The Libertarian Christian Podcast

Justin Brierley joins us to talk about his experience bringing atheists and Christian apologists together on his show, as well as his book, "Unbelievable?" where he makes the case for believing in God, and how the Christian story makes the best sense out of life, the universe, and everything. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Economists like competition because competitive markets create what the economist Tim Harford calls "a world of truth": we produce, as he puts it, the right things the right way and in the right proportions, with prices guiding them into the hands of the right people. This "world of truth" makes no assumptions about people's preferences, however, and it is entirely possible that people buy and sell things that corrupt their souls--that they exchange the truth of God for a lie, as it were. But this does not mean forsaking competition will make things better. In this episode, Art Carden explores the unintended consequences of government intervention to prevent or promote competition as well as implications of the Imago Dei for exchange and the institutions thereof. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Religious liberty is sometimes described as "America's first freedom," but it was only achieved after more than a century of painful experience and with the development of careful arguments in colonial and early republican America. To many people then, the free exercise of one’s religion was not a self-evident right or something that was desirable for any social purpose. Today the rights of conscience are again coming under attack, and Christians need to recover the intellectual framework that makes arguments for religious freedom compelling. This episode examines foundational documents that early Americans relied on and produced to win the battle for religious liberty. It also provides resources for Christian libertarians who want to engage in the renewed battle for this precious freedom we dare not take for granted. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

David Gornoski uses mimetic theory to explain how the Gospel is the antidote to the problems that ail our world, including the myths that prevail in our politically correct climate. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Many Christians believe that the Bible establishes human political authority as a means of ensuring social order. Passages such as Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:17, and Christ's statement to "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" are commonly referred to in the Christian argument for legitimizing human political authority. However, there is good reason to be highly skeptical of human political authority and its perceived legitimacy on biblical grounds. Jason Hughey takes us on a deeper dive into the context of these passages (and more) to discover that they may not be as convincing when used for the purposes of divinely legitimizing human political authority or demanding our allegiance to such authority. ★ Support this podcast ★

Norman discusses the fundamentals of Christian libertarianism in the context of LCI’s recently released mission, vision, and core values, with an additional emphasis on the kind of character we should build to be effective “truth-tellers” to our communities today. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

If you had to let the state do one thing only, what would it be? Roads? Libraries? Primary Schooling? Why or why not? In this episode, Doug and Norman answer this question, as well as discuss the ways in which we can expand our imaginations and offer legit alternatives to state-run goods and services. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Do Christians need to be pacifists? What would that even mean or look like? Is it wrong to use a gun in self-defense? Ted Grimsrud, Senior Professor of Peace Theology at EMU, joins us to talk about the biblical roots of pacifism. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Does capitalism encourage excessive consumption and greed? Why do anti-capitalists seem to have a zero-sum view of global economic resources? Should we be wary of advertising because it causes us to lose our true freedom to choose? Edd Noell, professor of Economics and Business at Westmont College and President of the Association of Christian Economists joins us to sever the connection between consumerism and capitalism. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Doug and Norman discuss the issue of social justice. What is social justice? Why do many people have different notions of it? Is there a “libertarian Christian” way to conceive of social justice? Is there such a thing as a “social gospel”? And can the state rightly participate in enabling the common good? Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

With the death of the VW Beetle and the arrival of the self-checkout, the world is coming to an end. Or is it? Art Carden, an economist to his core, joins us to alleviate our fears about the end of the world as we know it. After it, you’ll feel fine. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

This episode was originally recorded for the Bob Murphy show, where Bob and Norman Horn have a provocative conversation that will enlighten both believers and skeptics alike. They critically analyze the tendency of American Christians to support war, in its domestic and foreign applications. Norman gives Bob the best, succinct analysis of Romans 13 he has ever encountered. Bob ends (playing devil’s advocate) by challenging Norman to explain why the Church isn’t just as exploitative as the State. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

NT Wright answers our questions about how the Church is to relate to the state and how Christians are to be followers of Jesus in our time and place. What does Church-State politics look like in the United States or in Great Britain? Are they the same? Wright answers our questions in this uniquely recorded episode. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Do religious people in the United States need to be on alert for violations of their religious freedom? What recent issues have taken place that threaten our individual liberty? Daniel Ortner joins us to talk about the Pacific Legal Foundation and how individual and religious liberty are key fights in the preservation of a just society. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Troy Frasier and Joel Bourdess join us to talk about how sermons preached before the advent of audio recording can now be heard in modern language through their podcast. They share stories about the preachers, their research on the sermons, and the context in which these sermons were preached. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

If talking about politics is tough for you, our guest Hunter Baker has some helpful advice and insights about how best to approach the topics of freedom, liberty, justice, and peace. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Isaac Morehouse is more interested in creating freedom for himself and enabling others to get over obstacles to their own freedom and human flourishing, and it is always worth hearing what he has to say about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Daniel Griswold of the Mercatus Center joins us to talk about how Christians can make the case for free trade by employing moral, economic, and historical arguments. How does free trade enable us to "love thy neighbor" or raise the costs of war or improve the livelihood of the destitute? Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

We don't usually publish two episodes in a row on the same topic, but when we do, you can be sure it's really important! This week's episode features a unique audio documentary created a few years ago by our audio engineer for this podcast, Chris Williams. He succinctly presents a strong factual and logical case against abortion and then interviews two women with powerful pro-life testimonies. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Much of what is being said on the news and social media about abortion by both pro-choice and pro-life activists is just plain wrong. In this episode, three pro-life libertarian women "take the mic" to discuss some of the most common myths about abortion and to present a new way of thinking for libertarians to value both the rights of women and the unborn. While certainly compatible with Christian theology, the arguments presented herein are based on science, embryology, ethics, libertarian political theory, and free market economics. Buckle up! Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Jamin Andreas Hübner joins us to analyze the claims of democratic socialism and whether or not libertarians should take them seriously. Audio Production by Podsworth Media ★ Support this podcast ★

Doug Stuart was a guest on Larry Reed’s "Reed Hour" on the Loving Liberty radio network, and joined Larry to discuss his journey to Christian libertarianism, what LCI is all about, and why democratic socialists are wrong about how to get what they want out of society. Audio Production by Podsworth Media ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, Norman is joined by Dr. RC Sproul Jr to discuss his new book Growing Up With RC. Dr. Sproul's father, RC Sr., was an acclaimed theologian who passed away in late 2017. RC Jr.'s book honors his faithful gospel legacy, and in the show we pass on some Sproul-inspired lessons and memories that influence our thoughts on both theology and politics today. Audio Production by Podsworth Media ★ Support this podcast ★

Cody Cook, host of the Cantus Firmus Podcast and a theology and film buff, joins us to talk about his new book, Fight the Powers: What the Bible Says about the Relationship between Spiritual Forces and Human Governments. Learn about how the government and the Kingdom of God are at odds and how Christians ought to relate to society and the state. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Alison Morrow of GoodSchooling.net joins us to talk about homeschooling – her own journey, myths people believe about homeschooling, and how her business exists to serve homeschooling parents to achieve the educational goals for their children. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Jacqueline Isaacs, co-author of the book, "Called to Freedom: Why You Can Be Christian and Libertarian", joins us to announce a forthcoming audiobook edition of her book. Jacque shares the story behind the book, the audiobook, and some behind-the-scenes stories about their creation. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Alex Salter joins us to talk about his co-authored piece in the Christian LIbertarian Review on Distributism. Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ★ Support this podcast ★

Hunter Hastings of the Center for Individualism joins us to talk about his book, The Interconnected Individual, and why we should look forward to the exciting new economic realities of the future. ★ Support this podcast ★

Capitalism has gotten a bad rap, and has many undeserved criticisms of it. Doug and Norman discuss what capitalism really is, down to its fundamentals, and answer some critical questions many have about it. ★ Support this podcast ★

Gene Epstein of The Soho Forum joins us to equip free market proponents with information on how to combat against misunderstandings about wealth, inequality, and other talking points the anti-capitalists are espousing. ★ Support this podcast ★

Randy England joins us to talk about his book, Free is Beautiful, a tremendous work on the foundations of libertarianism from a biblical and Church history perspective. ★ Support this podcast ★

If you were approached on the street and asked what libertarians believe, what would you say? Would it be succinct? Or would it take a few minutes? Doug and Norman discuss some of the basics of libertarianism, providing both succinct and elaborate answers to common questions about the non-aggression principle, property rights, justice, and more. ★ Support this podcast ★

In this joint episode with Godarchy host Mike Maharrey, we discuss a recent article from Sojourners on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's so-called biblical values of democratic socialism. The author supports the idea that AOC's politics could be derived from the Bible. Mike and Doug discuss the article in-depth using humor, sarcasm, and an economic and theological analysis. ★ Support this podcast ★

Sean Malone, Director of Media at FEE, joins us to talk about media bias, misinformation, and manipulation, as well as how to promote liberty with media in an oversaturated market for attention. Sean Malone is the Director of Media at the Foundation for Economic Education. Sean studied music performance and composition for film and multimedia at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and New York University, and has worked in various creative and producing roles in New York and Los Angeles. Sean's films have been featured in the mainstream media and throughout the free-market educational community. ★ Support this podcast ★

Elijah Thompson of Dank Pro-Life Memes and TheFetalPosition.comjoins us to talk about elevating the conversation about abortion and help bolster the arguments pro-life advocates make. ★ Support this podcast ★

Brent Waters, author of Just Capitalism, joins us to discuss globalization, its effects on poverty, the good of affluence, and how Christians should consider capitalism in an ever-growing economy. ★ Support this podcast ★

Roger McKinney, author of God is a Capitalist: Markets from Moses to Marx, joins us to talk about his book, and we dive into the topic of envy and why Christianity's emphasis on the individual enabled society to think about the world differently, suppressing envy of those around us, and participating in enabling the wealth we enjoy in the 21st century. ★ Support this podcast ★

Jamin Andreas Hübner joins us to discuss how libertarian Christians can deal with the problem of being misrepresented by conservatives, progressives, or just about anybody. ★ Support this podcast ★

Judge Andrew Napolitano joins us for a quick discussion on why he's a Christian AND a libertarian, what threatens our liberties in America today, and his “report card” for the Trump presidency so far. ★ Support this podcast ★

The Cato Institute's Michael Tanner joins me to discuss his book, The Inclusive Economy, and what Americans need to consider if we want to seriously make the world a better place for the poor instead of just throwing money at the problem. ★ Support this podcast ★

Mike Munger from Duke University joins me to talk about the Third Economic Revolution that is currently underway. Most people think of it as the sharing economy, but it's far more than that, and Munger's analysis on it helps us think better as economists and libertarians. We also briefly discuss a Basic Income Guarantee and whether or not it's a good idea. ★ Support this podcast ★

On Monday, January 7, LCI hosted its first live episode online, where he and Dr. Norman Horn discussed the origins of LCC, Norman's success at converting his family to be libertarians, our superfast incorporation story, and the journey starting as a blog about faith and liberty to an institute dedicated to equipping Christians to make the case for a free society. Also, view Larry Reed's video (which we had planned for the episode, but couldn't air due to technical difficulties) here: https://youtu.be/3dFlsliuB9k ★ Support this podcast ★

John Schneider, author of the book The Good of Affluence, joins us to talk about a biblical theology of wealth. How can we know that God wants us to flourish and be prosperous in a truly biblical sense? John rejects the label “prosperity gospel” because there is no guarantees of wealth, but the desire of God is for us to flourish together. Listen to find out how! ★ Support this podcast ★

Musician Zama Rripa joins us to talk about becoming a musician, writing libertarian songs, and some of his favorite topics around liberty such as honest money, problems with the Federal Reserve, and more! We also feature some of Zama Rripa's music, including titles like “Live and Let Live” and “Blowback.” Talked about in this episode: Honest Money by Gary North https://www.garynorth.com/HonestMoney.pdf https://mises.org/library/honest-money Ethics of Money Production Jorg guido Hulsmann https://mises.org/library/ethics-money-production Foundations of Private Property Society https://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Private-Property-Society-Theory/dp/1387615173 End the Fed https://www.amazon.com/End-Fed-Ron-Paul/dp/0446549193 Keynes Quote https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/ess_inflation.html ★ Support this podcast ★

Jason Rink talks to Max Borders about his book, The Social Singularity, where they discuss the promise of a decentralized world. ★ Support this podcast ★

Is there a “Christian” view of economics? How does economic understanding relate to how we approach ethics, sociology, and policy, particularly through a Christian lens? In this episode, economics professor Shawn Ritenour joins us to discuss these questions and more, while also providing insights from his personal journey as both a Christian and an economist. ★ Support this podcast ★

Libertarians are known for their advocacy of free choice, free association, and free movement. But are there boundaries or limits to this openness? Dr. Jason Brennan of Georgetown University joins us to talk what it means to advocate for global justice, and why it means being open borders and free trade. In the book he makes a rigorous defense for positive-sum interactions because global justice demands it. ★ Support this podcast ★

TOMORROW (Nov 27, 2018) is Giving Tuesday, and Facebook is matching donations up to $7 million, and as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, LCI qualifies to receive the matched donation. Doug and Norman talk about this important development, as well as why our LCI Facebook group is a great place to join. Oh, and we talk about C.S. Lewis and Jacque Ellul. And other stuff! ★ Support this podcast ★

LCI's Norman Horn and Doug Stuart discuss over a few drinks everything form hymns, church denominations, and the recent election. ★ Support this podcast ★

On the day of the 2018 midterm elections, Dr. Art Carden joins Doug Stuart to talk about the elections, how to improve the world after the election (no matter who won), and how to be a better proponent of economics and liberty. ★ Support this podcast ★