The Reformed Libertarians Podcast: Recent Episodes
Reformed Libertarians
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast aims to educate and inspire listeners to intelligently embrace and passionately promote a view of libertarianism as grounded in the Reformed Faith, and informed by a Reformed worldview.
Exploring free society from a Reformed perspective, hosts Kerry Baldwin and Gregory Baus discuss culture, society, politics, economics, theology, philosophy, worldview, and more. Follow the show at reformedlibertarians.com and discover how to think about liberty and human flourishing based in the Reformed Faith.
Summary - Reformed Libertarians Podcast Announcement We're a short break for summer, but listen for some other information and plans for the Reformed Libertarian podcast when we get back.
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/#contact
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 Dr. 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? https://reformedlibertarians.com/let-the-poor-starve-gerard-casey/ How Govt "Solved" The Healthcare Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFoXyFmmGBQ&list=PLwrDNUO5MDu95jfsFdfN2oe8vXQ6Cma-h&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
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 and 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
WSCal Office Hours podcast, with Bob Godfrey on Sola Scriptura (26 minutes) https://wscal.edu/resource-center/whats-in-a-name-sola-scriptura
Why God Gave Us A Book, booklet by Gene Edward Veith : https://www.amazon.com/dp/159638378X?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
What Is The Bible?, booklet by Guy Prentiss Waters : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596387114?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Scripture Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine, by R.C. Sproul : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596389540?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Zondervan 5 Solas Series : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KG9V455?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
Zaspel's summaries of 5 Zondervan books included in this course on the Five Solas from the Gospel Coalition : https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/the-five-solas/
The Cambridge Declaration : https://www.alliancenet.org/cambridge-declaration
More resources on the Five Solas : https://www.monergism.com/search?keywords=five%20solas
Just And Sinner Podcast with Jordan Cooper discussing Martin Chemnitz on Sola Scriptura and Tradition Part 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kisWf3I528U Part 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxN4WxFOhYg Part 3 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7s6TVAKQNk
On the canon, also see Redemptive History and the New Testament Scriptures, by Herman Ridderbos : https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875524168?tag=kerrybaldwin-20 Canon Revisited, by Michael J. Kruger : https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433505002?tag=kerrybaldwin-20 The Question of Canon, by Michael J. Kruger : https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830840311?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
See also several videos from Truth Unites with Gavin Ortlund Sola Scriptura Defended : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlF57ewhXAI Response To Critics Of Sola Scriptura : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdIYoXQGYmw Augustine Affirmed Sola Scriptura : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ZAa0gNMvE More On Augustine And Sola Scriptura : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTPHSv5Rtc Review of Sola Scriptura Debate : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-O18bhDPGc
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=PLwrDNUO5MDu95jfsFdfN2oe8vXQ6Cma-h&index=9 Bibliographic essay https://oll.libertyfund.org/page/the-tradition-of-spontaneous-order-a-bibliographical-essay-by-norman-barry
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=PLwrDNUO5MDu95jfsFdfN2oe8vXQ6Cma-h&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
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
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 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
A discussion of Murray Rothbard's Introduction to Etienne de la Boetie's "The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude". The connection of La Boetie's essay to the French Reformed is explained. Also highlighted is the main idea of the Discourse, that state tyranny relies on popular compliance, and when such compliance is withdrawn, the tyranny ends.
https://reformedlibertarians.com
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description Rothbard's introduction: https://mises.org/library/politics-etienne-de-la-boetie La Boetie's essay: https://mises.org/library/politics-obedience-discourse-voluntary-servitude Audiobook: https://mises.org/library/politics-obedience-discourse-voluntary-servitude-audiobook
01:24 About Murray Rothbard article: https://mises.org/profile/murray-n-rothbard audio: https://mises.org/library/who-is-murray-rothbard
01:44 Summary of Rothbard's introduction
04:55 Flashes Of Liberty on La Boetie https://mereliberty.com/podcasts/etienne-de-la-boetie
05:06 Summary of La Boetie's bio and the French Reformed (Huguenot) connection
About Huguenots: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huguenots
A 3 part presentation from Bill Edgar on Huguenots: a. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk0n5umun6A b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDUc3O-WKt8 c. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnqzmf7Ay5A
08:48 The question of the consent of the governed
12:32 Episode 2 on Romans 13 https://reformedlibertarians.com/002
13:45 The peaceful underthrow of the state by withdraw of popular compliance
15:41 Larken Rose's videos The Tiny Dot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6b70TUbdfs The Jones Plantation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb8Rj5xkDP Film: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jones-plantation-feature-film-post-production/
16:27 Working together to spread the message The First Follower video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8amMCVAJQ
18:12 The Velvet Revolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_Revolution
18:43 The crucial educational task of de-bamboozling
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 article "Can Conservatives Be Libertarians?" by Gerard Casey. Several mischaracterizations of libertarianism are answered. How Reformed libertarians value tradition and liberty in contrast with progressive liberalism is clarified, with reference to an essay by Friedrich Hayek. Also mentioned is the relation between liberty and civil justice.
https://reformedlibertarians.com
00:00 Start
00:32 Episode description article "Can Conservatives Be Libertarians?": https://mises.org/library/can-conservatives-be-libertarians audio: https://mises.org/library/can-conservatives-be-libertarians-can-libertarians-be-conservatives chapter: https://books.google.com/books?id=uh0rBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA33#v=onepage&q&f=false
01:35 Article summary
02:59 Why this article is important for Reformed libertarians
04:12 Popular story about tradition vs Cambodia
06:55 We should evaluate and value tradition as a heuristic and as wisdom according to normative standards
09:15 The example of marriage and family life. Civil government interference is destructive, despite best intentions https://mises.org/wire/welfare-state-did-what-slavery-couldnt-do
12:05 Friedrich Hayek's "Freedom, Reason, and Tradition" https://web.archive.org/web/20221012174445/https://web.law.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/microsites/gender-sexuality/Hayek%20on%20tradition.pdf
12:37 "Autonomous self" statist-progressivist liberalism not an outgrowth of classical liberalism, contra (among others) Deneen and Koyzis https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830852425?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
13:46 Property right and non-aggression is key. Libertarianism is not libertine-ism, and does not entail condoning or otherwise supporting immorality.
15:12 Libertarianism is also the key to religious liberty https://mises.org/wire/when-you-have-property-rights-you-dont-need-religious-freedom
16:03 Moral action must be free. Liberty is not the highest value, principle, or end in life as such. Rather, civil justice is the leading norm for civil governance, and so liberty (in the sense of non-aggression) as one's right is at issue.
18:28 Recap
19:40 Only by maintaining the non-aggression principle can we best promote a moral and overall flourishing society to God's glory
See Gerard Casey's book Libertarian Anarchy https://www.amazon.com/dp/1441144676?tag=kerrybaldwin-20 And his article "Meddling In Other Men's Affairs" https://tinyurl.com/caseforanarchy Also hear Norman Horn on "How Libertarianism Differs From Other Political Movements" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8BFm9AtUmQ
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 summary of the doctrine of the Right of Political Resistance, with four reasons for its importance. Plus, a little about the life of John Chrysostom and his early church contribution to this important doctrine.
https://reformedlibertarians.com
00:00 start
00:32 episode description
00:52 What is the doctrine of the Right of Political Resistance? See episode 2: https://reformedlibertarians.com/002
01:11 summary of the doctrine No obligation to submit to tyranny since it is not God's ordinance
02:03 taught in the Reformed confessions
05:05 Reformed Political Resistance Theology annotated bibliography https://tinyurl.com/RefoPoliResistBib
05:17 One reason this doctrine is important: the Right of Resistance is a non-indifferent ethical matter addressed in Scripture and church's subordinate doctrinal standards
06:47 A second reason this doctrine is important: the Right of Resistance is required to be taught, and contradicting it is subject to discipline
08:55 A third reason this doctrine is important: decisions related to one's view of the Right of Resistance are frequently encountered
10:12 feeding the poor without govt approval https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/05/fort-lauderdale-pastors-arnold-abbott-arrested-feeding-homeless
10:16 buying govt-unapproved necessities https://www.aier.org/article/how-government-created-the-baby-formula-shortage/
10:22 sheltering the homeless without govt approval https://tinyurl.com/GastoniaShelter https://libertarianchristians.com/2022/11/25/episode-302/
10:45 obsta principiis / resist at the beginning https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/09/27/obsta-principiis-nip-the-shoots-of-arbitrary-power-in-the-bud/
11:59 of course, there are prudential considerations in strategic defense
12:50 A fourth reason this doctrine is important: teaching the Right of Resistance is a matter of the church's faithful witness to the truth of Scripture as God's Word
15:55 there is a great need for greater familiarity with this doctrine in Reformed churches today
16:52 John Chrysostom's historical context https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Later_Roman_Empire#Towards_Christianization
19:55 John Chrysostom's biography https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chrysostom
22:02 Chrysostom's 23rd Homily on Romans 13 Paul is addressing God's prescriptive ordination of an office of administering civil justice, not addressing providence or requiring submission to whoever wields power https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf111.vii.xxv.html
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 human sinfulness and the question of the state's necessity for civil governance. The fact that people are sinners and there will always be crime is shown to be not a reason that states are necessary, but rather a reason for stateless (non-monopolistic) civil governance.
https://reformedlibertarians.com
00:00 start
00:32 episode description
article discussed: https://libertarianchristians.com/2018/03/28/sinful-nature-question-states-necessity/
01:06 overview of 4-part series
Listen to episode 03 on first article concerning law and order and the question of the legitimacy of civil governance: https://reformedlibertarians.com/003
01:27 article preface and summary
03:02 Federalist Paper 51: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed51.asp
04:40 Who will watch the watchmen? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quis_custodiet_ipsos_custodes%3F
05:02 original sin and total depravity
Westminster Confession chapter 6: https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_06
audio on original sin: https://renewingyourmind.org/2022/02/04/original-sin
video on total depravity: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/what-is-reformed-theology/total-depravity-part-1
06:17 introductory book about the Reformed view of the Bible's teaching about salvation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0801014212?tag=kerrybaldwin-20
06:34 Robert Higgs' article on non-necessity of the state "If Men Were Angels": https://mises.org/library/if-men-were-angels-basic-analytics-state-versus-self-government
excerpt from article: https://mises.org/library/if-men-were-angels
video presentation "The State Is Too Dangerous To Tolerate": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RILDjo4EXV8&list=PLwrDNUO5MDu95jfsFdfN2oe8vXQ6Cma-h&index=12
09:02 US govt says police have no duty to protect you
https://mises.org/power-market/police-have-no-duty-protect-you-federal-court-affirms-yet-again
09:35 in principle, if we are at risk and need protection because people are sinners, then granting monopoly power to any group of sinners is the absolute worst thing we could do
10:33 R.J. Rummel on 20th century democide (murder by the state) https://hawaii.edu/powerkills/20TH.HTM
12:48 some seem willfully naive about what states really are.
Anatomy Of The State by Murry Rothbard audiobook https://mises.org/library/anatomy-state-audiobook
13:50 conclusion
Stateless civil governance takes the principles of limited government to their most consistent and prudential conclusion
The idea of limiting the monopoly state is unrealistic
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
https://reformedlibertarians.com
Discussion of the first subsection of the Reformed Libertarianism statement about culture. Also discussed are the significance of the fall into sin, common curse, redemption, and eschatology in relation to culture; as well as subjective sanctification of Christians' cultural activity, contrast of neocalvinist with scholastic and biblicist (or theonomic) views, and transformationalism.
00:00 start
00:32 Episode description
00:55 Subsection 1.a. human production
01:30 Defining culture
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15; 9:1-7
04:30 The Reformed Libertarianism Statement & Principles
https://reformedlibertarians.com/reformed-libertarianism-statement/
04:44 Why is understanding culture important?
06:24 The fall into sin and common curse
Genesis 3:16-19; Romans 8:18-23; Ecclesiastes
08:00 Original prefall design of culture and eschatology
08:43 Postfall institutional differentiation; establishment of Covenant of Grace; Christ's accomplishment of redemption and fulfillment of original mandate
Hebrews 2:5-15
09:24 Subjective sanctification of cultural activity
By the application of Christ's accomplishment of redemption in regeneration, Christians are enable to rightly recognize the reign of God in all areas of life, and in all those areas perform those activities to the ultimate end of God's glory. This includes (however imperfect in this life) Christian good works (increasingly, according to the moral normativity of God's abiding moral will), and increasing conformity to whatever other abiding norms God has established for human action generally, and for cultural activity.
https://honest2blog.blogspot.com/2022/01/reformed-biblical-theological.html
11:20 Example: logical norms in creational revelation
12:54 Literal and figurative sense of fruitfulness
15:00 Temporal common curse on people, so also their labors and the world
16:02 The error of scholastic views of the relation of religion to cultural activity
17:47 Neocalvinism, against scholastic views, rejects the false idea that there can be any religiously neutral area of human life
19:40 Is this a "cultural Christianity"?
21:25 The error of theonomic views of Christian cultural activity
22:13 Neocalvinism, against theonomic views, holds that the Old (Mosaic) Covenant (and its law) is no longer in force, but has spiritual application for the church, and is not a model for believers' cultural activity in the New Covenant era
23:16 A distinctively Christian view of cultural activity is a matter of discerning creational revelation as understood through the perspective of Scriptural teaching
25:24 What about so-called "transformationalism"?
27:30 Regeneration, and union with Christ in faith, involves our whole selves and lives.
All our activity may be service to Christ (Colossians 3:23-24), not in conformity to philosophy that is not according to Christ (Colossians 2:3-4, 8), but rather transformed according to an understanding that all things are created by, through, and for Christ, moreover, and that in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17)
28:48 The reality of present futility because of the fall, even for believers; and the reality of present meaningfulness by the measure of final resurrection life in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:58
32:48 Intro discussion between Pastor Nate Xanders and Gregory Baus on Reformed Libertarianism statement
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwrDNUO5MDu-56FIiArhzVisvc1TayOFS
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 law and order and the question of the legitimacy of civil governance. John Locke's three requirements for legitimate civil governance are shown to be not reasons for a limited state, but rather reasons for stateless (non-monopolistic) civil governance.
https://reformedlibertarians.com
00:00 start
00:32 episode description
article: https://libertarianchristians.com/2018/02/21/anarchism-minarchism-legitimacy-civil-governance/
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiHWYmlh4rQ
01:15 article preface
02:08 summary overview of article
03:53 Locke's first requirement: third party impartial arbiters of disputes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemo_iudex_in_causa_sua
07:52 Law Without (State) Government explanation
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1647CADF96760B37
08:10 Locke's second requirement: settled and known law
10:14 Three Felonies A Day by Harry Silverglate
https://amazon.com/dp/1594035229
11:02 Law Merchant
https://fee.org/articles/the-law-merchant-and-international-trade/
12:28 Locke's third requirement: effective enforcement and defense
16:18 Not-So-Wild "Wild" West
article: https://mises.org/library/not-so-wild-wild-west
book: https://amazon.com/dp/0804748543
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 Gregory Baus' article on the historical, confessionally Reformed view of Romans 13 and a Reformed view of stateless civil governance. Also there's elaboration on lex talionis and the non-aggression principle, the Old Testament (Mosaic Covenant) theocracy, and establishmentarianism.
https://reformedlibertarians.com
00:00 start
00:33 episode description
01:02 article https://tinyurl.com/r13civgov
audio version https://tinyurl.com/r13stateless
01:22 summary of preliminaries
02:22 lex talionis and the non-aggression principle
https://honest2blog.blogspot.com/2022/10/more-on-disestablishment-with-hodge.html
05:43 distinction between civil governance (viz, administration of civil justice) and the 'state' (viz, territorial monopoly on coercion and final say)
06:53 summary overview of article
Reformed Political Resistance annotated bibliography
https://tinyurl.com/RefoPoliResistBib
07:41 an issue of exegesis, not political theory
09:00 major point: the default providential view is inconsistent with the passage and other Scripture passages, was rejected by the Reformed churches in their confessions, and contrary to sanctified common sense
09:45 discussed elsewhere:
Presbycast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC95p88UzKg
Gospel On Tap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UcwN0x5tvY
Daniel 3 Biblical Anarchy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm_wh1ndsxw
10:00 documentation from Reformed confessions; no obligation to submit to unjust rulers or unjust laws
12:58 Why isn't old (Mosaic) covenant a violation of the non-aggression principle and a model for civil governance in new covenant era? And why do we affirm disestablishmentarianism?
Hodge's full article https://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=92
Summary of Hodge's 3 Scriptural points https://honest2blog.blogspot.com/2022/09/hodge-on-disestablishment.html
18:51 summary of history of establishmentarianism
The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.comand a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net
Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com
An introduction to what Reformed means, and what libertarian means with its connection to Reformed. The hosts introduce themselves, and say a word about who the podcast is for.
00:32 episode description
00:55 What do we mean by Reformed?
02:01 The Affair Of The Sausages [ https://reformedforum.org/podcasts/ctc357/ ]
03:31 Historical orthodox Protestants agree on early creeds about Trinity and Christ (among other doctrines), and the "5 Solas" [ https://alliancenet.org/cambridge-declaration/ ] and differ on certain specific points in their respective confessions
04:46 By Reformed we mean affirming a historical Reformed doctrinal standard; Reformed libertarians hold to disestablishmentarian confessions, including 1788 Westminster [ https://opc.org/wcf.html ], 1958 Belgic [ https://threeforms.org/the-belgic-confession/ ], or 1689 London Baptist [ https://the1689confession.com ]
05:24 Covenantal, redemptive-historical interpretation [ https://upper-register.com/mp3s.html#unfolding ]
05:42 How are we not 'Evangelical'?
06:47 We are evangelistic, testifying to the good news of salvation from God's judgement in Jesus Christ
08:32 What do we mean by libertarian?
09:20 By libertarian we mean affirming self-ownership/property right and the principle of non-aggression [ https://mises.org/library/what-libertarianism ]
10:16 How do we understand libertarianism from a Reformed perspective?
12:51 About Gregory Baus [ https://sites.google.com/site/ideolog/ ]
13:47 About Kerry Baldwin [ https://mereliberty.com/about/kerry-baldwin/ ]
16:57 Who might our audience be?
18:47 Our mission is to educate and inspire listeners to embrace and promote libertarianism as grounded in the Reformed Faith