Libertarianism is not based on Christianity. That is to say: there are people who base their libertarianism on their Christianity.. but there are also many people who do not base their libertarianism in religion.

“For a group that doesn't believe in evolution, it's awfully Darwinian.”
- Jon Stewart, October 27 2011, addressing Andrew Napolitano as a libertarian (“Why is it that libertarians..”)

http://www.reddit.com/r/austrian_eco..._libertarians/

“I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, and I endeavor every day to follow Him in all I do and in every position I advocate.”
- Ron Paul, a well known libertarian who is widely supported by other libertarians.

http://www.ronpaul2012.com/the-issue...ment-of-faith/

Christianity has been used to justify just a lot of different things. What you will find, though, is that libertarians, including Christian libertarians, tend to have different economic views.

Some examples:

1. In what way is counterfeit money damaging to society? If a counterfeiter makes a perfect copy that remains unnoticed, then other people are not harmed directly, such as in theft. Instead, others are harmed indirectly because as the extra money is spent and circulates, it drives up prices compared to without the extra money. The people who get that extra money later (or not at all) suffer in their purchasing power while the people who get that extra money earlier gain in their purchasing power. This is known as the Cantillon Effect.

Libertarians observe these effects happen not only in private counterfeiting but also in public government banking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter...ect_on_society

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard...onetary_theory

2. Using drugs is --by itself-- a peaceful act. For example, It is full well possible for a person to use the psychoactive and recreational drug alcohol without causing harm to others. Libertarians observe that attempting to forcibly prevent others in all cases from drug usage, drug trading and drug creation, causes more harm than good.

But what about drug users who go on the road? Operating a vehicle while using drugs is an added element, which does threaten the safety of others. This is called reckless endangerment. In the case of roads, the solution is for the road owner to set rules for access.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangerment

Such economic insights may lead one to favor private property rights and freedom of exchange (libertarianism) over central planning and collectivism.

What about libertarians who oppose abortion? There are non-religious libertarians who are politically against abortion, but there are also many who favor that freedom, such as myself. As for Christian libertarians: if they are against abortion because of their religion, then they are religious first and libertarian second.

Some examples of non-religious libertarians:

- Ayn Rand, writer of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.

- Penn Jillette, host and producer of Penn & Teller: Bull****!.

- Michael Shermer, founder of The Skeptics Society, and Editor in Chief of its magazine Skeptic.

ive seen some of your new posts on mises.org, hi

stefan molyneux, von mises, and rothbard. i dont see their body of work as being religious but rather logical

Nielso doing big things!

Could you summarise the point you are trying to make bec I can't figure it out.

I agree, but I didn't realize this was a contentious issue. Seems most arguments libertarians make are based on various value judgements (like "freedom" being good) or logical arguments ("fiat currency has x,y,z consequences) but rarely religious ones (Christ says that freedom is good or fiat currency is bad).

Of course, there are many religious libertarians just as there are many religious anythings, but I always get the impression even from devout people like Paul that their libertarianism might be consistent with their religiosity but it is not dependent in it and most of their time spent is on the libertarian side of things.

Considering that the bible says that you should pay taxes, submit to government authority and that god created governments I think you're right.

The Cantillon effect is not seen in the real world. We haven't been on the gold standard for a long time btw. Libertarians' "economic insights" are mostly based in a fantasy world that doesn't exist and never will, and even were they correct, they don't lead necessarily to the theory of property rights that you subscribe to.

Propertarianism has three impetuses: a defence of privilege and greed; a defence of the dispossession of native Americans; and for some, a reflection of reconstructionist beliefs. It's fine that you aren't motivated by the third of those but the other two are equally repulsive.

Again, those "19 questions to libertarians" by Jon Stewart werent "19 questions to libertarians" at all and its completely silly to link that in like it is relevant. He is questioning one specific self described libertarian who is also very religious and doesnt believe in evolution. I was sure we cleared this up the last time you cited that, but i guess not.

Who claims that libertarianism is based on Christianity? I don't doubt that the claim has been made, most likely by a Christian libertarian or a non-Christian critical of libertarianism. But even as a stereotype, "you're a libertarian, so you must be a Christian" isn't something I've encountered.

I have noticed two main groupings within libertarianism though. One group is Christian libertarians, and they tend to take their religion very seriously. The other group is atheist/agnostic libertarians who have no use for religion at all. What I tend not to see is libertarians who are casual Christians. Not sure how other religions would figure into this since the religious libertarians I know are Christians (this might be an American bias).

Yeah.

This, too.

No one around here that I know of. And "libertarians" are enough of a fringe group that they are much less likely than the general population to do anything casually.

I don't see the connection between Libertarianism and Christianity. That said, anyone who believes in the wisdom of the market, or the legitimacy of the state, or Noah's ark, are all religious fanatics to me.

Anecdote:

I remember taking finance classes at the University of Michigan business school. We were literally taught the efficient market hypothesis as if it was true. To me there's no difference between teaching that or teaching that the Adam and Eve story is true.

Wow, your anecdote is nuts.

Don't bother replying I just googled "Chomsky efficient markets" and read your argument.

Hell yea it is.

One doesn't have to resort to radicals to see that the efficient market hypothesis is bunk. Just read up on what arguably the greatest capitalist that has ever lived, Warren Buffet, has to say on the EMH. I'm sure you can google that too.

OK cool. I don't really care about the efficiency of the market or whatever. I mean, I don't care about forcing anyone else to care or not care about it, much like I don't want to force anyone to go to church.