95. Was Jesus Palestinian? with Jeffery Stevens

About this Episode

Tune in for an insightful conversation with Jeffrey Stevens, an independent journalist and director of the Azarius Project, as we take a hard look at the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and the impact it's having on the Christian and other communities within these borders. Hear firsthand about the misinformation circulating among Christian Americans and learn about Jeffrey's own transformation from being pro-Israel to acknowledging the impossibility of supporting both Israel and the sanctity of life simultaneously. 

If you’re one of us, or you’re new here, you should know that there has always been a personal journey at the heart of The Bad Roman Project. It’s been one that's demanded a complete overhaul of previous beliefs. A path paved with discomfort while challenging long-held perceptions and demanding an honest reassessment of Christian values. As always, there's so much more to the story than what's on the surface and what’s important is that we talk about it. 

While mainstream media often skews the reality on the ground, our conversation challenges those narratives and scrutinizes the role of the US and Israeli governments in perpetuating the inhumane policies of the occupation. In this uncompromising discourse, we're asking the hard questions, discussing who gets to define terrorism, examining the treatment of Palestinians (both Muslim and Christian), and unlocking the transformative power of relationships to remedy bias in our perspectives.

But our journey doesn't stop there. In this episode, we're bringing the focus back home, because change starts on your doorstep. We discuss the importance of evangelizing in our own neighborhoods and fostering a personal relationship with Jesus. Be prepared for a lively debate on what Jesus' stance would be of his birthland today and the recognition that the world is indeed larger than just the United States. So, buckle up and come along for an enlightening, perhaps life-altering ride with us. 

Connect with Jeffery:

Catholic Workers Project

Azarias Project

Arab American News

Catholic Wordsmith

Episode Timestamps:

1:05 Correct framing as the illegal Occupation vs. the Israel-Palestine Conflict

• Joe Chadburn Episode

• Importance of independent journalism

• Importance of reframing the language we use to describe a topic

• Unpacking beliefs about Israel in Christian upbringing

• Used to cover Vatican news until 2009 began covering Israel-Palestine 

4:52 Who is Jeffery Stevens?

• Arab American News

• Director of Azarias Project

• Grew up: pro-life, pro-Israel Christian

• Difference between pro-life and anti-abortion

• Blood Brothers Book by Palestinian Catholic Priest, Elias Chacour (Author), David Hazard (Author), James Baker (Foreword) 

• Jesus is Palestinian, not Israeli

• When Bible speaks of Israel it’s referring to Christians not the Israeli government

8:08 Conviction of USA and Israel as the “good guys” against terrorism

• Post-9/11 

• You can respect veterans and still be critical of USA’s imperialism 

• Jesus Christ would not approve of what is happening in the Middle East no matter who is doing it

• Governments can often be found to act more in accordance to the definition of terrorism than those we call the name

• Military bases and proximity to oil reserves

• Syria

• Smedley Butler (Joe Chadburn)

• French Concrete Company sued for assisting ISIS — millions of dollars the US government kept it

• Should Christians care about what is happening in the birthplace of Christianity?

15:16 Where the End of the Earth Begins article on The Catholic Wordsmith

• Acts 1:8

• Popular Christian evangelical verse, we seek to evangelize in frogmen lands and forget to do so in our own neighborhood

• Christians only on Sundays?

• “Jesus would have to cross 15 Israeli checkpoints and a 30-foot wall to get to Bethlehem”

• Americans fail to understand what “occupation” means

• Palestinian Christian population over time and occupation’s influence on their decline

• Israeli Occupation forces and desire for all Jewish state, turning Al_Asqua Mosque into a temple

• Bible bans Jews from 3rd Temple

• Far-right drive

• Texas cows flown to Israel

28:10 Who is funding Israel?

• Palestine of all religions suffer at the hands of this funding under an occupation

• Trump and Israel

33:44 Jenin [on] the Fourth from Arab American News

• West Bank, Refugee Camps

• “Terrorist hot-spot” vs. resistance fighters and patriots

• Ron Paul

• Blowback

• Boston Tea Party was not peaceful

• The American Revolution

• Were we better off before?

• Jesus’s disciples

• Writing about Old Testament and current affairs

• Azarias Project

• Book of Tobit, Archangel Raphael

48:51 The World is Bigger than the USA

• Yemen and Saudi 

• Saudi Golf Tour

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94. Faith, Fitness, Stewardship with Adam Braud

About this Episode

Imagine having a personal trainer, functional nutritionist, author, and pastor all rolled into one guest. Well, we certainly did! Join us as we get up close and personal with Adam Braud, a man who has dedicated over three decades to Christian ministry and uniquely combines it with his passion for health and fitness. 

Using Adam’s book Faith and Fitness: Integrating Physical Health and Spiritual Growth As we navigate through the discussion, we dissect the pivotal role of lifestyle choices in shaping our holistic health. We unwrap how taking care of our bodies can lead to a more fulfilling life and deeper self-perception and what that has to do with Jesus. Adam broadens our understanding of stewardship, shedding light on its significance beyond mere physicality. Adam provides insight into the significance of disciplined health goals, good sleep, and self-care that goes beyond surface-level or guru-style health advice. 

We wrap up this enlightening episode by debunking health myths and discussing diets and weight loss strategies. Are you curious about the cold plunges or intermittent fasting? Adam's insightful advice on tailoring health strategies and tools to individual needs will clear your doubts. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast or a health journey newbie, this conversation is an excellent guide to caring for your physical body as part of your spiritual growth. So tune in and be inspired to better steward your health!

Connect with Adam Braud:

E-Book

Adam's Website

Instagram

Facebook

1:41 Who is Adam?

• Personal trainer and pastor

• Travel to more countries than states

• E-book Author

3:15 Health Awakening of Covid

• Memphis Judo & JuJitsu

• Vitamin D

7:10 Faith and Fitness

• Focusing on spiritual growth while ignoring physical health

• Treating the body like an amusement park vs. a temple

• Vanity vs. health

• Fellowshiping over exercise

• Fear of being perceived as shallow

• Fat-shaming, being fatphobic

• Fear of being overweight

• External and internal confidence

• Healthspan vs. Lifespan

• Quality of life vs. quantity of life

• God’s creation includes us

• Be a steward of your body

24:40 Diseases of Lifestyle and Affluence

• COVID shutdown of gyms but not fast food lines

• Use common sense before blindly trusting the government

• Eating for nourishment vs. energy

30:50 Three Major Reasons Christians Nelgect Caring for Their Physical Body

• Poor teaching/discipleship on the topic

• Focused on winning people to the Lord vs. taking care of the self

• Paul the “full Gospel”

• Enternity/inevitability of death and not caring about caring about our bodies

• Comparison to others and feeling of “it’s too late”

• Health is a journey and the only way on is to start taking steps

• Getting 1% better is still getting better

• Progression is not linear, it compounds, your 100% in a year can be you 150% today

39:29 Living like an unsupervised kid with diet and sleep

• Proverbs 29:18

• Where there is no vision people cast off restraint

• We need to have a vision for our health – it constrains us, and allows us to have direction vs. being all over the map

• Emotional healing of chocolate, pizza, and beer

• Want-based vs. need-based

• Taking responsibility for yourself and your health

• Discipline is a good thing

• Joco Willing “discipline equals freedom” – if I am disciplined I have margin to have fun

• Prioritizing sleep 

• Daylight savings time and heart attacks

• Importance of sleep

• Alezhezimers, dementia, hormones, regulation of systems

• Mental health diagnosis and sleep

53:48 One-size-fits-all plan for diet?

• Basic Principles: 

• Not overeating is one of the best things you can do

• High-quality foods i.e. whole foods (if it walked on the earth, swam on the see, came out of the ground or a tree) that require some digesting

• If it’s in a box think twice about it

• Everyone is an individual and processes things differently

• Try to keep processed sugars down

• Prioritize protein 

1:00:27 Intermittent Fasting & Cold Plunging

• Both are tools in the health space

• Intermittent fasting can be a stressor

• Protein shortage with intermittent fasting (protect your muscle mass)

• Cold Plunge can be great for joint pain

• Energizing effect because of shock

• Can have testosterone and brown fat effects over time

• Nothing in the health space is a cure-all end-all – it’s not secret knowledge, don’t fall into the trap of guru knowledge and snake oil

1:11:05 Where to connect with Adam

• E-Book

• adambraud.com/

• Instagram

• Facebook

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93. Social Security Free American Living without a Birth Certificate with Keturah Lamb

About this Episode

Ever thought about life without a social security number? Keturah Lamb is a fourth-generation member of a family choosing to exist outside of the traditional system, Keturah's stories reveal how she and her siblings have cultivated creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience to build the lives they want. She sheds light on how to live a good American dream life without being part of the system, and how it has shaped their worldview and relationships. 

We explore Keturah's unique life journey, from her grandpa's stories to her own travels, to her work as a seamstress, writer, public speaker, and more. Listen as she opens up about her projects that bring people together, her stint teaching hand-sewing and embroidery at an off-grid nature preserve, Turtle Island, and how she uses her experiences to connect with people on a deeper level.

Keturah's faith and philosophy form the foundation of her lifestyle, and she talks about her Living Room Academy, which aims to empower women with essential life skills, guiding them towards empowerment. 

She shares her nuanced and wise-beyond-her-years thoughts on anarchism, mob mentality, the monopoly on violence, and an active pacifism she sees at the root of true anarchy. From real-life issues to facilitating meaningful shifts in perspectives over meals in her home, Keturah’s experiences are a testament to the vigor of an unconventional way of living. So, if you've been longing for a refreshing view on life, prepare to see the world through a different lens with Keturah Lamb.

Connect with Keturah Lamb:

Twitterr (X) — @KeturahAbigal

Instagram — @KeturahAbigal

Social Porcupine

The Girl Who Doesn’t Exist

Livingroom Academy

Episode Timestamps:

01:35 Who is Keturah?

• Fourth generation without a birth certificate or social security number

• Public Speaker and thinker on how to live the American dream without a social security number

03:30 Working in America without a Social Security Number

• Lean on creativity

• Dare to think differently

• Working jobs and projects vs. submitting to corporate America

• Taxes?

• Flexibility of lifestyle

• Her travel adventures

• Questioning her family’s lifestyle before committing to it

08:43 The Social Porcupine

• Article: Turtle Island for Women Who Love Woods

• Turtle Island, NC

• 1,000-acre off-grid preserve

• Eustace Conway

• Last American Man,  Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love Author

• Power of building relationships and community

• Through podcast

• Face-to-face interaction

• Enjoying time vs. being in a rush

18:14 The Girl Who Doesn’t Exist

• NBC Docuseries – Ep. 2

• Yellowstone Outpost

• “Proc Fest” PorcupineFreedom Festival – Libertarian Event

• Media’s narrative on people without social security numbers

• Sovereign Citizens (we think they are a bit crazy)

• “My Grandpa and I share our stories together” at Sukkot

• Sukkot – Jewish/Masonic Gathering

• Not asking for permission

• “Getting recharged”

• Sharing different viewpoints and demonstrating a healthy dynamic vs. living in fear or hate

• Knowing what you want out of life and going for it

• Loving God

• Having faith and hope in God vs. hating the government

30:23 Reality of Humans vs. Hate-filled Social Media

• Covid Attitudes

• Barefoot protest

33:10 Living Room Academy

• Spreading hope to the rest of the world

• Traveling and making home where you’re at

• Virtue of Hospitality

• Remaining soft without being naive

• Hand sewing, discussions, Christianity, redefining empowerment, being comfortable with who you are

38:42 We should free mobs instead of cults

• Mob vs. cult

• Joining a tribe

• Mob mentality

• Being a Christian and antiestablishment

• Being called a heretic, a witch vs. who actually ends up causing harm

• Fear-based thinking when confronted with someone who thinks differently

• Envy based fear

• Southern Baptist

• Having patience for people’s transformation in thinking

• Ex-pentecostal pastor

46:04 Does anyone in Keturah’s family think they are crazy?

• Encouraging debate and critical thinking for yourself vs. handing down doctrine

• Facebook Uncle Debates

51:22 Has she always been No King but Christ?

• Theological understanding is that Jesus is anti-tyranny

• Romans 13 is not saying it’s good to have a king and pay taxes

• If that is so then the Revolutionary War was wrong, colonists should have paid tax

• A true pacifist is an anarchist even if you don’t realize it at heart

• Anarchist without pacifism is a violent expression and we don’t need it

• Don’t say you're an anarchist unless you can do it in a peaceful and pleasant way

• Laws are backed by the threat of violence

• Who do we place our faith in? That’s whose laws we are called to follow

• Being a pacifist is active, it takes a lot of strength, determination, and courage to stand in your faith vs. your fear

1:01:24 Twitter (x) rules of engagement in debates for sanity

• “Real Christians don’t support tyranny” thread

• Humor, fact, and creative insults without insulting to detract

• Don’t read people’s social media books (Facebook problems)

• Engaging Mormons over meals

• How to tell someone they're an anarchist

• Power of hospitality and curiosity

• Everything sounds better with good food

1:11:30 Connect with Keturah Lamb

• @KeturahAbigal Twitterr (X)

• Social Porcupine Blog

• Livingroom Academy

• Instagram Living Romm Academy

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92. War, Policing & Digital Activism with Jason Bassler

About this Episode

Get ready, as we are joined by Jason Bassler founder of The Free Thought Project and Police the Police for a candid conversation about political corruption, digital activism, and the profound impacts and reach of war. Listen in as Jason shares his transition from libertarian to anarchist, spurred by his experiences during the Occupy Wall Street which also helps catalyze his subsequent dedication to police accountability. He offers an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the Free Thought Project, its evolution, its unexpected shutdown on major social media platforms in 2012 and its uphill rebuild.

We don't shy away from the hard truths in this episode. We scrutinize the alarming effects of war, corruption, and propaganda on our society. This includes a frank discussion on the startling death toll from the post-9/11 war on terror and the profits made by US contractors. We take a deep look at the Ukrainian War as a potential proxy war, the implications of the military-industrial complex, and the ripple effects of these conflicts across different generations. The power of the internet in how different generations are countering these narratives is a key focus.

Lastly, we expose the uncomfortable realities about the US' militarism, its lack of accountability for war crimes, and the fleeting anti-war stance when candidates ascend to power (and their subsequent escalation of conflicts once they have that power). From Lockheed Martin's sponsorship of a pride parade to the $2300 expat exit fee from a free country, we lay bare the government’s blatant hypocrisy. Jason's reflections on the strength of the internet and the value of criticism as a sign of tough love conclude our conversation on a hopeful note. This episode promises to be a thought-provoking, no-holds-barred exploration into our political landscape and the power of digital activism. Don't miss it!

Jason Bassler:

Jason’s Personal Links

Police the Police Links

Free Thought Project Links

Episode Timestamps:

 2:04 Who is Jason Bassler?

• 10 years as anarchist

• Occupy Wall Street 

• Apolitical growing up

• Notion of “Republicans bad” in Bay Area

• Ron Paul

• Free Thought Project

• Police the Police in 2012

• 2013 Business Partner Matt

• Deplatforming by Facebook and Twitter

11:00 Power of a Platform 

• Contrarian thinking and advertisements

• Chasing a dollar

• Authenticity, consistency, and persistence 

• Longevity of building your own platform

• Bending a knee for a dollar

• Authenticity repeated

• Donald Trump 

20:30 Would society fall into chaos without the police?

• Police The Police (Facebook)

• George Floy, Covid Restriction Enforcements

• Monopoly on legal violence

• Security force in a voluntary society

• Dale Brown – Threat Management Center

• Privatized security in Detroit

• St. Louis Police Office on Bad Roman

• Sheriff from AZ on Bad Roman 

26:29  War as an Export

• Bret Wilkins Common Dreams Article

• Atlantic Council and Facebook Partnerships

• Iraq War 

• Military Spending v.s Money Laundering

• Proxy War in Ukraine

• How much money has been sent to Ukraine?

• White House official admits no way to track spending in Ukraine

• Lost 6 billion dollars

• US Weapons on the dark web

34:37 Exhaustion of Perpetual Wars on the Public Psyche

•  People born post-9/11 have not been in a war

• Has war become normalized? 

• Are younger generations rejecting war?

• Indoctrination of government propaganda from a young age

• Are boomers the most propagandized generation?

• Has the internet taken the potency out of government propaganda?

41:36 Realities of War and Its Perpetrators 

• Modern Genocide: America’s Post-911 War on Terror Killed over 4.5 Million People

• Brown University Original Study

• “Cross-fire between two warring gangs”

• Every country is a gang with a flag…where is there to go?

• Children Suffering from Wasting in Iraq and Afghanistan

• Weaponized uranium and adverse health outcomes in Iraq: a systematic review

• Trump's War Efforts

• Yemen vs. Ukraine in public discourse

• Obama’s War Crimes - “Drone King”

• United States Government acts as a terrorist organization across the globe

• Axios Article: Defense Contractors Generatre 7.5 Trillion 

• Lockheed Martin Pride Parade Float

• Fruit-Flavored Hotdogs

• Costs to become an expat

1:01:00 Connect with Jason

• Free Thought Project Website

• Instagram @Jason.e.Bassler

• X (Twitter) @JasonBassler1

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91. Breaking Down the Jones Plantation Film with Larken Rose

About this Episode

What would it look like if we peeled back the curtains of societal discourse and examined the bitter truths often swept under the rug? How would our perspectives shift if we truly understood the power dynamics that govern our world? In a dynamic and insightful discussion, the Bad Roman Project welcomes back Larken Rose to the podcast, as we delve into the thought-provoking themes presented in the Jones Plantation film. Our discussion centers around the film's potent representation of debt, enslavement, and the manipulative nature of political language.

In the latter part of our conversation, we admire the production brilliance behind the Jones Plantation film. From its low-budget brilliance to the unique concept of breaking the fourth wall, we explore how the movie engages its audience in a critical examination of the sociopolitical landscape. Echoing the ethos of the Bad Roman Podcast, we also discuss how the film encourages viewers to think independently, drawing their own conclusions and interpretations.

Finally, we reflect on the reactions to the Jones Plantation film and its potential long-term impact. We examine the significance of the film's symbolism and the truths it presents, prompting viewers to examine their beliefs and biases. As we dissect the captivating symbolism and raw truths embedded in the film, we invite you to join us in this compelling discourse. Prepare to be intrigued by Larken's insightful reflections and ready to engage in a conversation that promises to stir thought and stimulate dialogue.

Larken Rose:

The Most Dangerous Superstition 

YouTube

Candles in the Dark

Facebook

The Jones Plantation Film

The Book: https://www.thejonesplantation.com/

Episode Timestamps:

 01:04 Larken Rose 

• Importance of recognizing what is required for peaceful coexistence

• Podcasts, Joe Rogan, erosion of corporate media’s influence

4:45 Feedback from Nonanarchists on The Jones Plantation (2023)

• Mr. Smith in the movie equates slaves to livestock

• Herd mentality, IRS example

• Jones Plantation Novel

• How easy are people to exploit?

9:19 Church Imagery in Movie

• Was it intentional?

• Any ideology (including religion) could be weaponized to control populations

• Mr. Smith acts as a (bad) minister

13:39 Casting 

• Mariuce Johnson as Mr. Smith

• The cast had not met until the shoot started 

14:59 Larken’s Role(s) in the film

• Police Officer, bank teller

• Keeping People in Debt

• Proverbs 22:7  

• Covid and Obedience

• The Federal Reserve System

• Political parasites on money

20:49 Murder of the Child in the Movie (spoiler alert)

• Plantation owners’ anger than acceptance and embrace of it

• False Flags

• When things go wrong psychopaths can grab power

• The state gets its power from your suffering

• Celebrity Response to Maui Fire

• The purpose of giving is to be of service not show people how great you are

• Importance of having workers’ perspective in Jone’s Plantation

• What discussions are had behind closed doors?

• How far will people go for power?

28:46 Dissecting the Political Capmgim Scenes in the Film

• Backroom meeting

• Parallels to a real Election Processes 

• Theatre of opposition

• Was Obama truly grassroots?

• #votejones

35:52 Examing the Beating of Samuel in the Film

• “The harder you struggle the tighter your chains become”

• Danger of the fear-based crowd

• Would you be on the right side?

40:20 Bad Roman Discussion Group Questions

• Why break the fourth wall?

• How much was planned v. happy accidents via budget constraints?

• Andrew as “the department”

• Biblical relevance to Samuel on purpose?

• Explain the self-flogging scene

• What we see people do can vary greatly from what they do when no one is looking

• Was the cast all on board with the ideas of the movie? 

• What has the feedback been?

1:00:00 Where to find the film and connect with Larken Rose

• The Film:  jonesplatation.com

• The Book: https://www.thejonesplantation.com/

• The Most Dangerous Superstition 

• YouTube

• Candles in the Dark

• Facebook

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90. Ideologies, Freedom & Critical Thinking with Mat and Phil from the Way of Life Podcast

About this Episode

Get ready for an enlightening journey with Mat and Phil from the Way of Life Podcast, as we delve into pressing topics that shape our everyday lives. Mat shares his background of growing up in Australia, being heavily involved in church, and pursuing pastoral ministry, while Phil gives an insight into his life as an underground coal miner and his interest in video production. The conversation also dive into the importance of meeting people where they are and encouraging them to think critically about what they hear. 

In our current global climate, how can we ignore the ideological shifts happening all around us? Mat and Phil take us on a fascinating journey, exploring the transformation of the understanding of harm in the progressive movement and its impact on politics in the U.S. and Australia. We probe into the concept of democracy, examining its potential pitfalls, and discuss whether sources of information like TikTok are skewing our perception of harm. 

But we don’t stop there. Our conversation meanders into the realm of military alliances, political apathy, and the intertwining of governmental and religious institutions. We scrutinize the US-Australia military alliance, ponder the implications of an increasingly intrusive government, and discuss the possibility of a U.S. government collapse. Are our understandings of freedom without boundaries leading us astray? 

In the final part of our discussion, we explore how the concept of freedom without boundaries can lead to a herd mentality and discuss the necessity of teaching people to think independently. We also assess the intertwining of church and state in the United States and how this contrasts with the Australian church scene. Wrapping up, we share the mission of the Way of Life podcast – equipping people to think critically and fostering a space for open dialogue. So, buckle up and prepare to see the world through a unique lens!

Connect with Mat and Phil:

Facebook Way of Life Podcast

Youtube Way of Life Podcast

Spotify Way of Life Podcast

Apple Way of Life Podcast

Episode Timestamps:

01:39 Mat’s Background

• Christian 

• drummer

• Works with Youth at Church now

• Meeting people where they’re at

05:33 Phil’s Background

• Underground coal miner

• Video producer

• Joined ministry at 13

• Started a podcast with Mat

09:25 Leaving Mainstream Media for Alternative Sources

• Getting information from podcasts

• Media Landscape in Australia

• Liberal vs. labor parties

• Democracy and tyranny

• Does the government ensure peace?

15:14 Shifting Definition of Harm among generations

• Physical harm vs. psychological harm 

• Tik Tok, Podcasts, Youtube raising a generation

• Role of feedback in forming ideas/beliefs

• In such polarized times people are afraid to say something doesn’t make sense

• The middle has been eroded

• Idiocracy (2006)

25:19 Australian and US Government Alliance

• American government is entertainment for Austrsilians

• Click-bait

• Gary Johnson

• Democrats being anti-war in the past

• Yemen and Saudis

• Jesus worked towards peace and the government alway does harm

• Church is outsourcing charity to the state

• Australians don’t like to talk about government as openly as Americans

• Christian identity is wrapped up in political identity in from the Australian point of view

• Fine in australia for enrolling to vote and not submitting ballot sheet

• “Donkey vote”

• Crocodile Dundee

• Australians a generally trusting

• Government was less invasive

• John Anderson

• Small government vs. what exist today

• Can we go back?

• Patriot Act

• US involvement with Ukraine

• Oil Protectors of America

• Poppy fields in Afghanistan 

• Peter Zhan

• US’s role in global trade route “protection”

45:37 How Australian churches Interact with Government

• Politics does not make it into the pulpit

• Some Christian lobbyist groups

50:51 Way of Life Podcast

• post-Christian nation

• Freedom without boundary

• Never give more than three options in retail

• Crippled by information young people go with the herd

• Being very passionate about something you have not thought very hard on

• John 14:6

• Doing show live because Q&A is big portion of the show

• Learning to disagree with others in a healthy way

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89. Navigating Revivals in Christianity with Cody Cook

About this Episode

Why is it that religious revivals often spark controversy within the very community they aim to uplift? And how can we bridge the chasm between differing interpretations of faith within Christianity? Join host Craig Harguess, as he sits down with theology major and Christian anarchist, Cody Cook, for a thought-provoking conversation on the Asbury revival and the stir it caused among fellow Christians. We delve into the fervor of the event, its resistance among some Christians, and its relation to the Great Awaking and other revivals, examining why Cody and I found ourselves more than okay with this revival.

In our discussion, we draw parallels between the Asbury revival and the Great Awakening from the 1740s. We ponder on the nature of revival and what it could mean when God moves amongst a group of people. As we sift through the criticisms and controversies surrounding these revivals, we grapple with the reactions of different Christian sects, questioning the rigid definitions of revival. We unlock insights into why the Asbury revival resonated with so many, and the potential implications it holds for us today.

Finally, Cody and Craig put the spotlight on the importance of inclusivity and respect within the Christian community. We challenge our understanding of Christian faith and the ways to reconcile our differences. We reflect on how we can extend an open invitation to newcomers to the faith without stymieing their spiritual journey. This episode of the Bad Roman Podcast invites you to contemplate faith, revivals, and Christian controversies in a new light. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us as we navigate these intriguing topics with Cody Cook.

Cody Cook:

Website

Podcast

Episode Timestamps:

1:06 Who is Cody Cook?

• Theology Major

• podcaster

3:05 Asbury Methodist University

• Why are Christians caught up in it?

• Matthew 19:14

• Preventing people from worshipping Jesus

• Does everyone need to worship the same way?

• Modern Pharisees

8:32 What’s a real revival?

• Acts 2, Pentecost

• Scheduled revivals

• Multitude of definitions

• The Great Awaking in US History

13:29 Cody’s Facebook Post on the Asbury Skepticism Among Christians

• How skeptical should we be?

• Being discerning vs being critical to be critical

• Role of appealing to emotion

• Jonathan Edwards

• Charles Finney

• Manufactured vs. real movements of God

• The romanticized view of revivals

24:03 Great Awaking Compared to Asbury

• Not seen as positive by conservative Christians at the time

• Now seen as a nostalgic time

• Both sarked by young people

• George Whitfield

32:12 Jesus Revolution movie pushback at the same time

• Who gets to determine who can worship Jesus

• What posture should Christians take to those who are ‘other’?

• Allow people to have a journey in their faith

• Faith is not fixed 

41:34 Healthy Skeptisim

• Christin celebrities

• God moves among people

• Revival is not a pure movement of God – it involves us

• The diversity inherent in us must be present in God if we are made in his image

• We can all learn from each other and know God better

53:03 Cody’s Plugs

• Libertarin Christian Insiutute

• Cantus Firmus Podcast

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88. Journeys of Faith: Unpacking Eschatology with Micah and John of City Square Podcast

About this Episode

Have you ever questioned your beliefs about the end times? Have you ever wondered about the different strands of eschatological thought and how they emerged? Strap in for a fascinating discussion with John and Micah, hosts of the City Square Podcast on eschatology. Listen in as we get into the heart of eschatology, a topic we've not extensively covered on the Bad Roman Podcast. It's an enlightening conversation filled with personal experiences, exciting insights, and a friendly rivalry over football.

Ready to expand your horizons? We explore different eschatological views, how popular culture influences these perspectives(The Left Behind Series), and the history of alternative beliefs and teachings. Hear about the three main views of eschatology (Amill, Pre-Mill, and Post-Mill), the interpretations of Christ's return, and the role of critical thinking and discernment in religious belief. We deconstruct the emergence of dispensationalism, where it came from, and its wide acceptance today.

But that’s not all! We’re pulling back the curtain on the City Square Podcast, revealing its conception, production, and mission. Hear how everyday people share stories of their faith and labor, contributing to the vibrant tapestry of human experience. We'll also discuss the bearing of eschatology on one's life and the potential it holds to shape our view of the world. With John and Micah as our guides, we journey through a landscape of belief, religion, and personal perspectives in this enlightening and entertaining episode.

Connect with our guests Micah and John:

Facebook

Instagram

Youtube

Spotify

Episode Timestamps:

01:10 - Who is Micah? 

• Husband, father, grew up Baptist before moving into Evenglicail philosophies 

• studied church father and found his way into LCMS (Lutheran Church Mission Synod)

02:56 - Who is John?

• Did not grow up in the Church

• God saved him in college

• He found his way into reform theology and planted a church in rural TX before moving to San Antonio

• Web Designer

04:27 West Texas & The Dallas Cowboys 

• Sports Rivalries

• Steve Young signed ball

9:36 Eschatology

• City Square Round Table

• The Rapture and Southern Baptist Churches view on it

• Preacher Ebb

• Dispensationalist Eschatology

12:33 John’s View of the Rapture and Eschatology

• Evangelical tradition’s relationship to dispensationalist Eschatology

• Left Behind Series

• Amillennialism Eschatology

• Traditional early Church view

16:14 Micah’s View and What is Amill?

• Amill

• Not a future literal thousand years, but Christ is reigning now with saints and will at some point return

• Post-mill

• Christ returns after minimum, but the world system gets progressively better until his return

• Pre-mill

• Christ returns before the millennium

• Dispensationalist 

• 18th century 19th century America

• Splits Christ's return into two parts

19:40 The Fear of Rapture as a Kid and where that gets directed 

• Not fear of self not being saved but those who do not believe

• Fear-based theology

• United Pentecostal

22:44 Why should we care about these different views as Christians?

• Dispensationalist in 2020

• “Everything was the anti-Christ”

• Most people don’t know there are multiple perspectives or the origins of Dispensationalism

• Dangers of going “too far”

• Eschatology as a barrier to a deeper faith

27:00 Israel’s Standing in Amill and Post-mill vs. Dispensationalism

• Book of Revelation and Daniel are important for Dispensationalism

• Symbolism vs. literalism 

• Multi Genere nature of the bible

• Eschatology is essential in informing how you shape your fundamental worldview

31:47 City Square Podcast and Covid-19

• Origin of name and logo

• Importance of talking to real people about who they are, what they do, and their faith

• Power of Stories

• Today and in the bible

• Authenticity

• Fandoms

• Covid and fake sports fans

45:20 Differences Between Lutheran and Reformed Theology

• John and Micah discuss Baptism

• Martin Luther

• Lord's Supper

• Christology

• Ecclesiology

• global church's view of Jesus' presence

53:54 How to connect with City Square and Micah and John

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From Soldier to Peacemaker: A Veteran's Journey Towards Faith and Justice with Joe Chadburn

About this Episode

Welcome to another episode of the Bad Roman podcast, where we examine the line between faith and statecraft. Join your host Craig Harguess to welcome well-decorated and honorably discharged US Marine Corps veteran Joe Chadburn, who has traversed the path from violence to peace, and uses the power of Christ as his compass. Together, we unpack the transformation of a bullied kid into a soldier, and how the teachings of Jesus Christ are brought about a sea-change in his perceptions.

In a society often marred by violence, Joe exemplifies the peaceful path, highlighting the power of 'no' as a guide. Together, we'll dissect the peaceful principles inherent in Jesus Christ's teachings and how the early church embraced these values. As we dive into Christianity, our discussion aims to refresh your perspective on its doctrines.

We investigate the propaganda that surrounds the US military, the churches’ direct role in perpetuating the cycle, and the misuse of tax dollars funneled into militarization. We reflect upon the legacy of General Smithly D Butler and the impact of grassroots efforts to protest against racial injustice. The military-industrial complex, the biggest polluter on Earth, is scrutinized - unveiling the significance of comprehending Jesus' teachings to prevent more human suffering.

We're not afraid to point out the privilege of the United States and its part in global injustice. The atrocities in Yemen and the complicity of the US government come under our lens, revealing a lack of media coverage and accountability. Hear from our guest as he expresses his frustrations with the multi-tiered justice system and the influence of corporate media in manipulating narratives.

We wrap up on an optimistic note, exploring the power of storytelling, human connection, and technology in addressing global injustice and promoting peace. Join us on this enlightening journey, and let's reimagine our world together.

Joe Chadburn

Website: International Peace Network

Email: peacedaddyjoe@gmail.com

Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube

Joe’s Article: War is a Racket

Episode Timestamps:

01:20 Christians in the State (12 Minutes)

• No King but Christ Network

• The article he wrote called 'War is a Racket Racket

03:11 Who is Joe Chadburn

• Early childhood tragedies and bullying

• Relationship to violence as a youth

• Journey to becoming a decorated US Marine Corps Veteran

• Journey to Jesus 

• Political propganda of venterans 

11:04 Joe’s Military Service

• Anti-war efforts from those who have served

15:03 Joe’s Article - War is a Racket from International Peace Network

• Contentious objectors

• Connection to walking with Jesus

• Stereotypes and real-world relationships

•  Double standards of USA military imperialism throughout the world

• Bullying

• “How dare these people put their countries by our military bases”

• Business of war - supply and demand

22:31 Critiquing the US Military and Propaganda

• Politicians exploitation of young people 

• Military demonstrations at sporting events

• Military flyovers in football games

• Colin Kaepernick

• Grassroots peace movement

• Major General Smedley Butler

• From hero to disgruntled capitalist pawn

• The fallacy of “nation-building”

• US Military recruiting trends

29:55 Collusion of American Churches and the Military

• how the church in the United States has perpetuated and normalized war propaganda in direct contradiction to Jesus' teachings 

• importance of a proper hermeneutic to understanding Jesus' teachings and the significance of understanding the wars and rumors of wars that Jesus was prophesying about 

• Challenging the idea that war is inevitable, and highlighting the power of cruciform love in Jesus' example.

• how the military-industrial complex is the biggest polluter on Earth and how we must take Jesus' teachings seriously to prevent more people from suffering

• Meaning of peace – not the absence of conflict

• Do we believe God failed?

• If you wouldn’t do it yourself, why do you want your tax dollars going toward it?

• War is the language of idiots

42:18 American Privilege and Global Injustice 

• how debates about American politics can obscure deeper concerns about global injustice

• The greatest generation should be the one with the most peace

• US government's use of Nazi war criminals and the bank's funding of Hitler

• need to recognize the privilege of the United States and to advocate for those who are suffering due to US policy

44:14 - Media Distraction, Global Atrocities, and American Privilege

• Yemen

• Frustration with the multi-tiered justice system and the ease with which people are distracted by insignificant topics 

• Need to pay attention to the deeper stories behind wars and the influence of corporate media in controlling the narrative

• Importance of seeking news from a wide range of sources to gain a broader perspective on current events 

• Don’t forget joy in the face of negativity

• The grace of God

54:16 - Promoting Peace and Friendship Overseas

• Power of technology to tell stories of oppression and the importance of making meaningful connections with people who don't look or think like you 

• consequences of the US ticking people off around the world and how peace can be achieved by being a peacemaker and a lover of humanity

• Power in the grace of god 

56:56 How saying 'No' to military propaganda, recruiters, and politicians can bring about world peace

• Share with others what is going on

59:50 Continue the conversation

• International Peace Network

• peacedaddyjoe@gmail.com

• No King but Christ Network

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86. The Legacy of the Early Church with Abby Cleckner (as host)

About this Episode

Abby Cleckner is back to host this episode with your regular host as today’s guest, and we'll be taking a captivating journey into early church history. Together, Craig and Abby shed light on the core beliefs of the early church, the lives, and works of key figures like Polycarp, Origen, and Tertullian, and the awe-inspiring resilience they displayed in the face of adversity.

Join us as we delve into Tertullian's unconventional views on the role of the church and the state, and how his words resonate with Jesus' teachings about the Gentiles. Discover why Tertullian ultimately left the church, and how his perspective on the church-state relationship in his time pushes us to question the present-day status quo. You won't want to miss this stimulating discussion!

Lastly, we'll compare the approaches of early church fathers like Polycarp, Origen, and Tertullian in handling the persecution of Christianity by the Roman Empire. Uncover the radical pacifism that set the early church apart and how their commitment to nonviolent resistance transformed the world. We'll also dig into their views on religious freedom, rooted in the belief that it was a gift from God, not the state. Don't miss out on this exploration of the early church's incredible legacy and its enduring relevance to our lives today.

Episode Timestamps:

01:11 The Return of Abby Cleckner

• Podcast Hosting Exhaustion

• Abby and Craig discuss balancing family life and work, maintaining a consistent recording rhythm, producing a podcast, and preparing content.

07:51 Abby’s Podcast Intro as today’s Host

• Craig’s “bio”

09:34 Craig’s Early Church Article

• Article: THE EARLY CHURCH AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF VOLUNTARYISM (CHRISTIAN-ANARCHISM)

• Why the interest in the early church

• Early church’s Influence on the Podcast

• No King but Christ

12:36 Significance of the first few hundred years of the church

• Pacifism and Christ's Kingship Significance

• Stakes of believing in Christ in those times

15:44  Exploring the Early Church's Leaders

• Polycarp, Origen, and Tertullian's beliefs in Jesus' divinity and how Christians should act 

• Polycarp and Apolstale John

• Unwavering faith vs. today’s

• Origen and historical claims

21:02 The value of taking the time to read the early church fathers

• Church vs. State relationship

• Roman Empire vs. Christians

23:49 Tertulian's Christian View on State

• Tertullian's perspective on the church and state challenges us to question the status quo

• black-and-white approach

• Contextual approach to reading history

 29:18 Why were these early church leaders writing things down?

• Tertullian was writing to Romans

• Origen was “talking to everybody”

• Writing your congressperson a letter vs these early church father’s writings' legacy

34:48 Early Church Fathers vs. Early Church History

• We have their writings – source text

• The Christians as the Romans Saw Them, 

• Use of propaganda by Romans

37:44 Book Recommendations

• The Christians as the Romans Saw Them, Robert Lewis Wilken

• The Early Christians: In Their Own Words, Eberhard Arnold 

• The Early Church on Killing, Ronald J. Sider  

• Liberty and The Things of God: The Christian Origens of Religious Freedom, Robert Louis Wilken

• Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, David W. Bercot

41:32 What the Early Church Got Wrong

• Tertullian's views on universalism and eternal conscious torment

• Origen being called a heretic and universalism 

• Grace Saves All Podcast

• Importance of reading and learning for yourself

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85. Journey to Freedom with Jared Wall

About this Episode

Jared Wall of the Best Practices podcast joins Craig for the series's latest installment, where Craig invites guests with their own podcasts to discuss their projects. Jared's podcast offers listeners interviews on expert ways to own and operate their industrial facilities and commercial properties. While they do discuss the Best Practices podcast, some of the most interesting parts of the conversation are when Jared shares his insights on starting a legal cannabis enterprise and what it is like to be an anarchist and then meeting Jesus in the gospels. Jesus' teachings were so exciting and inspirational that people dropped what they were doing and voluntarily followed him in the thousands; no wonder the Romans killed him.

The conversation begins with his journey from Republican to Libertarian Party activist, then to conceptualizing freedom as personal development, entrepreneurship, and earning wealth to become geographically free. It moves on to how he befriended anti-war activist Scott Horton and worked as a researcher on a few of his books. Jared tells about how hard it is to run a business that focuses on cannabis, as even when it is legal, it is difficult to find stable financial institutions that will work with you. Jared talks about looking for a mentor who could teach him to be a better father and unexpectedly arriving at Jesus. Then they finally discuss the Best Practices podcast content and what any would-be listeners can expect from it.

Connect with Jared:

wall.jared@gmail.com

Best Practices Podcast

Episode Timestamps:

1:35 – Who is Jared Wall?

• Works in energy efficiency

• Supported Ron Paul 2012

• Got into libertarian activism

• Tried to get a Republican candidate on the ticket

• The Republican Party took them to court

• Decided the Republican Party was a waste of time

• Listening to Tom Woods and Mises 

• Started thinking about entrepreneurship and personal development

• We are not going to get freedom from begging politicians for it

• Earn wealth and become geographically free

• Kenyan wife

• Want their kids to be able to spend some of their time growing up in Kenya

• Working on side hustles is the best way to bring freedom to one's family

15:20 – Scott Horton

• Jared is friends with Scott Horton

• Patient with the left while holding onto his ideals

• Reached out to him for a list of reading books and got to talk to him instead

• Helped him research for his book, Enough Already

• Built a business around legal weed

• Helped with Scott Horton's book Hotter than the Sun

• The church is not anti-war

• Never paid attention to what the presidents were doing in other countries

• Jesus is anti-war

• No one speaks to anti-war as well as Scott Horton

28:03 – The cannabis industry

• Jared launched Hemp Spot in 2021

• Banks are weary of doing business with anyone in the cannabis industry

• Perhaps they are scared of having to fight politicians and bureaucrats in courts that they own

• PayPal confiscated $600-$800 overnight because they don't work with people in the cannabis industry

• Now his E-Commerce website couldn't accept payment

• The bank did the same thing

• Eventually found someone who could work with 'high-risk' businesses

• But had lost their customers while down

• Bank changed their compliance requirements which became expensive

• Time to try something else

• The cannabis plant is stigmatized entirely because of the state

• In the 1800s, it was regularly used for medical purposes

• The social stigma is being eliminated these days though

• Cannabis grows well everywhere

• Every part of the plant is useful

• Can make textiles, rope, plastic, and cement out of it

• There are a lot of vested interests that would suffer if it were widely available

• Health benefits

• There may be legitimate concerns about it being a gateway drug

• But that doesn't mean the state should pass laws or lock people in jail

• The solution is to intervene at the family or church level

42:50 – Jared's religious journey

• Jared was forced into religious life as a child

• He left it once he had the choice

• He was looking for someone who could role model what being the best father looked like for him

• His wife told him to read just the gospels

• Found the mentor he was looking for in Jesus

• Next stop: learn to pray

• Jesus was so cool

• He just walked and preached and people followed Him

• That must have threatened the Roman government

• Coming at the gospels with anarchist roots was great

• Libertarians need something more; that something could be faith

• The teachings of Christ should be exciting

53:02 – Best Practices Podcast

• Expert ways to own and operate industrial facilities and commercial properties

• Episodes on industrial lighting and other parts of industrial facilities

• Episodes on asphalt and concrete repair services

• Episodes with Chris Polk

• Developing mutually beneficial economic relationships and opportunities is Jared's focus

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84. The Peaceful Path with Jordan Swaim

About this Episode

The Bad Roman is joined by Jordan Swaim of The Peaceful Way podcast, which explores the ideas, concepts, and mechanisms that produce peace and reduce violence. Jordan is well-versed in research on civil disobedience and explains some of the mechanisms that make it work. He talks about some sources he used to articulate a position on civil disobedience and how many people a movement needs to be effective. Jordan points out that an ‘intransigent minority’, a few people who refuse to go along with oppressive systems, can successfully use civil disobedience. He points out that even if you can justify a violent revolution and successfully overturn a government, the desired outcome will not be peaceful. Because it is in the nature of violence to multiply, it is dangerous to start.

Jordan is in Canada and switched jobs when he saw vaccine mandates coming for his workplace because “it is always inappropriate for your employer to tell you which pharmaceuticals you must consume.” He watched the trucker protests closely, and he shares some little-known insights with Craig as they discuss how the principles of nonviolent resistance were at work and how the mandates all quietly fizzled out within weeks of the protests proving their effectiveness.

Jordan Swaim:

The Peaceful Way Podcast

Twitter

YouTube

Craig on The Peaceful Way

PokeLab Radio

Episode Timestamps:

8:23 – Political activism

• The topic of how to view the state theologically will always be relevant

• The state takes up more and more conversation time

• The temptation to put forward an agenda is always present

• It’s fruitless to do things through the state; look at the history

• Let’s give Jesus a try

• The prince and power of the air, rulers of this age

• Colossians 1:16

• The kingdom of God should be a parallel society

• It is incompatible with the state

• Voting is legitimizing the state

• Using the state to bring social change feeds the beast

• 1 Samuel 8

• If rejecting God is not a sin, then what is?

18:45 – Who is Jordan Swain?

• Lives in Calgary, Canada

• Was in social services until the vaccine mandates came

• Became a carpet and furniture cleaning technician

• It’s inappropriate for your employer to tell you what pharmaceutical products to consume

• Side jobs and a production company

• Married with two kids

25:27 – Canada 

• The government doesn’t require vaccine mandates any longer

• But businesses are allowed to require vaccines in their employees

• More open than the US

• There are zero restrictions for entering Canada

• The trucker protest had a significant impact

• The new trucker restrictions were completely absurd

• Every time the Trudeau government brought in restrictions their popularity gained

• Trudeau ran a nasty campaign maligning the unvaccinated with absurd claims

• At this point, it would be more respectable to admit to getting things wrong than going silent over covid

• Vaccines were a failure

• Ed Dowd: Epidemic of Sudden Deaths

• The data says there are more young people dying on sports fields

• The trucker convoy was wildly long

• The largest civil disobedience protest in Canada’s history

• Within 6 weeks the majority of restrictions were ended or announced to be ending soon

• Media coverage tries to deny it had any impact on the restrictions

• The Intransient Minority

• You don’t need a majority of people to agree with something you just need 5% of people who refuse to go along with what they are told

• Nassim Nicholas Taleb: The Black Swan

• Organizers of the trucking convoy have been jailed

45:01 – Peaceful responses versus violent responses

• More often than not a peaceful response is more effective

• Erica Chenoweth: Why Civil Disobedience Works

• The data proves peaceful protests are more successful

• Revolution often brings worse rulers than the existing ones

• Russian Revolution

• You can make a case for justified violence but don’t assume you will achieve the desired outcomes

• Violence spreads and intensifies

• Society is propped up by the implicit threat of violent

• This legitimizes violence

• Violence is difficult to control, so dangerous to start

• When JFK was trying to eliminate the Mafia they were just trying to get rid of the competition

• Gandhi’s first act of civil disobedience was refusing to leave the seat he had paid for on a train

• From there he developed his theory

• You can’t get too hung up on the cult of personality surrounding heroes

• Until white people saw peaceful protesters being hosed by government thugs they couldn’t understand or support what Martin Luther King’s people were going through

• The trucking convoy was the demarcation line of when things started to get better

• We had the data but the second round of lockdowns came

• The hysteria around the virus was intense

• Like something out of a movie

• We have the ability to empower one another

• We outnumber the police and politicians

• We only need a small minority, the intransient minority

1:12:13 – The church’s response to covid

• Jesus was the supreme disobedient human being

• Pastor Tim Stevens was arrested for not complying with mandates

• You should decide early at what point you will refuse to comply with the government

• There is a good possibility that the government will push you to sin at some point

• We are capable of doing things that we know are completely wrong

• Craig doesn’t trust the church since covid

• Why do you need to be involved in a church?

• Spiritual community and participation without hierarchy, even if it is not in a church building is enough 

• It's tough to find people to connect with in a church hierarchy

• Church signs that say “If you have proof of vaccination, you’re welcome” are infuriating

• You cannot turn people away based on the pharmaceutical they consume

• It looks too much like the way the state acted

• The amount of people attending churches post-covid is still lagging even though the restrictions are gone

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83. The Cult of Statism with Larken Rose

About this Episode

Prominent anarchist activist and author Larken Rose joins Craig for a lively discussion on deprogramming people from the cult of statism. People are mostly inherently good at heart but have been indoctrinated from a young age to believe that government is a legitimate authority. Larken Rose makes a clear case for the immorality of government. Larken and Craig discuss how to engage statists using methods designed to combat their cognitive biases and awaken their inner anarchist.

Government preys on people's fears to keep them voting for corrupt politicians' forcible domination of their neighbors. To keep the rules, the ruling class (politicians) have enforcers (police) empowered to engage in acts of violence that most voters would bulk at committing against another human beings. Thus, when Christians vote, they are unwittingly breaking Jesus' golden rule and doing to others the exact opposite of what they want to have done to themselves. 

Christians should be the most suspicious of the state as it is a competing religious entity with all the rituals, fancy buildings and pomp. But unfortunately, some Christians strongly believe in the state and its illegitimate rulers even more than they believe in Jesus. These Christians need to be gently shown the contradictions in their beliefs and that when they advocate for a human ruler, they advocate for the subjugation of themselves and their neighbors. True followers of Jesus should see that Christianity and the cult of statism oppose each other, but Christianity and anarchy are not mutually exclusive.

Larken Rose:

The Most Dangerous Superstition 

YouTube

Candles in the Dark

Facebook

Episode Timestamps:

4:17 – About Larken Rose:

• Taught to doubt and debate ideas from a young age

• Began trying to decide what a legitimate or moral government looks like

• Accidentally fell off the political spectrum

• Realized that 'legitimate government' is an oxymoron

• Government has no special power to rob or legislate

• Assumes people have consciences and can distinguish right from wrong

• That's why he's an anarchist

•  Doesn't care what people say they believe about religion

• How they treat other people matters

• Do they abide by the non-aggression principle?

• If the government disappeared suddenly, Larken would prefer to be around Christian Statists than some atheist anarchists

• They are nicer people without the political monstrosity

• The quality of people matters most

16:09 – What currently ails the world?

• People have been taught to believe that when evil is committed by government authorities, it is no longer evil

• Individuals are tricked into cheering for evil

• Even Hitler, Stalin and Mao

• They fall for the false god

• Because their fears are played on

• Christians gloss over Matthew 20:25-28

• David Bently Hart New Testament Translation

24:33 – How to awaken someone else's inner anarchist

• People know the corruption of government but try not to know at the same time

• Larken Rose asks others to be personal, literal and specific while asking questions about why they need the government

• If they respond, "protect the innocent"

• Larken asks, "If I found a more efficient way to protect the innocent and refuse to pay for police. What should happen to me?"

• They get uncomfortable as Larken asks them to be specific about what should happen.

• They don't want to blurt out the violence of government

• No arguing is required

• Because if they advocate for a government they are advocating violence against peaceful citizens

• Wanting to "help the poor" is no longer fluffy-sounding goodness

• Should only the state have all the guns?

• Candles in the Dark

• No one wants to admit the violence they condone

• They don't dare look at the conflicts in their beliefs

• We need to lead them to the cognitive dissonance

41:36 – Don't do unto others what you don't want them to do unto you 

• Literally every voter does exactly what they don't want the other side to do to them

• Democracy is the best trick tyrants ever came up with

• It makes people mad at each other

• It makes people consent and vote for evil

• Politicians are all feasting together and laughing at your fears

• Did you just enable evil?

• The other bad guy option is irrelevant

• You cheer for your own subjugation

• You victimize everybody when you vote

• Jesus advocated serving others not lording it over them

• The Soviet Union, China and North Korea are all Constitutional Republics and have their own Bill of Rights

• It's wrong to ask someone else to commit evil for you

• Everyone who votes is a hypocrite without knowing it

• They vote for others to do things they know would be wrong if they did it themselves

• They are not going to go door-to-door to rob people to give to the poor

54:39 – Statism is a religion

• It has rituals, ceremonies, grandiose halls, pomp and tradition

• Voting is just choosing your new god

• The pieces of paper are religious texts

• Statism: The Most Dangerous Religion

• Government authority is not a real thing

• Pledging allegiance in churches doesn't happen in other nations

• Vaccines in churches

• It's frustrating to try to talk people out of their programming

• Need to use cult deprogramming tactics

• Belief in government is a cult

• They don't realize they hold a faith

• If people were living in a free society and someone came along and suggested we give them the power to forcibly rob and dominate we would say, 'no'

• But every election comes down to, 'give me power over you and everyone you know'

• People become violent if you dare bash the pledge of allegiance or trample on the flag

• Belief in government is a faith; not practical or logical

• People are trained to pledge loyalty to the authoritarian rulers of the US

• People are horrified if you admit to being unpatriotic

• Some Christians will become more upset when they hear, "I don't believe in government"
  then when they hear, "I don't believe in God"

• Government is what they really believe in

• Sometimes you need to offend people to shake them out of their indoctrination

1:08:28 – Government: The largest gang

• Without government, there would still be bad actors, but they would not be able to marshal the firepower that governments have

• People feel morally obliged to give them their extortion fees 

• All of the governmental power comes from the people they duped

• Taxpayers and enforcers

• Congressmen will not come to try to take your money personally

• They use it to make nuclear warheads and tanks

• Corporations cannot make us buy their products; if they tried, people would wipe them out

• No gang can enslave the population of the US

• Larken Rose is optimistic

• If people start ignoring the government and human rulers, the government is done

• The evil people are way outnumbered by good

• Rulers are just people

1:18:07 - Religion and anarchism are not mutually exclusive

• People can use gods to justify violence against others or as a standard to live by

• Government can never be legitimate, but belief in god is not automatically bad

• Not automatically authoritarian

• Religion has been used in the past to create authoritarian rulers too

• If society's standard is not initiating violence against others, that will allow peaceful co-existence

• It allows friendly discussions on all sorts of topics

• Christians have a reason to identify as anarchists: Jesus Christ

• Christian, who do you pay tribute to? Whom do you ask to save you from your enemies? If its people in Washington, you need to consider who your god is

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82. What do jiu-jitsu and anarchism have in common? with Tyler Rose

About this Episode

What happens when the Bad Roman meets a Christian Anarchist while training for jiu-jitsu? He invites him on the show, of course. Tyler Rose and Craig discuss Christianity, anarchy philosophy, self-reliance, and their experiences in the jiu-jitsu gym. They discuss why the term “good cop” is an oxymoron and contrast the need for a sovereign state with enforcers with self-reliance and the benefits of learning jiu-jitsu.

There seem to be a lot of libertarian or anarchism-inclined people amongst those who are regularly at the gym training in jiu-jitsu; many hold to ideas of decentralization, individualism, and self-reliance. Tyler suggests that jiu-jitsu has everything for the intellectual and anyone who is athletically built. Craig and Tyler talk about the various types of people they’ve met and their experiences grappling in the gym. As a Christian and a pacifist, one of the neat things about jiu-jitsu is its ability to teach anyone how to control any violent situation while deciding exactly how much damage their opponent will sustain as they take control of any violent incident to protect themselves or their family. If you practice a martial-art or have ever thought about taking up jiu-jitsu, this episode is a must-listen!

Tyler Rose:

Fountain Memphis – Pentecostal church in Bartlett

Brotherhood jiu-jitsu in Mountainview Arkansas

Memphis Judo and Jiu-jitsu

Episode Timestamps:

1:48 – Who is Tyler Rose?

• Pentecostal 

• Got into politics at age 15 with an interest in American political history

• Saw the revolutionary war as ‘God inspired’

• Became libertarian, then anarchist

• Self-reliance is important

• Grew up in North Memphis

7:56 – We don’t need a sovereign government or their cops

• The church should help the vulnerable, widows, and orphans

• It was done with consensual aid in the early church

• All laws end in death

• If it’s not worth someone dying over, don’t call the cops

• Good cops cannot exist

• The job of governing others is inherently evil

• Law enforcement is nothing but a gang

• Cops can disrespect a man, and he can’t do anything back

• If any man without a badge and gun spoke like a cop, they would be punched

• Cops have lost respect for other men

• “Just following orders” is a terrible excuse

• Tyler’s “friend” who was a cop, was bragging about injuring a man on the street

21:40 – Don’t rely on the police; learn jiu-jitsu instead

• Men should be able to defend themselves and their families on their own

• That’s why jiu-jitsu was attractive to Craig

• The jiu-jitsu community is very encouraging

• The anarchist and jiu-jitsu communities seem to overlap quite a bit

• People who are athletic and smart tend to enjoy jiu-jitsu

• Jiu-jitsu is great for increasing physical strength

• But it's still better to use defense and control the fight than overpower anyone

• Jiu-jitsu is good for teaching children discipline and self-defense

• Jiu-jitsu is the most popular art that avoids punching people but will still give the sportsman the advantage in a fight

• There’s no need to harm your drunk uncle 

• You can put someone out calmly with jiu-jitsu

• The argument can be over without ever injuring a person

• At 56 years old, Henzo could defend himself against a random attack on the subway

• It gives confidence in one’s capabilities to be well-prepared in any situation

• Jiu-jitsu can aid women in self-defense as well

• When Tyler began, he got his but kicked by a teenage girl who weighed much less than him

52:40 – Anarchy philosophy

• No King But Christ means, “I already have a king. I don’t need a politician.”

• There are two responses to the term anarchy

• People would just run the streets shooting people because there are no laws

• No, people don’t shoot other people because they are good people

• It’s still wrong to violate life, liberty, and property

• Anarchists aren’t out there throwing Molotov cocktails

• It’s in our best interest to get along

• Craig thinks jiu-jitsu and anarchy are similar in that everyone encourages and helps their fellow man to do better and succeed 

• Tyler agrees

• Tyler has noticed that most regular jiu-jitsu practitioners hold to ideas of decentralization and self-reliance

• They are intelligent enough to know they need to defend themselves

• They are mostly libertarian and close to anarchism

• Maybe even anarchists without realizing it or saying it

---

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81. Unmasking the Truth Behind COVID-19 with Jeffrey Hann

About this Episode

In this eye-opening episode of The Bad Roman, we dive deep into the complex world of the COVID-19 pandemic with our guest, Jeffrey Hann, author of the book titled Covid-19 – Short Path to you’ll Own Nothing and You’ll be Happy. Our conversation covers a wide range of subjects that challenge the mainstream narrative, offering valuable insights and thought-provoking discussion points.

We begin by exploring Jeffrey's background, which includes experiences in the military, political analysis, libertarianism, and the rave scene. He shares his unique method of critical thinking, which involves grammar, logic, and rhetoric, and how it has helped him to examine various topics, including climate change and anarchism.

As we discuss the absurd behaviors during the pandemic, such as mask exceptions and social pressure, we question the validity of mask usage and whether they may be doing more harm than good. We also delve into the role of police (aka policy enforcers) in enforcing bad policies and ponder whether we truly live in a free country.

The conversation turns to the controversial mRNA vaccines and the reasons to be suspicious of their rapid development and rollout. We discuss the potential link between vaccines and various health issues, as well as the lack of accountability by those in power.

In exploring the fine line between conspiracy and questioning, we discuss the digital dollar push, potential new viruses, and the possible use of the vaccine as a biological weapon. We then examine who has profited from the pandemic and question whether the government cares more about profits than the long-term health of its citizens.

As we cover the erosion of self-sufficiency and market unpredictability, we touch on the voluntary reporting system of adverse vaccine experiences (VAERS) and the concept of "safe and effective." Finally, Jeffrey shares his understanding of Christ as an anarchist who fought against tyranny and offers insight into his book "COVID-19 to You'll Own Nothing and You'll Be Happy."

Don't miss this fascinating and thought-provoking episode that challenges the status quo and encourages critical thinking on the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

Jeffrey Hann:

BOOK

WEBSITE: Journalistic Revolution

Episode Timestamps:

1:06 Why Jeffrey is on the show

• Paul Perol

2:00 Jeffrey’s Background

• PLUR (peace, love, unity) in the rave scene

• Military, political analyst, author

• Libertarianism, Ron Paul

5:02 Trivia Method of Critical Thinking

• Grammar, logic, rhetoric

• Climate Change and anarchism

7:24 Writing to Refine Rhetoric

• Jefferies articles

•  19,000-word report on covid in 2022

• Chapter layout and intention

11:36 Critical thinking

• Kerry Baldwin

• Absurd behaviors during covid

• Mask exceptions and social pressure

16:51 Is there a valid case for masks the way most people use them?

• Self-responsibility

• The challenge of using a mask properly

• Mask ratings, sealing, fit, and wear time, proper PPE use

• Could the mask be making you sicker?

• Keeping your hands clean

24:36 Is our food safe/helping keep us healthy?

• Public indoctrination

• Mcdonald’s was open and gyms were closed in Covid

• Defending the cops for enforcing bad policy

• Do we live in a free country?

• People forget very fast

• Gold Fish Mentality

30:18 The Thin Blue Line

• Modern-day redcoats

• Policy enforcers are the boots on the ground violating our rights

• 13th Amendment

• Free of slavery unless convicted of a crime

•  Supreme Court – no obligation to protect and serve

• Public Schools foster blind obedience to authority

35:17 Reasons to be suspicions of the mRNA Vaccine Push

• Gene Therapy

• Hard to find information

37:07 Policy Enforcers, Guns, and State Power

• Do you want the government to have guns?

• 2and Amendment is intended to be a check on the government not citizens

• Government is not static

• Global Tyranny is what we are headed toward

• Was covid a test to see how the global population would react?

• If anyone should not trust the government it’s Christians

• Jesus was killed by the state

44:24 The Vaccine Chaos and Future Health Cautions

• Religious exemptions

• Spike proteins and mRNA vaccine

• Buffalo Bills NFL player Hamlin collapse

• Could it be vaccine related?

• Australia Database

• RSV

53:59 Lack of accountability by those in power

• Arresting Trump for money vs mass murder

• Trump brought us the vaccines

• Liability free with the FDA and government funds

• Ohio Derailment

59:52 The fine line between conspiracy and questioning

• “Man in the middle attacks”

• Information scrubbing

• Is the vaccine a biological weapon

• The digital dollar push

• Has the next virus already been developed?

• Vitamin deficiencies 

• D & C & Zinc

1:11:08 Who profited from the pandemic?

• Pfizer and Moderna stock

• Its connection to members of Congress (most owned stock)

• Fauci patented HIV sequence

• Making money off taxpayer money

1:16:10 Does the government care about your long-term health or profits?

• Vaccine Commercial Marketing

• Vanguard and Black Rock own most of everything we buy

• Seed Oils

• Our food system has been poisoned

• Fresh eggs & meat vs. store-bought

• Increase in the price of eggs

1:23:33 Erosion of self-sufficiency and market unpredictability

• Lack of a unified American Culture

• Are we being infiltrated from within or destroying ourselves?

1:29:11 VAERS

• Voluntary reporting system of adverse vaccine experiences

• What is “safe and effective” — how much time is needed to know

1:35:03 Jeffrey’s Understanding of Christ 

• Jesus was an anarchist

• Against tyranny

• Balenciaga Runway Show

• Stantanism

• Sam Smith's Unholy Performance

• God is a pure source of consciousness

1:43:40 How to find Jeffrey’s book and where to learn more about him

• Book: Covid-19 Short Path to you’ll Own Nothing and You’ll be Happy

• More writing and website: Journalistic Revolution

---

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80. Pacifism History: Notable Examples of Peacemaking with Nicholas Harrelson

About this Episode

Combat-wounded veteran-turned-pacifist Nicholas Harrelson returns to the show to discuss his paper comparing the expressed pacifism of Martin Luther King Jr and Leo Tolstoy. Nicholas is a Transitional Deacon in the Anglican Church, currently pursuing a PhD in Political Theology and Christian Ethics. While studying, he learned that there is a historical connection between Tolstoy and MLK. Nicholas wanted to compare the non-violent stance of Tolstoy and Martin Luther King Jr. Through Gandhi, MLK learned about Tolstoy’s pacifism. However, MLK’s pacifist stance and thoughts became more like Tolstoy’s and less like Gandhi’s with time, arguably because of his understanding of the sermon on the mount and its practical applications. Perhaps this is why both men sought to break vicious cycles of violence.

Nicholas elaborates on the practical application of Tolstoy and MLK’s understandings of the sermon on the mount, revealing how they are still applicable to Christians today. As Tolstoy said, the sermon on the mount is always relevant in every situation. Although we may not be able to see into the future, when we act in ways congruent with Jesus and the sermon on the mount, God can use it to change the world profoundly. We can see this in the saying, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” As Christians, we should always seek to be self-reflective and see where we can make changes to better aspire to live out Jesus’ teachings and the sermon on the mount. 

Nicholas Harrelson:

Email: Nicholas.harrelson@duke.edu

Facebook

Episode Timestamps:

5:35 – Who is Nicholas Harrelson?

• Works at Duke University’s Office of Student Veterans

• Combat-wounded veteran from Iraq

• Worked for the government

• Transitional deacon in the Anglican church

• Father of two

7:50 – Why do discussions about universalism upset folks?

• Craig enjoyed the fact that Nichola’s church invited Dr Bently Hart for discussions about universalism

• But when he expressed it on Facebook, he was blasted by strangers

• It would be nicer if we could have respectful talks rather than getting angry

• Nicholas’ article – The Salvation Theology of C.S. Lewis

• CS Lewis might be termed a “hopeful universalist”

• Dr Hart can rile some people up with his approach to discussing universalism

• People who view universalism as a heresy may view its expression as leading people’s souls astray

• But things were taken out of context during the conversations at Nicholas’ church and got heated

• Origen wasn’t called a heretic because he was a universalist

• He believed that God would even restore Satan, which earned him the title of ‘heretic’

• Gary Chartier -  published author of Christian Anarchy books

• Christian anarchists seem to tend towards universalism too

20:21 – Martin Luther King Jr and Tolstoy

• There is a historical connection between Tolstoy and MLK

• Through Gandhi

• MLK’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail

• There are just/natural laws as well as unjust laws

• If a law is in tune with God’s law, even Christian anarchists are going to follow it

• By the end of his life, MLK was closer to Tolstoy’s version of non-violent civil resistance than where he began with Gandhi

• The sermon on the mount is relevant in every situation at every time, and in every place

• The US Government killed MLK

• King was adamant about not putting his hands back on the state, even though the state would put its hands on him and his followers

• The weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral; it multiplies hate

• Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that

• Both King and Tolstoy had a beautiful understanding of how Christ worked

• King sought a community where the oppressor and oppressed could be reconciled

• In refusing to return violence, he broke the cycle of violence

• Tolstoy also showed this desire to see the cycle of violence break in his letter to Czar Alexander III

• The Czar didn’t take Tolstoy’s advice but if he had, it could have changed Russia’s history

33:45 – Pacifism 

• You never know how God could use your pacifism

• The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church

• When you act in a way that is congruent with Christ’s actions it has a profound effect

• Saw this in Libya

• We are fallen and need to reflect on our own lives constantly

• We should aspire to live as Christ would

• Craig learns jiu-jitsu to ensure he can respond to protect others without a weapon

• Christ came to offer us eternal life

• We should focus on the way that He told us to live

• We should think about the eternal

• We can return good for evil

43:34 – Tolstoy 

• Craig loves Tolstoy’s black-and-white descriptions

• Jesus wasn’t grey either

• You must love your neighbor and enemy

• Tolstoy provided simplicity in his understanding of the sermon on the mount

• He was upset when people maligned his path rather than himself when he failed to live up to his own explanation of the sermon on the mount

• Why judge what you are reading because of personal flaws or the person who wrote it?

• What is beneficial stands on its own

• When people bring up the sins of the figure you are talking about its usually a deflection

• It’s a strawman argument

• If you are arguing with something that Jesus said, you are arguing with Jesus not people

• Jesus said to buy a sword “so that the prophecy might unfold.”

• Not as permission to buy a weapon

• People tend to come to conclusions and then search the Bible for proof texts

• When they do this, they take the scripture out of context

1:00:19 – On being a combat-wounded veteran

• Nicholas was tip-toeing around whether or not he wanted to come out as a Christian anarchist

• But was blessed to preach on Romans 13

• There was grace because he is a combat-wounded veteran, so people assume he has the right to talk about why pacifism really matters

• Craig enjoys talking to veterans and hearing their perspectives on war

• Christians need to hear why veterans take their positions

• War and pacifism are extremes

• When listeners hear about people who have gone from one to the other, it makes them curious

• The experience makes people more willing to listen

1:08:28 – David Bentley Hart’s translation of the Bible

• Reading the Bible which is directly translated from Greek, changes your perception of the Bible

• If people read it they would be less entangled with the state

• The state only needlessly hurts people

• The translation emphasizes how the words were used when the text was written

• Sometimes it changes the meaning

• Christian anarchists seek a life as independent of the state as possible

• Making tangible the kingdom of God

• Tolstoy understood that we are capable of bringing about the kingdom of God today

• We need to love our neighbors as ourselves

• We need to sort ourselves out first

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79. Spotting Government manipulations with Michael Storm

About this Episode

Natural-born anarchist Michael Storm of the Toward Anarchy radio show joins Craig to discuss anarchy, covid times, and institutional manipulations. Michael has been aware of the lies and manipulations of the political elite and Federal Reserve since he was a teenager. He was in Denver at the beginning of the Occupy Wall Street movement when it was an authentic movement before false anarchists appeared in order to give the movement a bad name. At the beginning of the covid period, Michael accurately predicted government lies, collusion with Big Pharma and how the government would behave. Throughout the conversation, Michael notes the times and places where institutions have lied and manipulated money and the public.

The government has never said anything for your benefit; it always lies for the sake of acquiring more money and power. Some key takeaways on anarchy include the recognition that people interact daily, building and creating without needing authority. Anything less than pure anarchy holds a degree of tyranny. Anarchists believe that it’s okay to be you, to live as you desire, to follow whomever you wish to, and that the only thing the government does is make it harder to be the best version of yourself. Everything we have built exists despite the government getting in the way, wasting our time, and leeching off of us. 

Toward Anarchy:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Episode Timestamps:

1:51 – Who is Michael?

• Norman guy from Denver, Colorado

• Plays multiple instruments

• Knew what the Federal Reserve was at 13 years old

• Knew that money is a manipulated representation, not real money

• Already an anarchist

• Former wild partier

• Understood 9/11 in light of false flags

• Radio presenter and producer

• Loves football

• Was there when Occupy Wall Street was just people gathering to protest big banks

• Saw the false anarchists come to:

• mess things up

• give real anarchists a bad name

19:11 – Social media is useless garbage

• You don’t have to be shouting at or about the state to be an anarchist

• Institutions are full of manipulations

• Will tire you out

• Let’s just be human beings

• Let’s not just sit on Facebook and rant

• Craig’s 3-day Facebook ban was pleasant 

• Corporate media does not talk about children dying in Yemen because of our government

• Prefer to talk about Kanye West

• People don’t even understand the things the media wants them to be angry about

29:33 – Changing the political system from the inside doesn’t work

• Ron Paul’s 30 years in government roles did not change much for freedom

• Ron Paul has done more to introduce people to sound economic theory than any economist

• You lose credibility when you try to use the system to change the system

• “Legalising freedom” does not work

34:19 – Toward Anarchy Show

• Michael’s show is just him journaling his life

• Podcasts can break down barriers when people just talk from the heart

• We are anarchists because we have no king but Christ

• Michael appreciates the people he gets to talk to

42:14 – Anarchy

• Anarchists should be able to have their thing if it’s a voluntary relationship

• Be it a King Jesus or someone else

• The absence of a state doesn’t mean there will not be a voluntary government

• Today’s state only has the illusion of participation

• Daily we cooperate and build together without any consideration for the authority’s input

• Everything we have built, we have done so despite the government

• Wasting out time

• Misdirecting our energy

• Leeching off of us

45:00 – Covid vaccines are a scam

• The government experimented on people with the Tuskegee experiment

• Then publicly honored the suffering and sacrifice of the victims

• Similar to the covid vaccines

• As soon as government is behind something, it is motivated by either money or politics

• At the beginning of covid Michael accurately predicted how things would happen

• Through his podcast

• His predictions proved correct

• Has studied vaccine history

•  The bell curve of knowledge about new diseases and vaccines

• People begin dying

• Scientists begin figuring out how the disease works and how to treat it

• Fewer people die

• Vaccine is introduced

• Strange health problems begin

• Government and Big Pharma will sell a vaccine whether it works or not

• The vaccine industry is built on lies

• When the government says something, Craig says ‘no.’

• People should say ‘no’ and take their business elsewhere

59:07 – Toward Anarchy

• Anarchists started the Libertarian Party

• David Nolan

• The World’s Smallest Political Quiz

• Are libertarians simply “settling”?

• There’s tyranny and anarchy, and everything in between is differing levels of tyranny

1:07:24 – Covid times

• The struggles of covid times overtook TJ

• There were many manipulations during covid

• The losses still take their toll on Craig and his family

• People died of manipulations that sent them into isolation, not just covid

• Without isolation and fear, TJ would probably still be here struggling along

• There are hidden costs to the government’s heavy-handed policy

• Suicide rates and alcohol sales spiked during lock-downs

• The next thing will be harder because we are in a weakened financial and mental state

• People only just beginning to wake up to the issues is bitter-sweet

• TJ is still gone

• Anarchists are still saying, “We told you so.”

• Craig was surprised at how people responded to covid

• Now he thinks people would prefer to be told what to do

• We are all born anarchists, and everyone is manipulated off the track

---

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78. The Role of Propaganda in Abusive Relationships with Derek Kreider

About this Episode

Derek Kreider, host of pacifist podcast “The Fourth Way,” joins Craig for a discussion on his latest season about propaganda. What is propaganda? Who propagandizes? And what benefits do they receive from doing so? From personal relationships, church institutions and the state, propaganda plays a part in how people organise themselves and Derek and Craig discuss them all.

The conversation starts with institutionalised abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention and how poorly churches deal with allegations of sexual abuse. Every year allegations of sexual misconduct are the church’s biggest problem. Even higher-ups who are not abusers are incentivized to cover up for underlings abusing their authority to keep the money flowing. We also learn that propaganda is not just what is communicated, but also includes leaving out important information, in this case to avoid “tarnishing God’s reputation” or other reasonable-sounding excuses.

Next, they discuss state propaganda. The state is basically an abuser who feels the need to control through the usual methods: charisma, controlling the flow of information and if these things fail then resorting to violence. Finally, Craig gets vulnerable about his abusive second marriage, the isolation and altercations, ending the episode with a note of hope for those who believe they are stuck in a situation of domestic violence: it is possible to escape.

Find Blue Ribbon Logistics: 

YouTube

Facebook

Spotify

Episode Timestamps:

3:08 - Who is Derek Kreider?

• Raised conservative with Christian education

• Likes apologetics

• Currently in Romania as a missionary

4:22 – What is causing the rise in atheism? 

• Institutionalising religion ruins it

• There’s a lot of people leaving the church in America, but it’s the institutions they are leaving

• Church could also be people gathered in Jesus’ name

9:19 – The Fourth Way Podcast

• 2016 and the election of Donald Trump made Derek want to start a podcast

• The ends don’t justify the means, but the evangelical community tried to justify Trump’s actions

• Consequentialism

• Watched a video on pacifism

• Pacifism works better than grasping for power in the political realm

• Made the podcast to explore his own Christian reasoning

• The name comes from Walter Wink’s “The Third Way” but Pacifism is a fourth way, not fight, flight or freeze, but being active in pacifism

• Families who allow their loved ones killers live on death row rather than have them killed have changed those people

• Pacifism requires a whole lot more creativity to solve problems

• It brings the humanity back to the killer 

• There is nothing in the writings of the early church that indicate they were not pacifists

20:06 – What’s happening with the Southern Baptists?

• Recently it has come to light that some of their prominent leaders have abused people and other leaders have covered it up

• Then asked others to be silent about it

• Rachael Denhollander – What is a Girl Worth?

• Famous for coming forward after being abused by a doctor

• Talks about how terrible the church was at dealing with that

• Became an advocate for abuse within the Southern Baptist Church

• Although it’s not specific to the Southern Baptist Church

• Sexual allegations are the biggest problems for church every year

• When people take advantage of their positions of authority it doesn’t look like Jesus

• There should not be flawed human beings being given power in the church

• “It shall not be so among you”

• Individuals must take personal responsibility for their actions

• A lot of times power ends up corrupting people

• The Southern Baptist Convention also had leadership that covered up abuse

• In order to keep their own power

• So they don’t loose funding or control

• Do it in the name of Jesus – don’t want Him to look bad

• This is simple consequentialism

• After studying conspiracies for a year Derek thinks lots of people can hide a conspiracy

• This is not a uniquely church thing, people are corrupt

• A new structure would be full of people doing the same thing

• Maybe people are pulling back from the church because it looks just like government politics

• Sometimes members of churches solely blame individuals for problems that may be systemic

• Pastors are celebrities not shepherds, leading to people abusing power

35:09 – Propaganda, the state and abusers

• Politicians are going to go wherever the funding comes from

• This is a structural problem

• Propaganda is 100% intentional

• But its often done by people who are sincere about their cause

• A jerk on a power trip is easier to disbelieve

• Everyone propagandises

• Derek educates his kids therefore by some definitions he propagandises them

• We use the word for education that we don’t like

• In the Southern Baptists the higher-ups silence the news media that’s also propaganda

• Because it shapes your understanding

• The higher-ups say they prefer to highlight the good and leave out the bad

• It’s propaganda to leave information out

• Its an intricate web of self-justification and gaslighting

• Trump was worse on the second amendment than Obama

• Jacques Ellul – Propaganda and The Technological Society

• Propaganda produces extreme polarization

• And other quotes that could have been written yesterday

• Propaganda seeks to isolate individuals

• Repeats simple content

• Creates a problem to resolve then offers itself as a saviour

• Abusers do the same thing

• Craig’s second marriage was abusive like this

• Derek’s episode about marital abuse: Propaganda and Domestic Abusers

• You can escape an abusive relationship and God won’t be offended

• Things escalate when the abuser feels like they are out of control

• Craig’s second wife threw knives and had him arrested

• Then moved in next door when he left

• Its different in every situation

• David Graber – The Dawn of Everything

• Talks about how the state functions

• The state is basically an abuser who needs control

• Violence is risky but effective if you are stronger

• Information can also be used to control

• Charisma can be used to control others, this is the most effective

• States work like this too, when charisma (stories) stops working then they try manipulation then violence

• Abusers isolate their victims

1:00:21 – The conspiracy of corporatism

• How do we discern truth and how are beliefs formed?

• How was propaganda implemented?

• A 70 episode series on propaganda could have been much larger

• Corporations and businesses propaganda

• How do they do it?

• What effect does it have?

• What should you look out for?

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77. Lessons from the Trucking Industry with Chris Polk

About this Episode

In this episode Craig welcomes back Chris Polk, “professional hornet’s nest kicker”, podcaster, content creator, trainer and truck owner-operator at Blue Ribbon Logistics. Chris regales Craig with stories about everything from how he found success in the trucking world, to history lessons, and about how government and citizens wreaked havoc with supply chains during covid times. Additionally, Chris tells how collusion between big corporations and government have led to over-regulation, driving shipping costs up and resulting in tough times for every-day truckers. That said Chris pulls no punches while discussing the things that truckers have done to make their own situations worse. 

Chris gives his best advice on how to become rich, with principles that will work whether you are interested in joining the trucking industry or not. The great news is that you have something unique to offer the world. If you combine that something with some good maths (get yourself a BS Eliminator 9000, otherwise known as a calculator), hard work and a customer centric focus you too will become wealthy. It will not be easy, but if you build your life in such a way that you give value to others by helping them to get what they want, money will naturally flow your way.

Find Blue Ribbon Logistics: 

YouTube

TikTok

Facebook

Website

Episode Timestamps:

1:04 - Who is Chris Polk?

• Enjoys stirring

• A trucker for 25 years

• Owner-operator of trucking business

• Podcast host at Blue Ribbon Logistics

• Training truck drivers to be owner-operators

• Content creator on YouTube

4:56 – Blue Ribbon Logistics

• Met Larry Long and went to work for him

• Began having Larry on his podcast

• The podcast brought them dedicated truckers

• Created a program to train them how to earn as a trucker

• Business only works when it's competitive and customer focussed

• You can have anything you want if you help enough other people get what they want

• Never thought he’d have to teach all sorts of people maths and map reading

• Calculator is the BS Eliminator 9000

• Craig would make a terrible truck driver 

• He’d be too busy napping on the side of the road

• Driving a truck and a car are two different things

21:45 - Broken supply chains and broke truckers

• Products were manufactured just in time to get them onto the trailer or the assembly line

• It used to be a finely tuned machine

• 2020 broke it with toilet paper

• Cascade effect means trucking has been in a state of crisis since March 2020

• Peoples spending drove demand

• People brought trucks for work 

• Truck prices went up

• Market demand is going back down 

• Those who bought overpriced trucks will go broke

• Truckers blame fuel costs and the government

27:09 – Lesson in supply line history

• Separation of church and state is a distraction

• The danger lies in the collusion of corporations and state

• Mark Levison – The Box

• When the market was deregulated in 1980 it made shipping more efficient

• Allowing for more competition by individuals

• Explosion of economic activity

• These days there are so many middle-men that it has driven the cost of shipping up

• Blockchain might make it more efficient again

• Any time there’s a bottleneck, you can generally find a bureaucrat standing in the middle of it

• There are a million single truck owner-operators

• That’s a third of the trucks on the road

• They haul the majority of life’s necessities

• Big businesses can’t keep up so they are lobbying for regulations that will wipe out the owner-operators in costs

• Truck makers make more money as more legislation is added

• Little guys can’t afford new trucks

• The state does the bidding of 15% of the trucking industry

33:15 – The biggest scam in trucking history

• The biggest scam in trucking history on YouTube

• No license points for warnings until 2008

• Chris got 30 points from one inspection

• No actual violations

• At his latest inspection, he fixed a light

• Another 18 points even though the light worked

• Fines came next

• Even though there were no violations

38:28 – The cheap driver shortage

• Subsidies from the state for hiring drivers

• There is a shortage of cheap drivers

• The largest expense at big corporations is wages for the drivers

• But they haul easy bulk stuff for cheap

• People like Chris are paid more for specialized freight

• You can’t idiot-proof a truck

• A bad driver is going to have problems

43:50 – The price of eggs and corruption

• Eggs are expensive

• Is this because the state interfered with supply chains?

• It costs Blue Ribbon about $200,000 per year to run a truck

• There are 3 million trucks on the road

• Reducing the cost of fuel won’t help that

• There’s inflation

• There’s manipulation

• Corrupt money

• Corrupt processes

• Shipping container costs quadrupled

47:15 – How to become wealthy

• Turn the television off

• Don’t make decisions based on fear

• You can control your own life and make better decisions

• Boom and Bust is the pattern of economics

• Build your life in a way that you create value for others

• Once you get that right the wealth comes

• That doesn’t make it easy

• Find a niche

• It will be uncomfortable

• Be unaffected by BS crisis

55:44 – Fauci

• Would be happy to see him handcuffed

• He’ll end up in the evil hall of fame alongside Hitler one day

• One day in heaven we may want forgiveness for him when he has to explain himself to Jesus

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76. "What about Romans 13?" with Matt Mouzakis

About this Episode

Craig is joined by Matt Mouzakis, worship pastor and co-host of Expedition 44, a popular theology podcast where the ancient languages and context of the Bible are discussed. Matt is doing his doctorate in New Testament studies, specializing in the passages often cited by Christian statists when they want to defend strict obedience to the government.

Matt explains how words like submit (hypotassesthō), and concepts like paying taxes take on very different meanings when placed in their proper context. Read Romans 13 through the eyes of a first-century Jew, see it in a fresh new light, and be prepared to confound the next statist who asks you, "But what about Romans 13?".

In fact, the only one to whom people owe allegiance and should be under the authority of is Jesus Himself. When we desire to put another into power over ourselves and our neighbors, it is a sin because humans are not to have authority over one another.

Craig and Matt delve into those passages used against women in ministry. Again, we discover that read in the context of the time and in their original language, nothing suggests women are to be subject to men in God's kingdom. We find God's ideals at the beginning and end of the Bible, and that is God alone reigning over humanity.

Expedition 44:

YouTube

Website

Covenant Theological Seminary

Expedition 44 episode on Romans 13

Ryan's book: This is the Way

Episode Timestamps:

1:54 – Who is Matt Mouzakis?

• Worship pastor at "Bapticostal" church

• Father of 4

• Theology geek doing Doctorate in New Testament

• Co-host of Expedition 44 podcast with Dr Ryan (Head Chair of Biblical Studies at Covenant Theological Seminary

• Expedition 44

• Discuss the ancient context of the Bible

• Salvation is a journey "expedition" 

• The separatist ancient Essene community gave themselves the number 22

• God doubles the portion, which is where the 44 comes from 

8:15 – The Church of Nationalism

• American pastors don't speak against the entanglement of Christians and the state

• Sometimes they advocate for candidates

• The early church was outspoken against the Roman Empire

• But it is glossed over these days

• Churches seek power through the state now

• There's no basis in the Bible for Christians to be seeking any power

• We need no king but Christ

• Politics comes into your theology

• Some would say that representative government is different from serving another king

• In the first two pages and last two pages of the Bible is where you find God's ideals

• Everything in the middle is messed up

• Humans are not to have authority over one another

• Not even men over women

• The hebrew word "Tsela" should be translated as "side" rather than "rib"

• On the last page of the Bible, you see men and women under God's authority

• That's God's ideal

• That should inform our politics

• We are ambassadors from another King

• Our government has its own kingdom

• The fall is the "defilement of all of creation"

• There are multiple falls in the Old Testament

• When people usurp God's authority, humans rule other humans

• That is not a part of God's ideals

18:58 – Women in Ministry

• A topic that is spoken about on Expedition 44

• Women were the first to tell of Jesus' resurrection

• The men were in hiding

• Paul was very egalitarian

• When we don't look at the Bible in context, it gets confusing

• If Genesis 3 is reversed in Jesus, the church should reflect that

• The local context of Paul telling women to be quiet was an all-women-led cult

• Right before that, he tells the men off for being angry

• None should have authority over others in the church

• The women were trying to teach before they had learned

• Greek tenses matter in better translation

• Keith Giles's episode about women and the church

• Women stayed at home and were less educated in Paul's day

• Women were to learn but not interrupt the service

• 1 Corinthians 14: 34-35 might be an error added to the text based on a scribble by a scribe

• Philip Payne's book – One In Christ

• Expedition 44 episode – Women Must Be Silent?

26:16 – Romans 13

• The words "submit" and "obey" are two different words

• Romans 13 is the go-to for opponents of "No King but Christ"

• Romans 13 should be read in light of Romans 12

• The chapter breaks weren't there originally

• Romans chapters 12-16 should be read as a chunk

• All the things that Jesus said about enemy love do not fit with Romans 13

• Romans 13:1 & 5 Submit is hypotassesthō

• Defined as voluntary yielding

• Obey God is hupakouó

• David Bently Heart – New Testament

• It is necessary that we obey God rather than man

• The Bible should be read as a whole

• The whip that Jesus used was a common tool to heard animals

• He didn't harm any people

• He was angry at the extortion in the temple

• The gospel spreads by word of mouth too

• "Governing authorities"

• A common expression for anyone with authority

• Not necessarily government

• The people of the day were in Rome

• A place of multiple layers of governing 

• Neighborhood watch role, rather than law enforcement

• Rome wasn't taxed at the time when Romans was written

• Romans 13:1 - exousia means evil powers

• And appears in Ephesians 6:12

• Paul understood demons controlled the empires

• Jesus didn't rebuke Satan when he offered Him the kingdoms of the world

• Deuteronomy 32 – Moses says God divided mankind and gave them to the sons of God

42:18 – Is voting a sin?

• 1 Samuel 8

• Craig has concluded that voting is a sin

• Jesus said the gentiles lorded power over others, but we were not to be the same

• God said it was not Samuel that was rejected, rather it was God Himself

• Rejecting God is a sin

• Sleeping is better than exercising power over others

• Matt and Steve discussed whether or not Christians should vote

• The desire to have a king is to reject God

• Voting is the desire to put someone in power over ourselves and neighbors

• Therefore, voting is a rejection of God

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