The Reformed Libertarians Podcast

Gregory and Kerry share their stories of how they became Reformed libertarians. Each include some of their background, how questions and thinking about political and economic issues first arose, some important influences, and the process of discovering libertarian answers understood through a Reformed perspective. https://reformedlibertarians.com/bonusD Main Points of Discussion 00:00 Introduction...

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...

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 als...

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 rel...

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 dif...

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 Disc...

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...

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, t...

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, an...

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...

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...

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...

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://reformedlibertarian...

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...

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 talk...

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 descriptio...

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 civ...

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 abo...

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 h...

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 soverei...

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/008/ 00:00 Start 00:32...

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/007...

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/006 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...

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/005 00:00 start 00:32 episode desc...