An idiotic comment to M. Simon’s earlier post (that “libertarians hate Christians”) reminded me of an incident over a decade ago. The president of a socially conservative think tank had voiced a similar sentiment, and I politely reminded him that there is not only is there no contradiction between libertarianism and Christianity, but that there had been at least one book devoted to the subject of libertarian theology.* He was an honest man, but he had made an assumption along the following lines:
All libertarians are followers.
The “libertarian leader” that all libertarians “follow” is Ayn Rand.
Ayn Rand was a devout atheist; and therefore,
All libertarians are atheists [who all hate Christians!]
The above is bad logic, and to his credit, the guy who made this assumption was enough of a gentleman to realize it was wrong, but I could tell by the look on his face that it was back-to-the-drawing-board time.
I suspect that most promoters of heavy-handed “conservative” ideology who consider libertarians their sworn enemies would like to define Christians and libertarians their own way, so that no “real” Christian can be a libertarian, and no “real” libertarian can be a Christian. (When means those calling themselves “libertarian Christians” are self hating oxymorons.)
Nice to have someone else define you for you, isn’t it?
The way things are going, I won’t be allowed to get away with saying I am anything.
* It’s probably fair to point out that the libertarian philosophy would be very unwelcome in the majority of mainstream Protestant churches because they adhere to a doctrine called the “Social Gospel” — which is quite left wing. While I would never say that all Christians hate libertarians based on that, I doubt libertarians would be especially welcome in Social Gospel churches.
Comments
8 responses to “it’s not for you decide who you hate!”
All libertarians have read Hayak. Hayak is an Austrian. Therefore, all libertarians are Austrian.
There, that’s what you meant, isn’t it?
.
“. . . so that no ‘real’ Christian can be a libertarian, and no ‘real’ libertarian can be a Christian.”
You nailed it, Eric. It’s the “no true Scotsman” fallacy. And I say that as a Christian, a libertarian, but not a Scotsman.
How in the world did I become a small “l” libertarian (or Calvin Coolidge Repulican or Jefferson classical liberal)and a Presbyterian Elder?
Even more alarming, the other Presbyterians I worship and shoot with seem to share my misguided beliefs. Are we self-hating Christians?
Are we self-hating Christians?
No, you’re something far worse.
You do not follow The Narrative.
How gauche.
Thanks!
While the tactic of “How can you call yourself a (fill in the blank) and say that (random topic I disagree with)?” is found all across the political spectrum, it has its home on the left. Any tool to suppress contrary speech is fine, but this one probably gets trotted out more than the others (save the classic straw man argument). It’s how you delegitimize minorities and women who are not leftists.
It permits one to self identify as a feminist while wishing Sarah Palin or Ann Coulter or Michelle Malkin are raped or tortured or murdered (or best of all, all three). It allows dedicated champions of civil rights to call Colin Powell or Condi Rice or Clarence Thomas “House Negroes” or worse. It lets gay rights activists sneeringly question an opponent’s sexual orientation.
Intellectually dishonest? Well, sure, but why quibble about it if it works? The way to keep it from working is to respond “You are not the person to tell me what I can and cannot think.” Then follow up with identifying the false chain of reasoning, as you do above. You were fortunate in your discussion with your fellow libertarian, although it obviously helped that he was an honest person who could see his fallacy when it was pointed out. It won’t work with a doctrinaire hack of whatever political persuasion, but it may clue observers into the dirty work at the crossroads.
The “libertarian leader” that all libertarians “follow” is Ayn Rand.,
Ayn Rand was not a libertarian and repeatedly dissed them, especially Murray Rothbard.
From an interview in 1972:
Question: What do you think of the Libertarian Party?
Ayn Rand: I’d rather vote for Bob Hope, the Marx Brothers, or Jerry Lewis.
Frank,
Other than a totally obnoxious adherence to “objectivisim” and what it means discussed endlessly, the Randians are at sane on foreign policy while the Libs are not even on the same planet (more like universe). On domestic policy they are not that far apart.
It is all idealism in any case. Real results with real people will deviate considerably from utopia.