Comments on: “Let Me Live Free While You Live Like I Tell You” – The Misplaced Morals of the Christian “Libertarian”

By: billdunlap

billdunlap — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:15:39 +0000

Christianity has a long history of taking over other religions. An example of this is the Catholic taking in the gods of conquered peoples and making them into saints. Libertarianism is in itself a religious movement. Instead of the Bible the libertarians have the Federalist Papers. The libertarian god is the Market Place, which is a mysterious and unseen force moving through the world.

Libertarians serve the same purpose as Born Again Christians in the current economic situation. Libertarianism is a direct attack on labor and employee rights as well confusing personal liberty with the corporate freedom to steal without limit. The libertarians have the religious idea that somehow the marketplace will bring justice and balance to the situation where all they do is protect corporate greed. Born again Christians are a reactionary force that also attacks labor and supports the corporate freedom to steal. So it is small wonder that the two most reactionary forces in the United States today would join together.

By: Blackbird

Blackbird — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:03:16 +0000

Rich,
Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I agree with you about the matter of force, but for me the point is exactly what you mentioned: “It is not a provable or disprovable issue.” If there were proof that sentient, viable human life began at a definable stage of gestation, then the liberty of the fetus would equal that of the mother.

But there isn’t. That means that it is a personal opinion and/or religious belief. I object to the opinions and religious beliefs of one group being legally imposed over all.

Also, the pro-life stance too often uses the government to push an abstinence-only agenda that restricts access to basic health care, reproductive education and contraception. This is motivated by religious views that non-marital sex is an evil of society. It’s a view I don’t share, yet it directly impacts my life and my personal liberty.

By: Rich Paul

Rich Paul — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:23:44 +0000

I happen to be pro-choice and Libertarian, but it seems to me that you overstate your case that Libertarianism precludes outlawing abortion.

The question is whether abortion is an initiation of force. Since surely some living tissue is destroyed by an abortion, the question becomes “is that living tissue a human, and therefore entitled to protection by the state”. If it is, then abortion is an initiation of force. If it is not, then laws forbidding abortion are initiations of force. But here is the kicker: there is no rational answer to the question. It is not a provable or disprovable issue, it is a matter of definitions. Therefore it must be decided politically.

I am pro-choice because I have no strong conviction that a fetus should legally be considered a human, and I do have a strong conviction that the mother should legally be considered a human. But if I were somehow convinced that the fetus were a human, I would have to change my stance. For whatever reason, many religions have decided that, as a matter of faith, a fetus is a human. You don’t have to agree with them, and I don’t, but I have a hard time criticizing them too harshly from coming down on what I consider to be the wrong side of an issue that lacks good answers.