Lew Rockwell once posed an interesting observation:

The Price of Liberty very much believes that Lew’s observation is not just correct, but is something that all lovers of liberty should understand and apply.

We here at TPOL attempt to apply this principle. We are, as we sometimes note, libertarians (lovers of liberty) because we are first christians. That is, followers of Jesus the Christ; we see “extreme libertarian” anarchism and free markets as the only political and economic philosophy that is truly compatible with the New Testament. We see human liberty (both personal and economic) as a gift from our Creator.

(We do not condemn nor reject those who are lovers of liberty who are not believers – we just believe that they are wrong, and encourage them to examine themselves and the universe carefully.)

Our worldview, therefore, is based on the Bible and on the economic and political theory of libertarianism. The heart of true biblical christianity is love: God is love, and we are to love Him and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This in turn leads to what is called the Golden Rule, as stated by Jesus: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Politically and economically, and socially, this is expressed in the Zero Aggression Principle: individuals should not initiate force against others. That is, aggression against others or their property. We see such actions as sinful and illegitimate.

We are, at best, small-mouthed pacifists (as described by Heinlein and others). We believe, again as given by God, humans have the right to use force for defensive actions only: of ourselves and others. (We do not have to always use force: that is our choice. We have free will (another gift of God) to decide whether to respond or to turn the other cheek.

This is, of course, why we reject human, mandatory government. Not only is it in rebellion to God, not only does it fail to meet the most simple of standards, but claims the “right” to initiate force, to aggress against people.

We ask our readers not just to ask themselves what their worldview is, and whether or not we act in conformity to our worldview. We ask them (and ourselves) to ask those around them, those they come in contact with, how those people view the world and how they apply that view.

And give thanks to God, to readers, to friends, and to correspondents, for their understanding, encouragement, and more. We love you and pray for you.

Nathan, Debby, Gareth, Andrea, Matthias, Kaylynn, all the little ones, all the cats, and all the snakes and lizards!