Say not, when I have leisure I will study;
you may not have leisure.
The Mishnah
From the New Blog
- Rasmussen, in his latest email, is befuddled at Trump's sinking ratings, despite the recent job gains, improved consumer confidence, and the prospect of North Korea and US talks. Utterly clueless: GDP was up only 2.3% last year, income gains are weak: ACA repeal, DACA passage? No
Just a reminder: Nazi Germany was NOT capitalist but,as its name suggests ("National Socialist"), despite left-wing ongoing smears. mises.org/library/why-na…
Your Right to Privacy vs the State
On Trump's Tariffs
Facebook Corner
A Christian libertarian argues that Jesus was not a libertarian and used the public persecution of Christians to make his argument. I respond:This article is rubbish on a number of levels. Just a few points:
- Jesus did NOT want political considerations to get in the way of His Message of Salvation. Recall that the Pharisees and others were determined to point him out as an insurrectionist. That's what the infamous "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" was all about.
- Jesus was all about individual responsibility, not collective action. He rebukes Simon over bearing a sword at His arrest. He fled the people who wanted to make Him king. He rebukes Judas when Judas suggests the oil the woman is anointing Jesus would be better sold to the poor. Also, recall He healed the centurion's servant. He famously contrasted the Kingdom of Earth vs. the Kingdom of Heaven and notes His Kingdom is not of this world.
It is true that the Romans executed Christ and His followers, but the Church has been been persecuted by secular or atheists as well. No doubt Jesus and His followers posed what was perceived as a threat to public order and all sorts of rumors. An obvious one was an alleged claim that Jesus was King of the Jews, something the Romans mocked all through the Passion. But keep in mind that the Romans tolerated the existing Jewish kings so long as they were loyal to Caesar.
But this piece only argues that Jesus was political consequential--not whether Jesus was a libertarian per se. I would argue the Golden Rule is a variation of the NAP. He refuses to intervene in the case of the jealous brother's inheritance. He clearly supports the Ten Commandments, which explicitly support the natural rights of life and property, and free will is implied by His concept of individual salvation. But Jesus certainly would not be the kind of libertarian who is in the face of the powers that be.
Political Cartoon
 |
| Courtesy of the original artist by Being Libertarian |
