Dare to Think | Mere Liberty Podcast

TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary | Is the Billy Graham Rule Above Reproach? What do I mean by this question? It’s been suggested by many holding to biblical sexual ethic that the Billy Graham Rule is a prudential “rule of thumb” intended to mitigate the temptation for sexual sin. But is this true? As I’ve discussed and interacted with Christians over the years, I’ve found there two basic interpretations of this rule. Either it’s a blanket, hard and fast rule, or it’s a good thing to consider in particular circumstances with particular people. The former interpretation comes from Billy Graham himself, and the latter comes from an assumption made about the content of the rule. This assumption is simply wrong. Making prudential boundaries for oneself, to be used in particular circumstances with particular people is not at issue in this episode. By it’s very definition, boundaries require an act of discernment. The Billy Graham Rule, on the other hand, requires forgoing discernment and is from motivations that demonstrate it’s a rule not above reproach, and therefore un-Christian. Main Points of Discussion 00:00 Introduction 01:27 What is the Billy Graham Rule and a thought experiment. 06:13 What does it mean to be “above reproach?” 11:38 Why Billy Graham created his rule and its implications 15:47 What the Billy Graham Rule is not 18:55 Concluding thoughts   Resource Links What is the Billy Graham Rule? (According to Billy Graham) https://billygraham.org/story/the-modesto-manifesto-a-declaration-of-biblical-integrity/ Billy Graham Rule https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Graham_rule Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) Biblical Qualifications of Elders https://www.opc.org/OS/html/V3/4e.html

Trainer Kathleen McGoey discusses restorative justice, its principles, integration with the legal system, and adoption in schools for conflict resolution. She compares its efficacy with the current criminal legal system and introduces the idea to Reformed Christians. Topics include repairing harm, restoring relationships, empowering victims, holding offenders accountable, and promoting empathy and personal transformation.

Kerry Baldwin, an independent researcher and co-author of "Faith Seeking Freedom," dives into the complex intersection of libertarianism and abortion. She challenges traditional pro-life narratives, urging a rethink of abortion as a legal and moral issue. The conversation touches on the evolving role of the Libertarian Party and critiques the effectiveness of criminalization. Baldwin advocates for personal choice, market solutions to reduce abortion demand, and restorative justice as a new framework for navigating these contentious topics.

Response to John Stossel on Abortion | Kerry Baldwin and Doug Stuart TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  John Stossel on abortion For the past 50 years, the abortion debate has been a polarized issue with common ground on either side. This polarization has created a perfect storm that suggests a deeply divided country. A single data point gets twisted by both sides. 61% of Americans believe 1st trimester abortion (up to 13 weeks) should be legal. The pro-choice side twists this to say, "most Americans are support abortion rights." The pro-life side twists the same data point to say, "most Americans support restrictions on abortion." I don't see it this way. I think most Americans exist in a gray middle. They're the ones who say, "I'm pro-choice, but …" or I'm pro-life, but …". Most Americans intuitively recognize abortion is wrapped up in tangential issues. So, abortion is a concession, not an ideal, in the mind of most. Failure to imagine a life-affirming alternative to the status quo leads to this concession. I was recently invited to be a guest on John Stossel's show to discuss abortion, and was joined by Avens O'Brien; a pro-choice libertarian of feminists for liberty. I have a great deal of respect for John Stossel and what he does. And I appreciate the opportunity to be featured on his show and alongside O'brien. However, I think Stossel missed an opportunity. I hold that libertarianism is a true alternative to the polarized paradigm we've been stuck in. In this episode, I sat down with Doug Stuart of the Libertarian Christian Institute to discuss some important elements of the interview with Stossel that didn't make it into the final edit. Join me, Kerry Baldwin, as we Dare to Think about libertarianism changes the abortion debate. Main Points of Discussion 01:52 Background to John Stossel episode 07:02 John Stossel on Abortion in full 12:42 Opening commentary 14:03 Where do we agree? 15:09 The problem of enforcement and drug bans 16:51 A person exists inside another person 19:02 My hope and the missed opportunity 22:34 Avens O'Brien's nuances 24:15 Initial reactions to Dobbs v Jackson 28:41 Why even Christian women are worried about the overturn of Roe v Wade 31:08 Militant anti-abortion abolitionists are supporting Joe Biden's failed criminal justice legacy 32:16 Women justified in the felt threat from the state 34:01 Pro-lifers "work not done yet" - what does this mean? 35:27 What I'd like to see libertarians do moving forward Resource Links Original episode of John Stossel on Abortion Avens O'Brien, Feminists for Liberty Restorative Justice Libertarian Party Removes Abortion Plank from Platform   Become a Monthly Member https://mereliberty.com/membership?utm_source=show+notes&utm_medium=link&utm_id=DTT

Thinking Well in High Stakes Situations| Show Notes TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary It's easy to believe high stakes situations - like a pandemic - create an imperative to act first. But this is false! We cannot take purposeful action, or well-reasoned action without thinking first. This is counterintuitive to most us. When we're under pressure to make a life-altering decisions, it's easy to believe a "shoot first, ask questions later" approach might work well. But especially when dealing with complex problems that affect us in various way, high stakes situations create an imperative to think first - before acting! To compound the issue, getting others to make particular decisions in similar situations means we are left with the power of persuasion. This is what makes life difficult. It's not only that we experience problems, but those problems are dynamic, and we cannot use force against others to make decisions we want them to. In this episode of Dare to Think, I've republished a discussion I had with Doug Stuart at the Libertarian Christian Institute. We're discussing the courses I teach online at mereliberty.com about how to build and develop the skills of thinking well. Join me, Kerry Baldwin as we Dare to Think about the importance of thinking well in high stakes situations. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, Rumble, or Odysee. Main Points of Discussion 01:49 Intro; Human Action - Do groups act? 05:53 Can people do things without thinking? 09:36 What do we mean by high stakes? 15:32 High stakes decisions and imperatives to make a decision  20:25 How should we treat experts and are they making decisions for us? 27:57 Why we can't take action without thinking first? 30:20 Final thoughts Resource Links The Liberty Seminar opens for registration three times a year with each semester. mereliberty.com/libertyseminar Use DISCOUNT CODE DTT2022 at checkout to receive 30% off the SUMMER 2022 session. Offer expires April 17th. If you find this after the deadline, sign up for the waitlist at mereliberty.com/waitlist Waitlistees will be notified first of upcoming registration and also receive an exclusive discount just for joining the waitlist.  Join my monthly newsletter! mereliberty.com/signup Become a monthly MEMBER and receive premium rewards mereliberty.com/membership

Mistaken Christian Views of Culture | Show Notes TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary American Christians are no stranger to the idea of culture. But there are number of ways in which they treat the Christian's relation to culture poorly. Some mistaken Christian views of culture are derived from two broader theoretical views: Scholasticism and Theonomy. This is part two of my interview with Gregory Baus. Listen to part one here: Rethinking a Reformed Christian View of Culture In Scholastic views, for example, the tendency is to view culture as distinct and separate from matters of faith. This often leads to the view that secularism is not only a thing, but a thing to be wary of. It's "worldly" and therefore not something to participate in. In Theonomic views, culture is something to be conquered by counter revolution. Old testament laws are brought forward to the new covenant era as a means of enforcing "cultural Christianity" through the sword. Out of these any number of nuances emerge. But we see both this views to be erroneous. In this episode, I discuss these mistaken views with Gregory Baus, and discuss a neocalvinist view of culture. Featured Guest Bio | Gregory Baus Gregory Baus is a student of the Reformational/neocalvinist philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd. A former international English teacher; he’s currently living in the US and writing a Master’s thesis on the topic of self-knowledge. (There’s a link to his profile in the show notes). Gregory became a libertarian anarchist in 2008 and we collaborated together on the statement, “What is Reformed Anarchism?” written in 2020 See his full profile: https://sites.google.com/site/ideolog/ Follow Gregory Baus on Academia, Facebook, and YouTube https://independentscholar.academia.edu/GregoryBaus https://www.facebook.com/gregory.baus https://www.youtube.com/c/reformational Main Points of Discussion [01:52] Scholastic errors and the myth of religious neutrality [03:44] Is this secularism? [04:10] The neocalvinist view [06:43] What about 'cultural Christianity? [09:09] Theonomic errors [15:22] Is neocalvinist "transformationalism" also unbiblical? [19:57] Does Christian cultural activity matter "as living sacrifices" or is it all in vain? [25:53] Gregory mentions discussion with PCA pastor Nate Xanders on the Reformed Anarchism statement Resource Links What is Reformed Anarchism? https://www.academia.edu/44884160/What_is_Reformed_anarchism Dialogue with PCA Pastor Nate Xanders on Reformed Anarchism https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwrDNUO5MDu-56FIiArhzVisvc1TayOFS

Rethinking a Reformed Christian View of Culture | Show Notes TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary Culture is important since it’s the second most important thing we can do as humans: love our neighbor. But how exactly does this play out. Evangelicalism has tried to create a “moral majority” through various political activities. But this politicization of our cultural activity has led to unending “culture wars.” This hyperbolic metaphor has caused divisions among political lines. What if Evangelicals got it wrong? What if norms for culture are written into the fabric of reality itself? How does Adam and Eve’s fall into sin affect these norms? And what if the conventional wisdom from leading evangelical figures – on both the left and right – have complicated the question? How should we think of culture and our activity in it? How might we challenge prevailing paradigms of culture toward a free and prosperous society? In this episode, I discuss these questions and more with Gregory Baus, my co-collaborating on the statement of principles, What is Reformed Anarchism? Featured Guest Bio | Gregory Baus Gregory Baus is a student of the Reformational/neocalvinist philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd. A former international English teacher; he’s currently living in the US and writing a Master’s thesis on the topic of self-knowledge. (There’s a link to his profile in the show notes). Gregory became a libertarian anarchist in 2008 and we collaborated together on the statement, “What is Reformed Anarchism?” written in 2020 See Gregory Baus' full profile here: https://sites.google.com/site/ideolog/ Follow Gregory Baus on Academia, Facebook, and YouTube https://independentscholar.academia.edu/GregoryBaus https://www.facebook.com/gregory.baus https://www.youtube.com/c/reformational Main Points of Discussion 1:47 Introduction to the Reformed Anarchism statement, what is meant by ‘anarchism’? 7:24 What is ‘culture’? 11:48 Why is it important to have a proper understanding of culture? 15:02 What is a Reformed Christian view of culture? 19:07 What is subjective sanctification? 23:51 Does, “be fruitful and multiply,” only refer to procreation and the family? Next episode: Common mistaken views: Scholasticism and Theonomy. And what about neocalvinism and transformationalism? Resource Links What is Reformed Anarchism? https://www.academia.edu/44884160/What_is_Reformed_anarchism Dialogue with PCA Pastor Nate Xanders on Reformed Anarchism https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwrDNUO5MDu-56FIiArhzVisvc1TayOFS

Interpersonal Communication, A Dialogue with Antony Sammeroff | Show Notes TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  It's very easy to think of libertarianism and the principle of self-ownership as being an extreme form of individualism. In fact, cynics of libertarian thought chide libertarians for being atomistic, selfish, egotistical, and the like. While any student of libertarian philosophy knows these accusations are baseless, other self-described libertarians may have difficulty relating ideas like self-ownership to relationships.  This is for any kind of relationship - whether platonic, romantic, or more indirect like with the state. Antony Sammeroff and Kerry Baldwin dialogue about the importance of good communication skills, why most of us don't have them, what the consequences have been on a societal scale, and how we can start making changes for the good.  Antony Sammeroff co-hosts the Scottish Liberty Podcast and has featured prominently on other libertarian themed shows including The Tom Woods Show, Lions of Liberty, School Sucks Podcast, and many more. His book Universal Basic Income — For and Against (with a foreword by Robert P. Murphy) is available in paperback and on Amazon Kindle. Subscribe to his Substack here: https://psychosocial.substack.com/  Resources Mentioned Placating People by Antony Sammeroff 6 Reasons Why People Communicate ... Can You Name Them?  by Antony Sammeroff Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall Rosenberg (Affiliate Link) How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber Who's Pulling Your Strings?: How to Break the Cycle of Manipulation and Regain Control of Your Life by Dr. Harriet Braiker Harsh Nazi Parenting Guidelines May Still Affect German Children of Today by Anne Kratzer  Become a Member! Mereliberty.com/membership Follow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mereliberty/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MereLiberty Minds: https://www.minds.com/KerryBaldwin/ Locals: https://mereliberty.locals.com

Kerry Baldwin on Abuse, Sphere Sovereignty | Show Notes TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary In this episode, Jacob Winograd invites Kerry Baldwin to discuss some cultural aspects of relationship from a Reformed and anarchist perspective. Winograd is concerned is the church is failing to “be the church” as a means of societal preservation (Matt 5:13-16). We begin with a description of sphere sovereignty as formulated in the statement on Reformed Anarchism. Sphere sovereignty is a concept articulated in neocalvinism from Dutch theologian, Abraham Kuyper, and Reformational philosopher, Herman Dooyeweerd. This sets the stage for our discussion on the institutions of the family, church, and the state, the proper understanding of these institutions, and how abuse arise within them. Main Points of Discussion 02:11  Salt & Light? What is Sphere Sovereignty and how does it relate to culture? 05:40  What is the Christian institution of marriage? Unity and diversity in the Body of Christ, submission, analogy of Christ and Bride, self-love, 17:14  Distinctions of roles between husband and wife in marriage; Eternal Subordination of the Son, gender distinctions in egalitarianism, homemaking, patriarchalism, 24:19  Wifely submission, Does the wife submit to everything a husband demands? Marital rape, compelling obedience, equivalent error in Romans 13, monopolization of marriage 30:52  Divorce; Does God hate divorce?  35:47  Abusive relationships, church scandals, the secular overcorrection of victimhood, feminism and revenge, matriarchy, parachurch organizations 40:47  The church’s job is to preach the Gospel! We’re looking forward to the Christ’s coming kingdom Resource Links What is Reformed Anarchism? Daniel 3 Podcast – Interview with Gregory Baus What is Feminism in Simple Terms? What is Christian Love? Life-Saving Divorce by Gretchen Baskerville Subscribe Email list: mereliberty.com/signup Monthly membership: mereliberty.com/membership

Become a Member! Mereliberty.com/membership Follow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mereliberty/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MereLiberty Minds: https://www.minds.com/KerryBaldwin/ Locals: https://mereliberty.locals.com   Resources Mentioned: Music: Patria y Vida – Yotuel , @Gente De Zona , @Descemer Bueno , Maykel Osorbo , El Funky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP9Bto5lOEQ  The Doublespeak of Black Lives Matter and a Libertarian Response Liberty Memes Returns https://www.facebook.com/LibertyMeme Liberty Memes $5 Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/506343186580255 https://adncuba.com/ https://www.cibercuba.com/ https://cubamissing.com/ https://www.facebook.com/watch/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&v=2953378994880924 https://www.instagram.com/soscubanyc/