The Chalcedon Podcast

Subversive activity seeks to undermine society, and a significant factor in these schemes is the subversion of words where meaning is hijacked to make way for revolution and marginalize opponents. This is especially damaging when the subversion is happening within Christianity itself. Hosted by Mark Rushdoony, Martin Selbrede, and Andrea Schwartz 🎧 The audio version of this podcast is also availa...

Humanistic thinkers like Freud and Bertrand Russell believed that the decline of religion would follow the solving of societal ills while diminishing any sense of guilt. In this sense, they wanted to build a society free from religion, which would only mean that it would reconstructed by the religion of man. To achieve this would require rule by a scientific state acting as God and regulating ever...

The modern world witnesses a troubling drift, as many today, detached from history and divine purpose, see humans as merely "disposable." This perspective is a far cry from the "dominion man" envisioned by the Scriptures—man made in God's image to steward and lead creation with purpose. Tragically, this detachment from our intended role breeds societal unrest, leading us from one crisis to another...

The doctrine of selective depravity, favored by humanism, stipulates that certain people are inherently evil, creating conflict by targeting specific groups instead of addressing universal sin. This perspective distorts the biblical concept of salvation, replacing Christ's role with a self-identified "righteous" segment of society. The doctrine fuels conflicts, as witnessed in the 20th century, an...

Conspiracy theory has played a role in the margins of American society for more than two centuries, but it is now mainstream with the help of the internet and social media and myriads of self-appointed experts. But does the Bible discuss conspiracies? And if so, what should Christians do about it? R. J. Rushdoony had an extensive collection of books on conspiracies and addressed the subject severa...

In the modern era, every decade brings a new public struggle over some aspect of the Bill of Rights. Still, the average citizen is not only unfamiliar with the contents of the Bill of Rights, they are equally unfamiliar with its origin, purpose, and the history that preceded it. Added to this is how we are to view these rights Biblically. Join us on this podcast as we dive deep into the Bill of Ri...

Socialism is basically and essentially humanism applied to economics. Socialism denies economic laws; it plans to remake the world in terms of man's welfare as seen by the planners. It is a government of men, not of laws, by men, not by law, and society is placed under man, not under God. A generation reared in humanism is bent on sacrificing law to suit the criminal, giving food to subsidize soci...

The faith of modern man is Pelagianism, and Pelagianism believes in the natural goodness of man; it is not man who is evil but his environment. The state also is naturally good and is therefore to be trusted with all the powers necessary in order to cope with an evil environment. This is the subject of Episode 31 of the Chalcedon Podcast. Hosted by Mark Rushdoony, Martin Selbrede, and Andrea Schwa...

Syncretism is the "reconciliation or union of conflicting beliefs," with a secondary definition being an "egregious compromise in religion or philosophy." Biblically stated, man can have no other gods before Him; there can be no syncretism. Biblical revelation cannot be mixed with anything else. Yet, we live in an era of syncretism within the church. This is the subject of Episode 30 of the Chalce...

"The rights of man" is a political doctrine, and this is basic to its error. The assumption is that man's freedom depends on and must come from the state. Now, certainly, the state can be a major enemy to man's freedom, but it cannot be seen as the source of liberty. A "duty" is an obligation we owe to God or man, or to both. A "right" is a claim we make on the world, on men, and even on God, as i...

For well over 500 years now, Western civilization has been in a state of civil war, with two aspects thereof in a growing conflict with one another. These two contending forces are humanism and Christianity. Humanism began its rise to power in the medieval era, and its strength was such that it captured the church, much of the academic world, and the state as well. At the same time, however, the g...

Deuteronomy is the "go to" book for theocracy because it's the most clear about the importance of the law and its application in the promised land where Israel would no longer be guided by the pillars of cloud and fire nor miraculously provided for by manna and water out of a rock. Wilderness season is ending, so the emphasis of the law will shift to governing a people within their own country ins...

The temptation to skip over books like Numbers is a great one. After all, isn't it just the numbering of Israel? Is there anything of significance found in its pages? R. J. Rushdoony penned an enlightening commentary on Numbers, and Chalcedon's leadership sits down to discuss the importance of Rushdoony's insights. This is the subject of Episode 26 of the Chalcedon Podcast. Hosted by Mark Rushdoon...

The Book of Leviticus reveals more than a way to holiness. It shows us the path to dominion—even to a realized new Garden of Eden. The laws of God are essential to modern Christian community. This is the subject of Episode 25 of the Chalcedon Podcast. Hosted by Martin Selbrede and Andrea Schwartz 🎧The audio version of this podcast is also available on iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher.

The Book of Exodus is more than a telling of Israel's early history. It's a motif that appears throughout the Bible and culminates in the great exodus of Christ Himself. This is the subject of Episode 24 of the Chalcedon Podcast. Hosted by Mark Rushdoony, Martin Selbrede, and Andrea Schwartz 🎧The audio version of this podcast is also available on iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher.

R. J. Rushdoony was a true creationist which is why the book of Genesis was central to all that he taught. He would go on to write a commentary on the book of Genesis while bringing out a unique approach to the first book of the Bible. This is the subject of Episode 23 of the Chalcedon Podcast. Hosted by Mark Rushdoony, Martin Selbrede, and Andrea Schwartz 🎧The audio version of this podcast is al...

Certain religious and theological ideas are inescapable even when it involves humanism in all its forms—especially statism. Today, there is a "doctrine of the Holy Spirit," but it is a false doctrine, and understanding it begins with understanding the Biblical doctrine of the Holy Spirit. This is the subject of Episode 22 of the Chalcedon Podcast. Hosted by Mark Rushdoony, Martin Selbrede, and And...

Are there things to which God is indifferent? Are there areas of life that are neutral, and we as man can create our own moral standards? Anyone familiar with Rushdoony's work is familiar with the phrase "the myth of neutrality," but are we familiar with an ancient problem in the church known as adiaphorism? The meaning of the term is "things indifferent," or areas of life that God does not legisl...

We are living in a time of great overreach by the civil government while protests are erupting all over the world in resistance, but what freedom are people looking for? Is it Christian liberty? What is Christian liberty? Can you have liberty without law? This is the subject of Episode 20 of the Chalcedon Podcast. Hosted by Mark Rushdoony, Martin Selbrede, and Andrea Schwartz 🎧The audio version o...

"Men's hearts failing them for fear." (Luke 21:26) The corrosive forces of humanism are creating great fear throughout the world as the bottom falls out for man's morality and social order. Humanity struggles to contend with an unending supply of crises because their worldview is bankrupt. Rushdoony wrote, "The only thing that can counteract and overcome the deadly personal and social effects of t...

The bad words of political systems are fascism, socialism, and theocracy, but does the average truly understand the definitions of each term? Take fascism, for example. Groups like Antifa—defined as anti-fascist—act more fascist than those they accuse, so what exactly is fascism? The same goes for socialism and theocracy. They are terms we throw around to demonize our political opponents without t...

"Both liberties and powers are alike limited, under God, and hence under law. Liberty is limited and power is limited because the temporal order is under God." ( The One & The Many , p. 20) For fallen man, the political battle is always one of power vs liberty. Some men seek for liberty while the remaining seek for power. For example, anarchists and libertarians desire liberty while socialists, te...

"Christian Reconstruction" is a school of thought that is diametrically opposed to the autonomous reason of man which itself has long infected Christianity. Today's Christian assumes that fallen man is an impartial judge over knowledge and reality—that he is "neutral"—and that fallen man can be "reasoned" into faith. R. J. Rushdoony continued the battle against modern man's pretended neutrality by...

In Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul writes, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The dynamic of New Covenant living is the radical pursuit of proving the will of God for every area of life, but does that mean the Old Testament prophets are obsolete? Quite the contrary, t...

Rushdoony often noted that the way to build Christian civilization—or save it—is to restore the spiritual capital of faith and character. This is a central part of the work of Christian Reconstruction because it's established upon God's Kingdom, His law, and the covenant He established through Jesus Christ. As we labor to restore that spiritual capital, it's important that we secure ourselves duri...