Just a letter of info--Updated

Here is the entire email conversation. I only post it here in hopes it may cause others to do a little thinking on things.
Later!

This is an email I sent to the 2 hosts of a radio show I enjoy listening to. I highly recommend it to everyone! You can find it at www.freetalklive.com, it is the best show I listen to.

Dear Ian and Mark,

I first want to say that I think your show is great. It is chock-full-of-relevant issues; entertaining hosts and is regularly right along with my own Anarcho-capitalist views. I work nights and FTL is not on any stations in my area. I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana and sadly the most objective radio station here is NPR—go figure! I am forced to listen to you a day late via your podcast. However, I am very grateful you make your show so readily available. I am always disappointed when the show ends; I am also usually surprised it went by so quickly. I wish to thank Ian for broadcasting live on 12/24 and 25, as a non-christmas person it was very nice!


I hope I don't make this email too long, please forgive me if I do. Most of my life I attended independent Baptist churches. It is the type of denomination which makes Southern Baptists look liberal—if you know what I mean. Not only was I born and raised Republican, I was required to vote Republican because Jesus was a Republican. When I was 25 (in 1995) I was ordained as an independent Baptist preacher and held various positions and also preached in several churches. I was a die-hard religionist. In 1996, due to the failed "Contract with America" I began to realize the RNC was nothing more than a band of thieves and liars. I had always suspected it, but repressed my opinions about it due to my religion. That year I changed affiliations and joined the Libertarian Party and had the pleasure to vote for the great Harry Browne. (Boy has that party changed since the days of Mr. Browne!) That simple, unimportant act put a schism between me and several (if not all) of my fellow preachers. Fortunately it was at that time I began to see what I was doing with my life and that of my family. In 1998 my family and I stopped observing Christmas as we attempted to align ourselves more with a biblical lifestyle. That act labeled me as a weirdo and heretic even though no one I asked could validate its observance with scripture. It took 5-6 years, but around 2001 my family and I broke all ties with any form of organized religion (OR). How refreshing, revealing and liberating! My current motto is "You know a preacher is lying when his lips are moving!" (The same can be said about politicians.)



When we first broke away I was bitter with OR for holding me in its deceptive grasp for so long, but eventually my bitterness turned toward myself as I realized that I could have and should have "seen the light" sooner, if I hadn't allowed myself to be duped by what I have come to realize is a cult. I'm over my bitterness now, but still have great disdain for OR. During this entire evolution, I never had bitterness toward God. I had no reason to be upset with God, it wasn't his fault I was naive enough to be conned by OR. I still hold to my faith in the bible and in the God of it, I don't call myself a Christian, just a believer, but it is a far different belief system than I use to cling to.

My main reason for writing sure as hell isn't to proselytize you, but just to let you know that the bible is actually a book of liberty. I can't explain all of it or why some of it sounds extremely weird, but I do know it reveals that Jesus is not a Republican at all, but instead is a libertarian! First Corinthians 3:17 says "…Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The "Golden Rule" reveals that the bible is a book of libertarian values: Luke 6:31 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." I want to be free to live my life as I see fit, then I have no choice but to allow others to do the same; I don't want to be harmed, so I won't harm anyone else.

Keep up the good work spreading the message of liberty; but do consider that the bible is actually another tool we have to spread that message and not an item to be maligned. Thanks for your time and all you do for liberty!

Sincerely,
Matthew Evans

-- "Mark Edge" <mark@freetalklive.com> wrote:Matt
Thanks for the very nice email.
I try to let people know, when we talk about christianity, that I come from a position of one that has been harmed by today's version, and that the only folks I truly dislike are the Pharisees. All of that said said Jesus was not so much a libertarian as a pacifist. Scour the Bible thoroughly, how many really liberty type phrases will you find? 30 in a book with more than a 1000 pages. The Bible (especially the old testament) is a document written by the ruling class to keep their power in place. There is freedom in christ jesus, the freedom to do as we say.
I try to be fair, man, but I just hate what the religion has become. If I could really believe that Jesus even lived, I would be a unitarian and try to talk like you do, but why throw away most of what the bible is about and keep Jesus?
Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du5wJWlHAVI
If you have more to say, I am open. If you want we can do an interview.
Mark


Mark,
Wow, what a rapid reply! I completely understand being damaged by the modern concept of religion. I can even agree that perhaps my current beliefs are a vestige of fear from damnation, I don't know. Until recently (prior to it being brought up on the show recently) I was a proponent of the new earth theory, I have come to two realizations: one-the earth could actually be quite old and there wouldn't be a damn thing wrong with that; and two-I don't really give a shit either way.
I do admit that my metamorphosis is a continual thing. Who knows, one year from now I may write to you from a completely different angle? For that reason alone I would be a lousy interview. Who wants to listen to someone who is still formulating his own belief system? When I was a preacher I was known as the guy with all the answers, I have long since turned in all my answers for a ton of questions.
One thing about the bible, it too was an evolving thing. I am of the opinion that time is dispensational. I conjecture that perhaps the reason God seemed to be such a necessitarian in the OT is because the people themselves needed it. Perhaps it was the best way for him to help primitive mankind? Today he deals with mankind in a libertarian fashion. Mankind may have reached a point in its maturation that it can better handle it.

I hope I didn't make it sound as if you treated religious spouting callers in a defamatory manner, because you do not. And you are quite fair and objective, that was not in question. While you were gone Ian did have some fun with a dude who said mankind use to be spirits and helped create earth (or something), that guy was a f***ing nut! But Ian did let him go on and on about his beliefs. You guys are great to listen to and I really appreciate how you let anyone call and talk, and do not screen your calls so strictly it tilts your show in your favor (like Limbaugh, Savage, et al).

I don't believe the bible was written by a ruling elite, but I do agree it has been misused and abused by them. I still think Jesus was a libertarian. When he chased the merchants out of the temple with a whip he made himself, he gave up the ability to be a pacifist. That's what I think any way.

Take care and it has been a pleasure "conversing" with you.

Matt



Matt,
If you lived here, we would be friends.
Mark




I would like that.