, ecclesial, or civil (or any other kind)
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com