News & Updates

Call For Papers for 2024 Volume of CLR

The Christian Libertarian Review (CLR) is now accepting submissions for its 2024 volume. This open-access academic publication was founded in 2017 by the Libertarian Christian Institute, a nonprofit organization that seeks to equip Christians to promote a free society. CLR aims to foster intellectual dialogue, exploration, and research surrounding the intersection of Christianity and libertarian thought across various disciplines such as philosophy, political theory, theology, economics, and more.

CLR welcomes submissions on topics pertaining to the intersection of Christianity, as outlined in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and libertarian political economy. All article manuscripts will be blind-reviewed by at least two scholars, and the editorial board consists of distinguished scholars from diverse fields. Besides full-length articles, book reviews are also encouraged.

Papers must be submitted via the Scholastica platform, and there is no charge for submission. Papers are accepted on a rolling basis, and accepted papers are released as soon as possible on the CLR website, and are free to read. CLR now follows calendar years for volumes, and print editions will be made available for purchase from time to time consisting of at least one volume.

CLR’s General Editor, Norman Horn, welcomes any questions, comments, or submissions, or inquiries about writing book reviews. For detailed submission guidelines, please see the CLR website. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to contribute to an interdisciplinary dialogue that explores the intersection of Christianity and libertarian thought.

The official Call For Papers document may be downloaded here, and we encourage everyone to disseminate it widely.

On behalf of the Editorial Board, we look forward to a wonderful year of scholarship!

Edmund Opitz and the Chastening of Secular Libertarianism

Now available in CLR Volume 4: “Edmund Opitz and the Chastening of Secular Libertarianism” by Vic McCracken.

Abstract: Edmund Opitz (1914-2006) was a major figure in 20th-century Christian libertarianism who advanced libertarian ideals in the face of widespread dismissal and opposition from Christian leaders. Beyond his correspondence with Christian leaders, Opitz pursued more sympathetic exchanges with secular thinkers in the libertarian movement. The common purpose Opitz shared with secular libertarians, however, did not dissuade him from challenging his collaborators to reconsider the metaphysical basis for the libertarian message. Drawing from previously unpublished correspondence between Opitz and Ludwig von Mises, this paper explores Opitz’s own efforts to “chasten” his secular libertarian allies. Opitz was a Christian thinker uniquely positioned to critique both mainstream Christian collectivists, whom he faulted for eschewing the moral consequences of Christian faith, and secular libertarians, whom he challenged to embrace the metaphysical foundations essential to libertarian ethics.

Download the full paper here. See more from Volume 4 here.

Vic McCracken (Ph.D. Ethics and Society, Emory University) is Professor of Ethics and Theology at Abilene Christian University.

Christian Ducats and Jewish Scales: Religious Currency in the Merchant of Venice

Now available in CLR Volume 4: “Christian Ducats and Jewish Scales: Religious Currency in The Merchant of Venice“ by Joshua Fullman.

Abstract: A significant amount of contemporary scholarship of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice has read the text strictly in Marxist economic terms. One disadvantage to this approach is that it treats religion as merely a support to Venetian society rather than as its base, presuming a cynical, and consequently tragic, view of the text. This paper reverses that analysis, viewing the conflict between religions as foundational to understanding the play. Interpreting Merchant through the genre of romance, the text becomes less a problem play and more a moral exemplum in how to live rightly. Through the tripartite tests of casket, court, and ring, Shakespeare emphasizes not the inequities and oppressive structure of a market economy but how the freedom inherent in such a system promotes love and redemption at all levels of society.

Download the full paper here. See more from Volume 4 here.

Joshua S. Fullman (Ph.D. English, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale) is the Director of the University Writing Center at California Baptist University.

Book Review: Taxation Is Slavery by Nick Watts

New to Volume 4 of the Christian Libertarian Review: a book review of Taxation is Slavery by Nick Watts. Many thanks to Taylor Drummond for this excellent review.

Summary Intro: In this review, the reviewer examines Taxation Is Slavery by Nicholas Watts both appreciatively and critically. The reviewer finds that Watts offers many insightful comments, chief of which is the connection between slavery and taxation in the Old Testament. However, four lacunae seriously hamper the cogency of the book’s argument: its brevity, lack of interaction with relevant sources, lack of detailed exegetical argumentation, and lack of an acknowledgment of the distinctiveness of Israel’s covenant administration.

Download the full review here.

Taylor Drummond (M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary, Glenside) is Senior Pastor at Grace Community Church in Allentown, PA.

Call For Papers for 2023 Volume of CLR

The Christian Libertarian Review (CLR) is now accepting submissions for its 2023 volume. This open-access academic publication was founded in 2017 by the Libertarian Christian Institute, a nonprofit organization that seeks to equip Christians to promote a free society. CLR aims to foster intellectual dialogue, exploration, and research surrounding the intersection of Christianity and libertarian thought across various disciplines such as philosophy, political theory, theology, economics, and more.

CLR welcomes submissions on topics pertaining to the intersection of Christianity, as outlined in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, and libertarian political economy. All article manuscripts will be blind-reviewed by at least two scholars, and the editorial board consists of distinguished scholars from diverse fields. Besides full-length articles, book reviews are also encouraged.

New for 2023, papers must be submitted via the Scholastica platform, and there is no charge for submission. Papers are accepted on a rolling basis, and accepted papers are released as soon as possible on Scholastica and on the CLR website, and are free to read. CLR will now follow calendar years for volumes, and print editions will be made available for purchase from time to time consisting of at least one volume.

CLR’s General Editor, Norman Horn, welcomes any questions, comments, or submissions, or inquiries about writing book reviews. For detailed submission guidelines, please see the CLR website. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to contribute to an interdisciplinary dialogue that explores the intersection of Christianity and libertarian thought.

The official Call For Papers document may be downloaded here, and we encourage everyone to disseminate it widely.

On behalf of the Editorial Board, we look forward to a wonderful year of scholarship!

Volume 3 is Released

The third volume of The Christian Libertarian Review is now available for download. Abstracts will be posted in forthcoming days. Thank you to all who have contributed.

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