Liberty and the Christian: Evaluating “Christian libertarianism” in the modern context [Part I]

The following is a work in progress. This forms the first two pages of my 30-page semester project. It will be added to and expanded as time goes.

INTRODUCTION

As a political movement, libertarianism is of recent origin. It is rooted in the American alternative tradition, and its pioneers were united by their common realization that all forms of socialism as a political ideology lead to tyranny and the loss of freedom. In addition, they shared a strong belief in the preferability of free-market economic systems. Libertarianism is not a new philosophy, per se—it is more precisely a return to classical liberalism, albeit adapted to the modern age. It claims as its fathers the economist Adam Smith, as well as philosophers J.S. Mill and John Locke. In the last century, F.A. Hayek, Ludwig von Mises and their followers, known as the Austrian economic school, brought classical economics in line with postmodern philosophy. Within their understanding, individual choice, rather than societal consensus or some other factor, became the ultimate moving force in market economics. In the course of the twentieth century, Hegelian concepts of unified historical or national destiny and the immanent, emerging spirit of progress that formed the inspiration of socialist and progressive efforts were discredited as the nationalistic and idealistic systems devised to bring them into being proved to be unstable, falling apart or degenerating into totalitarian tyranny and unspeakable inhumanity.

This is not to say that belief in the immanentist impulse to progress is dead; for to the degree that progressive goals dominate the methodology and assumptions of American politics, it is very much alive and dangerous. Certainly, Austrian-influenced libertarianism may be valued as a balancing force in contemporary politics, if nothing else. However, both libertarian and progressive thought pose in their idealism a a danger to a free society. They both adhere to reductionistic views of political society, interpreting everything in light of a simple and absolute principle. The very names given to these movements indicate their respective philosophical conceits. The ruling principle for progressives is a belief in the ability of human society to improve itself—to “progress”—by means of political and social activism, whilst libertarians acknowledge as dogma the “non-aggression axiom,” a statement of absolute non-conflicting liberty, as the ultimate standard for political and social policy.

Various Christian leaders and thinkers have promoted one or the other of these philosophical movements over the years. This need not surprise those who consider how much common ground Christians share with both progressives and libertarians, at least at a certain level. The mystery of redemption central to Christianity produces a desire to see the world transformed by Christ, and chiliastic theology parallels the secular millenarian impulse of progressivism in some ways. Christians also find common ground with libertarians because they value justice. It is a Christian virtue to protect the innocent from the predations of wicked men; similarly, libertarians affirm that the purpose of law is to protect the life, property, and personal freedom of the innocent. While Christians might resist the libertarian assumption that these ends are the only legitimate purpose of government, in respect for civil justice, at least, we find common ground.

Christianity has so profoundly shaped the world that it is nearly impossible to conceive of a political movement that could escape the influence of Christian thought. But this is not to say that insofar as they partake of some element of Christianity, they are to be embraced. The most dangerous lies are those that contain the most truth—or rather, those which most craftily entwine truth with error. For this reason, and because the concept of “Christian Libertarianism” is at the beginning of this century being proposed as a legitimate political philosophy just as “Christian Socialism” was a century ago, we must diligently scrutinize the implications that application of libertarian philosophy will have upon our nation and our world.