I wonder what some of you think about this subject. As an atheist, I think it is simply horrible to see how the LVMises Institute is becoming some sort of hideout or HQ for fanatic christians, not to promote liberalism as compatible with their way of life, but christianity itself as the only way to liberalism.
I never had the immense pleasure of meeting him but I am certain that Mises himself would have found this atrocius.
LUCHAC:is becoming some sort of hideout or HQ
is becoming some sort of hideout or HQ
Meaning that it includes Christians?
LUCHAC: for fanatic christians
for fanatic christians
Meaning 'Christians'?
On a month-long listen to the media, I remember that a Catholic derided the Social Gospel in religious terms. The very interesting Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn (of the studyguide, not the institute) acknowledges a Thomist influence. Neither of these struck me as hideous or fanatic.
In any case, what I think about this subject is: nothing. I haven't noticed anything; I assume that you just have a low tolerance for overt religion. But if you have something specific in mind that you think Mises would find atrocious, please present it.
Hmmmnnn. I am a non-theist myself. I can't say that I have noticed any religous fanatics around the Mises Institute. Anyhow, I don't think religion is incompatible with libertarianism or Austrian Economics in anyway.
The only religious fanatics I have seen in the U.S. seem to be those that follow the beliefs of the Reverend John Hagee and his ilk, and those folks are all connected with the neo-conservtive movement. And of course the isolated fools that you find in any country.
LUCHAC:As an atheist, I think it is simply horrible to see how the LVMises Institute is becoming some sort of hideout or HQ for fanatic christians, not to promote liberalism as compatible with their way of life, but christianity itself as the only way to liberalism.
I think what you mean is you find it horrible that some people associated with the Mises Insititute are Christians. I wouldhope not, however. I haven't seen any documents or evidence of "fanatic Christians." And even if there were, whats the big deal? As a Christian, I don't find the largely secular material on this website in any way offensive.
Be more open minded.
I'll be frank. I think Gary North is off his rocker. The man scares me.
As for the OP, I think the broader phenomenon is that the general consensus at the Mises Institute is culturally conservative. There is nothing inherently wrong with this at all, but from time to time I do see it as getting in the way of the general themes of free market economics and libertararianism and sometimes undermining it. I wouldn't say that the Mises Institute is dominated by "religious fanatics", but there most certainly is a strong culturally conservative element to both the staff and the general lot of participants. To the extent that this is just a personal preference held in the context of voluntarism, I don't really care. To the extent that it is an agenda being pushed in an overt political sense, and to the extent that it is implied as being some kind of fundamental requirement in order for a free society to function, yea, it bothers me. A lot.
I stand somewhere in between Walter Block's "thin" libertarianism (I.E. the sentiment that cultural preferences are essentially irrelevant) and Roderick Long's "thick" libertarianism (I.E. the sentiment that libertarianism may encompass a broader set of principles extending outside of political philosophy). To the extent that I am "thick", I readily admit that my "bias" is so-called "culturally left". It's part of why I tend to stick out like a sore thumb here on occasion (or often).