Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Missing the Mark With Religion, Part 2: Libertarianism
Newsmax.com ^ | 9/25/00 | Steve Farrell

Posted on 10/24/2001 8:58:45 AM PDT by A2J

Part 1 of this series addressed Modern Liberalism as the religion, albeit the false religion, that it is. Today, advancing from the right, Libertarianism.

Libertarianism, or what sometimes flies under the banner of neo-Conservatism, has it’s own pint-sized political party, but more importantly the "faith” of Libertarianism has a Titanic-sized impact upon the religious inclinations of the leadership ranks of the Republican Party, upon many of the prestigious think-tanks which feed its members their gospel, and upon those Democrats who are more inclined to think of themselves as "conservatives.”

Libertarianism’s central claim to fame from a political standpoint is that it represents an anti-statist, limited government answer to Modern Liberalism, in that it sets out to contract the reach of the state. This, they say, should be to the benefit of all private interests, including religion.

But whether or not the promise resembles the product is put on trial by Libertarianism’s thesis on religion in public life.

Namely, just like Modern Liberalism their thesis contends that: 1. You cannot legislate morality. 2. There should be a strict separation of Church and State. 3. Government actions must not aid (nor attack) any religion. (1)

Those three rules of thumb make this creed’s anti-statist, anti-socialist, pro-constitutionalist philosophy, at the very least, questionable. Or to put it bluntly, its party platform stance on religion is lifted verbatim, not out of the Constitution, nor out of the philosophy of America’s Founders, as they allege, but out of the text of the Warren Burger Court’s "Lemon Test,” the reference point for every government and private sector attack on religious freedom in the past thirty years.

It was the 1971 Lemon Test which established the three pronged standard for future and past law, as follows: "All laws or statutes must have a secular legislative purpose. Next, they must not foster an excessive government entanglement with religion. Lastly, their principle or primary effect must neither advance nor inhibit religion.” (2)

That Libertarianism and the Lemon Test are indistinguishable is plain as day, making Libertarian’s central dogma 'Secularism'. And although some Libertarians will defend Secularism to their last breath, Secularism is from start to finish one born-in-the-gutter bad idea.

Consider:

The whole idea of secular law strikes at the foundation of American government, which government was the one government on earth whose sole design was to secure the "unalienable Rights,” which "all men . . . are endowed by their Creator.” (3)

When the Founders accepted the idea that certain rights are "Unalienable,” they were saying this: There is a source of law which exceeds the wisdom of man, that source is God, and to that source all manmade organizations, including representative governments, must humbly bow.

One cannot usurp such a right, or such a law. It is eternal.

John Locke, in his 1690 "Second Treatise on Government,” quoting from Hooker (Eccl. Pol. iii. 9) explained: "Human laws are measures in respect of men whose actions they must direct, howbeit such measures they are as have also their higher rules to be measured by, which rules are two - the law of God and the law of Nature; so that laws human must be made according to the general laws of Nature, and without contradiction to any positive law of Scripture, otherwise they are ill made."

Every ordinary citizen during the Founding era understood this elementary school taught truth. They had a source document "the Bible,” and "inspired reason,” to define what their rights were, and nobody, but nobody had better usurp those fixed rights!

Libertarianism, however, denies the right for Americans to look to God and His revelations as the source of their law and their rights!

Which obliges us to ask, to what source shall a child of God look for the law and his rights under Libertarian rule? Shall they look to a decree of a King, to the verdict of a Court, to a vote of a Congress, to a theory of a Scientist, to a formula of an Economist, to a machination of a Social Engineer, to a promise of a Politician, to a Time/Newsweek generated Opinion Poll, or to a here-today-gone-tomorrow ethical value of a Humanist?

Indeed, it is to such as these that the Libertarian is forced by his own reason to seek, for he is so preoccupied with his liberty, and his free markets, that he fails to understand that both are only possible within the confines of inspired and unchangeable law.

By denying the existence of higher law he puts the law and our rights "on the market place of ideas,” as one libertarian publication puts it as if to say it is safe, wise, and responsible for "so celestial an article as freedom” to be bartered as a common good by master manipulators, opportunists, bullies, and loudmouths.

The result is, they make the law, precisely what Communist Founder Karl Marx wanted it to be.

"There are,” said Marx, "besides, eternal truths, such as Freedom, Justice, etc., that are common to all states of society. But Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience.” (4)

That new basis was Secularism. And how would Secularism come about?

Communist Party USA Founder William Z. Foster said the grand key was to first separate religion from public life, and make it a private affair only. Thus in public, the only acceptable perspective would be "materialism, internationalism, and . . . ethics,” or in other words, Secularism. (5)

That the attending moral vacuum would then be more readily filled by Communism is obvious.

This is what’s wrong with Libertarianism. By default it embraces its own nemesis, Communism. In as much as it does this, it misses the mark about religion and becomes a "conservative” accomplice to Modern Liberalism, a veritable Trojan Horse within the Republican Party, and an enemy to all human liberty, and to "the foundation of the fabric” of that liberty, "religion.”

Liberalism Footnotes Notes 1. 2000 Libertarian Party Platform. http://www.lp.org/issues/platform/freereli.html 2. Barker, Lucius J., and Barker, Twiley W. "Civil Liberties and the Constitution: Cases and Commentaries,” Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1994, p. 30. 3. Declaration of Independence 4. Marx, Karl. "Communist Manifesto,” 1848 5. Foster, William Z. "Toward a Soviet America,” Balboa Island, California: Elgin Publications, 1961 (a reprint of the 1932 version which was captured by the US House Committee on Un-American Activities), pgs. 316-317. Also of interest is this quote from Lenin: "Atheism is a natural and inseparable portion of Marxism, of the theory and practice of scientific socialism. Our propaganda necessarily includes propaganda for atheism.” See Schwarz, Dr. Fred, "You Can Trust the Communists to be Communists,” Long Beach, California: Chantico Publishing Co. 1966-69, p 155.


TOPICS: Editorial; Philosophy
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-162 next last
"Indeed, it is to such as these that the Libertarian is forced by his own reason to seek, for he is so preoccupied with his liberty, and his free markets, that he fails to understand that both are only possible within the confines of inspired and unchangeable law."

Ahhh. It's so good to read true history and not the pablum fed to us by those who claim to be closest to our Founding Fathers, but in truth are miles away from the principles they claim as their own.

1 posted on 10/24/2001 8:58:45 AM PDT by A2J
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cultural Jihad; Kevin Curry; billbears; Texasforever; Texas_Jarhead; Dane; What about Bob?...
A proper historical bump to you!
2 posted on 10/24/2001 9:00:03 AM PDT by A2J
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A2J
bump for later
3 posted on 10/24/2001 9:00:27 AM PDT by Tribune7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: A2J
The entire series he did was a great read. I had a good email conversation with Steve awhile back after I sent him some questions about his articles. He's a great guy.
5 posted on 10/24/2001 9:02:11 AM PDT by Texaggie79
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A2J
Libertarianism, or what sometimes flies under the banner of neo-Conservatism...

WHAT???

The author needs to get a clue.

Libertarians are about as far from Neo-cons as you can get.

They have FAR more in common with paleo-conservatives.

What a bunch of tripe.

6 posted on 10/24/2001 9:03:36 AM PDT by OWK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Texaggie79
"The entire series he did was a great read. I had a good email conversation with Steve awhile back after I sent him some questions about his articles. He's a great guy."

Cool.

I can't seem to be able to download the other parts of the series. If you know of a way, please let me know.

7 posted on 10/24/2001 9:03:58 AM PDT by A2J
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: A2J
"That the attending moral vacuum would then be more readily filled by Communism is obvious."

Not when forced communism is specifically against the law. Keep telling yourself this though, as every time the GOP compromises with communist ideas it is nice to have a bogey man to point to.
8 posted on 10/24/2001 9:06:17 AM PDT by gjenkins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A2J
You are confusing God with religion. They are totally separate things. God gave us rights, religion seeks to take them away.
9 posted on 10/24/2001 9:06:43 AM PDT by Cruising Speed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A2J
Libertarianism, however, denies the right for Americans to look to God and His revelations as the source of their law and their rights!

I don't agree. I consider myself to be Libertarian and I believe strongly that our constitution is an afirmation that our rights, laws, and freedom come from God.

As a libertarian I also feel strongly that our government, by design has a very narrow and limited purpose. Meddeling in the free exercise of "religion" is not part of that limited scope.

10 posted on 10/24/2001 9:19:16 AM PDT by WhiteGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: Cruising Speed
God gave us laws, not rights. God asks for obedience and worship of him not ourselves or self made gods. In him and his laws however, we are made free and complete!
12 posted on 10/24/2001 9:23:53 AM PDT by DaveyB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Cruising Speed
God gave us laws, not rights. God asks for obedience and worship of him not ourselves or self made gods. In him and his laws however, we are made free and complete!
13 posted on 10/24/2001 9:23:56 AM PDT by DaveyB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Cruising Speed
God gave us rights, religion seeks to take them away.

Just what rights would those be? And what would religion gain by taking away the rights of individuals? You sound like one of those folks who confuse basic rights with barbaric behavior (i.e. abortion, pornography, drug use, prostitution). Religion is NOT ALWAYS a conspiracy to oppress its followers. Following a religion and abstaining from animal behavior enriches life, I have found. Religion discourages harmful lifestyles and frees people from the repercussions of those lifestyles. What's so oppressive about that?

14 posted on 10/24/2001 9:25:44 AM PDT by GenXFreedomFighter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: GenXFreedomFighter
That you, using your interpretation of your religion, will coerce me to live your "non-harmful" lifestyle through legislation.

You could easily consider medical research barbarism (see Da Vinci). Many religious rituals/beliefs are stifling to scientific inquiry. (see Galileo)

15 posted on 10/24/2001 9:35:21 AM PDT by JmyBryan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: A2J
Republicans hate libertarians because we live for this nations ideals, and they just give them lip service.
16 posted on 10/24/2001 9:38:03 AM PDT by CyberSpartacus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveyB
That's an interesting take - only absolute bind obedience will provide freedom. Sorry - I don't get that part.

A 'relationship with God' is one thing but adhering to the dictates of doxology confines not only the relationship to a narrow, strictly defined one but also places 'laws' from a worldly religious figure to confine the indiviual.

At least, that's what I think the previous comment about organised religion was headed.

17 posted on 10/24/2001 9:40:15 AM PDT by Ophiucus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: JmyBryan
That you, using your interpretation of your religion, will coerce me to live your "non-harmful" lifestyle through legislation.

It is this statement alone (ok, and the many statements like it) which clearly illustrates why this nation was NOT founded as a centralized Democracy, but as a heiarchical Republic. If the citizens of the State of Mississippi believe that (a) women DON'T have the innate right to kill their children, and (b) homosexuality is unhealthy, then that state's laws can reflect such. If you, the Citizen, disagree, you then have two choices: (a) Try to sway the public opinion in your state the other way, or (b) move to a state which is more "permissive".

Unfortunately, we have forgotten this concept, and as a result, people like you INSIST that "Religion is trying to take away my RIGHTS"...

If you Genuinely want to "live how thou wishes," I suggest you move to a state where you can be with Like Kind.

:) ttt

18 posted on 10/24/2001 9:40:55 AM PDT by detsaoT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: detsaoT
I agree with you.
19 posted on 10/24/2001 9:45:21 AM PDT by JmyBryan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: A2J
It's all here at newsmax. If you can't get that, try this.
20 posted on 10/24/2001 9:48:01 AM PDT by Texaggie79
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-162 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson