Dare to Think | Mere Liberty Podcast

Kerry Baldwin
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Dare to Think | Mere Liberty Podcast

To challenge and rethink our paradigms for understanding society, by applying Reformed theology and philosophy to politics, religion, and culture, in order to encourage individual freedom and responsibility within our own spheres of influence. Mere Liberty is about liberty at its most fundamental core. It’s stripping away the rhetoric that we’ve become accustomed to hearing and challenging the paradigms that face us today. Mere Liberty is not about politics per se, rather it’s about the philosophies (and theology) behind the problems presented in politics and culture. Challenging the manner in which we see these problems will push us to think beyond mere political solutions that in effect isolate us from own responsibility, and eschewing responsibility means relinquishing our associated freedoms.

  1. 04/01/2024

    Deciphering the Libertarian Party's Position on Abortion: Key Points Unpacked

    mereliberty.com/042 On this episode of Dare to Think, host Kerry Baldwin delves into the complex history of the Libertarian Party's stance on abortion rights. In her exploration, Kerry highlights key shifts in the party's platform over the decades, shedding light on the diverse perspectives within the Libertarian Party. As she navigates through the party's evolving positions on abortion, Kerry addresses the recent removal of the abortion plank from the platform, which has sparked debates among delegates who hold varying views on abortion. With a focus on the nuances of the party's stance and the implications for both pro choice and pro life libertarians, this episode offers an in-depth analysis of a contentious issue within the Libertarian Party. Join Kerry as she discusses the ongoing philosophical debate and its potential impact on the future of Libertarianism. 00:00 Introduction and history of the abortion plank 06:44 Historical LP stance on abortion shows division. 09:47 Delegate supports removing abortion plank. 11:02 Dallas Accord: Libertarian Party for all libertarians. 14:30 Silence on abortion: Threat to women's rights? 18:43 Authoritarian policies infringe on reproductive rights. 23:02 Libertarian platform silent on abortion for consistency. 24:58 Podcast promoting critical thinking and membership benefits.

    26 min

  2. 03/04/2024

    Nancy Pearcey Explains The Toxic War on Masculinity

    | SUMMARY - Nancy Pearcey Explains The Toxic War on Masculinity |  TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  In this episode of Dare to Think, Kerry Baldwin interviews Professor Nancy Pearcey about her book, The Toxic War on Masculinity. This book is not intended to take sides in cultural-religious debate between Complementarianism and Egalitarianism. Instead, Pearcey examines a socio-historical perspective of the phenomenon known as "toxic masculinity" and whether Christianity or secularism is responsible for it. Pearcey finds a number of surprising examples throughout history, and also today from prominent sociological and psychological marriage researchers. Pearcey's book is more of an academic apologetic written for educated layman, instead of a popular piece.  Join me, Kerry Baldwin, with Nancy Pearcey, as we Dare to Think about the Toxic War on Masculinity Read my review of Pearcey's book at https://mereliberty.com/041    | MAIN POINTS OF DISCUSSION | 00:00 Introduction 01:20 What is the main problem the book is trying to solve? 04:47 What has been the cause for controversy surrounding the book? 09:01 The "Good" man versus "Real" man scripts 12:13 The "Andrew Tate" phenomenon of masculinity & classical Christian schools 14:09 How Christian men are absorbing the secular ("real man") script 15:02 Research for Christian men splits into two different groups: devout versus nominal 17:22 Brad Wilcox on Christian marriages 19:57 Nominal Christian men marriage and divorce stats 21:47 Percentage of nominal to devout Christian men is 50/50 23:24 Fatherless boyhood: a problem of no-fault divorce or Industrialization? 25:23 How did we lose involved fathers? 27:50 Is there a way to flex the workplace so fathers are no longer absent from the family? 29:02 The impact of fatherlessness hits boys harder than girls 30:24 The impact of father substitutes 31:44 How the 1950s model of the household cant possibly be the Biblical ideal 33:28 Closing   | RESOURCE LINKS | Follow Nancy Pearcey on Social Media https://twitter.com/NancyRPearcey https://www.facebook.com/NancyRPearceyAuthor Visit Nancy Pearcey's Website and purchase her book! (Preferred by author) https://www.nancypearcey.com/  Or on Amazon (Affiliate Support for Dare to Think Podcast) https://amzn.to/3wzDPcX  | SUPPORT DARE TO THINK | https://mereliberty.com/membership https://mereliberty.com/membership/courses  LibertySeminar.com

    36 min

  3. 02/03/2024

    Nurturing Thoughtful Minds: The Socratic Method and the Liberty Seminar for Critical Thinking

    mereliberty.com/040 TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary Welcome to Dare to Think, where we challenge & and rethinking prevailing paradigms. In today's episode, we delve into the relaunch of the Liberty Seminar, a course designed by Kerry Baldwin to cultivate the invaluable skill of thinking well using the Socratic method. Our guests, Mike Leavitt, Jacob, and Kerry Baldwin, engage in thought-provoking discussions on the significance of critically thinking and challenging existing beliefs. We'll explore how the Socratic method can be applied in diverse areas of life, from theology and education to personal growth and professional development. Join us as we learn about the power of asking the right questions and embracing the freedom of thinking well. Main Points of Discussion 00:00 Introduction 01:06 What is the Liberty Seminar and what is it trying to accomplish? 05:05 What is the Socratic Method? 06:02 Is the Socratic method just about asking questions? 08:14 What is critical thinking and why is it on the decline in society today? 10:56 If tests don't demonstrate learning, then how do we know we're learning? 11:59 Why AI is not taking over reasoning 12:46 What do you get from the course, the Liberty Seminar 16:12 Real life applications: non-academic trade skills building 17:42 Real life applications: improve parenting skills and communication with your teen and adult children 19:05 Real life applications: professional soft skills development 19:26 Real life applications: study of doctrine and theology 21:43 How critical thinking is an effective response to manipulation 24:16 Why is courage implied when choosing to learn to think well 27:29 Objection: Christians who believe philosophy or reasoning is a distraction or will lead you away from the truth 32:56 How has Socratic Practice helped Kerry in her own life? 35:48 How does the Liberty Seminar helpful for intuitive thinkers or those who naturally pursue their passions and interests? Resource Links To get more information visit libertyseminar.com or https://mereliberty.com/membership/courses/ Original interviews:  How Socratic Thinking Can Aid Christians in Faith and Politics, w/ Kerry Baldwin https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/how-socratic-thinking-can-aid-christians-in-faith-and-politics-w-kerry-baldwin/ Thinking Well and The Liberty Seminar with Kerry Baldwin https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-197-thinking-well-and-the-liberty-seminar/id1506671648?i=1000643384563

    40 min

  4. 11/10/2023

    DTTNM - Ep 39 What's Going on in New Mexico?

    TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  New Mexico is facing challenges in terms of violent crime, property crime, education, healthcare access, and economic stability. Despite being a "blue state," historically, Democrats in New Mexico have been pro-Second Amendment and have had few gun control laws. The majority of the population in New Mexico is Hispanic, with Nuevomexicanos being the result of intermarriage between Spanish or Mexican individuals and Native Americans. New Mexico has a complex history, including violent religious conquest and the intermarriage of Spanish and Native Americans. The majority of New Mexicans fall in the middle of the political spectrum and are ready for real change, as they are tired of the two-party duopoly.

    12 min
  5. A First Person Perspective of the First Battle of Loc Ninh, Vietnam

    04/04/2023

    A First Person Perspective of the First Battle of Loc Ninh, Vietnam

    Summary - A First Person Perspective of the First Battle of Loc Ninh, Vietnam TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  mereliberty.com/038 My father died a two weeks ago today, March 21st. It was expected, as he suffered for many years from COPD. In 2011, he composed a brief memoir. This was meant as catharsis for therapy we was receiving for PTSD he had suffered from his service in Vietnam. Prior to this, and for my whole life to this point, all we knew about my dad was that he had “shell shock” from time Vietnam - and so we didn’t talk about it. In his memory, I’ve put that memoir to narration. Initially, this has been planned only for my family. But as I dug into his story a bit, I realized, that my father was part of a major battle that has historical significance. And so, with permission from my mother, I’m publishing it here for my listeners. I’ve snagged a description from Wikipedia about the battle and it’s context. It reads: “The First Battle of Loc Ninh was a battle during the Vietnam War that occurred between 29 October and 7 November 1967, fought by the Viet Cong, Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), Civilian Irregular Defense Group (a military program developed by the CIA of South Vietnamese to counter Viet Cong), and the United States Army. The battle was part of the Operation Shenandoah II campaign. This battle represented the first time that North Vietnamese Communists (headquartered in South Vietnam) had coordinated attacks from different divisions, and was intended as "rehearsal" to experiment with urban-fighting techniques to be used for the Tet Offensive. Their operational goals were in part, to draw US and ARVN forces away from the cities in an upsurge of activity, in preparation for the Tet Offensive the next year. The Tet Offensive was a major escalation and one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War. It was launched on January 30, 1968 by forces of the Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese against the forces of the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), the United States Armed Forces and their allies. It was a campaign of surprise attacks against military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. The name is the truncated version of the Lunar New Year festival name in Vietnamese, Tết Nguyên Đán, (tet win dawn) with the offense chosen during a holiday period as most ARVN personnel were on leave. The purpose of the wide-scale offensive by the Hanoi Politburo was to trigger political instability, in a belief that mass armed assault on urban centers would trigger defections and rebellions." The First Battle of Loc Ninh, instigated by the North Vietnamese against South Vietnamese and the US, resulted in what was considered an American and South Vietnamese victory. This is my father’s recollection of that story. Main Points of Discussion 00:00 Introduction 04:06 Part 1: David Baldwin enlists in the US Army 11:34 Part 2: David Baldwin deploys to Vietnam 16:58 Part 3: The battle and related skirmishes 29:53 Part 4: David Baldwin reassigned to An Loc 34:30 Part 5: David Baldwin returns rotates home 37:54 Part 6: Discharge and the beginning of a new life 43:06 Part 7: Postscript by Kerry Baldwin David B. Baldwin received the Bronze Star with Valor on February 27, 1968 Resources Mentioned https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Loc_Ninh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tet_Offensive

    46 min

  6. 03/06/2023

    Exploring Foster Adoption with Doc Dixon

    TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary – Exploring Foster Adoption with Dox Dixon There are many avenues of adoption and are mostly associated with adopting unwanted unborn babies. But what about foster adoption of already born children? What is the process of foster adoption like, what considerations should prospective adoptive parents consider? And what are some myths about it? Join me, Kerry Baldwin with Doc Dixon, as we Dare to Think about what it will take for women to choose life.   Featured Guest Bio | Doc Dixon Doc Dixon. I’m a magician, comedian & speaker. From corporate events, trade shows, to resorts in Cancun & private events — even 2 shows at The White House,  appearing on The Late Late Show with James Corden and FOOLING magic legends Penn & Teller on Penn & Teller:Fool Us — I bring a special mix of amazement and hilarity that makes events successful. I’m humbled to say, that’s not just my opinion, but the opinion of my clients for the past 30 years from here in my home near Atlanta, Georgia to across the country.   Main Points of Discussion 00:00 Introduction 01:24 About Doc Dixon and how he became a Reformed libertarian 07:09 The experience and process of being an adoptive family 16:58 The struggles of foster adoption 24:42 Why adoptive parents shouldn’t be viewed as heroes 32:55 Closing thoughts   Resources Mentioned https://docdixon.com/ Doc Dixon on Mike Huckabee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv_uhEI1V8I  Doc Dixon on Penn and Teller: Fool Us https://youtu.be/YaDnY5q_mxg Mere Liberty Monthly Membership https://mereliberty.com/membership/monthly/ Kerry Baldwin’s work on abortion https://mereliberty.com/abortion

    35 min

  7. 02/07/2023

    Inspiring Women to Choose Life with Emily Berning

    mereliberty.com/036 TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary - What Will it Take For Women to Choose Life with Emily Berning https://letthemlive.org/  What would it look like for us to take seriously the reasons women give for getting abortions? Some of the loudest prolifers believe that considering reasons why women get abortions will somehow give credence to the pro-choice cause, and thus the legality of abortion. Some of the loudest prochoicers believe women aren’t exercising their agency if they aren’t choosing abortion. There are numerous unintended consequences for this, not the least of which is the overwhelming sense that the abortion debate is entirely intractable. But what if we decided to listen? What if women seeking abortion were behaving rationally? What if they don’t see abortion as an exercise of free choice, but of no other choice? What if political pundits and fringe extremists do not speak for women with unplanned pregnancies? What if by listening we Let Them Live? Join me, Kerry Baldwin with Emily Berning, as we Dare to Think about what it will take for women to choose life. https://mereliberty.com/about/kerry-baldwin/ https://mereliberty.com/podcasts/   Main Points of Discussion 00:00 Introduction 01:25 About Emily Berning 07:07 How does the mission of Let Them Live help women to choose life? 09:07 What is the cost of motherhood? 11:17 Do women want to choose abortion? How the economy is negatively impacting the decision to choose life 13:34 How does the overturn of Roe v Wade impact how we help women with unplanned pregnancies? https://mereliberty.com/philosophy/life-vs-personhood/  17:15 How does politics get in the way of helping women? 20:43 The negative stigma associate with single motherhood 21:54 Pushback from Christian apologists who believe financial help is tantamount to bribery 24:22 Why is Let Them Live something both sides can support? 26:52 How is Let Them Live different from other pro-life organizations? 30:08 What is the process Let Them Live actually uses to support women in need? 33:33 Responding to requests for help on social media 34:55 What are the monthly financial goal and how do donors keep track of use of donations 38:37 Closing remarks Resources Mentioned Let Them Live https://letthemlive.org/  Mere Liberty Monthly Membership https://mereliberty.com/membership/monthly/  Kerry Baldwin's work on abortion https://mereliberty.com/abortion

    42 min

  8. 01/02/2023

    Decriminalizing Sex: Where Prostitution Meets Purity Culture

    Hyperlinked show notes found at mereliberty.com/035 TIP JAR: https://donate.stripe.com/aEUdUE5YodhZgkUeUV  Summary - Decriminalizing Sex: Where Prostitution Meets Purity Culture An odd twist in my research on a libertarian theory of reproductive rights (and abortion), I've had to dive into how the criminal justice system treats the crime of rape. In doing so, I've been led to what might appear to be very strange. The parallels between the culture surrounding illicit sex work and evangelical purity culture. I cannot say where any causal relations lay between the two, only that they appear to be, strikingly, correlated. And correlated in such a way that Christians in particular must pay attention and take heed. In this episode, I seek to break down the legal concerns regarding sex work and prostitution, and the connections to human trafficking. The connection to human trafficking is difficult given the prevalence and nature of trauma. I wrote a review of Dr. Gabor Mate's work on trauma in a documentary called, The Wisdom of Trauma. One aspect he addresses are the reasons why women will prostitute themselves and it seems to stem exclusively from trauma. But, when it comes to dealing with traumatized people, there is a principled disagreement about how to deal with sex workers with trauma: use the legal violence of the state to rescue women, penalize women, or only in response to violence done against them. But there might be another way to deal with trauma, trafficking, and voluntarily choosing to prostitute oneself. And that lays in education concerning sex and intimate relationships. I've found a strong correlation between the views of men and women by "Johns" and "primps" and the view of men and women in evangelical purity culture. Have evangelicals unwittingly set the stage for sex trafficking and prostitution? I think there's good reason to believe that American evangelicalism contributed to the problems some evangelicals are trying to now fix, regarding sexual violence. The popular view by Christian anti-human  trafficking organizations is to embrace the Nordic model - make the men behave! Use the threat of legal violence to make bad men behave better. But does this work? I also explain why the nature of economics will not allow for legal violence to "deter" bad behavior. And why this necessitates decriminalizing sex work if we're going to improve societal and legal views concerning women and sex. DISCLAIMER: While this episode is aimed at supporting decriminalizing sex work, it is not an endorsement of sex work as morally legitimate. I hold and maintain a Christian sexual ethic (sex is designed by God only for heterosexual marriage relationships), though I believe evangelical "purity culture" is an unbiblical, anti-Christian view.  Main Points of Discussion 00:00    Introduction Ep. 292: Decriminalizing Prostitution: Can Christians Support it? 01:45    Definitions: 'sex work', 'prohibition', 'prostitution', trafficking' 04:04    Why is it important to understand these distinctions 05:46    Difference between 'decriminalization' and 'legalization' 07:58    Explanation of legalization; Nevada vs Rhode Island 09:08    The feminist argument against decriminalization (Nordic model) 09:55    Clip from Julie Bindell's opening statement at the Soho Forum 13:43    "The bleakest view of masculinity" 14:50    Do we know how many sex workers are trafficking vs voluntarily participating? 16:24    Clip from "Sold in America" - a "John's" view of women in purchasing sex 17:41    Evangelical Purity Culture Detour 18:09    Does 'rape culture' exist?  19:28   Nancy Pearcy: how "nominal" evangelical men skew divorce and domestic violence data in the church 23:01    What does evangelical purity culture have to do with decriminalizing prostitution? 27:08    What the so-called "experts" told evangelical women about how to have a good Christian marriage 27:33    Quotes cited by Shelia Wray Gregorie's, The Great Sex Rescue 31:55    Ontological distinctions between men and women don't require a predator/prey relationship 33:39    Connecting the stigma of sex in purity culture to the stigma found in legal prohibition of prostitution 34:21    Legal denial of basic human rights - No Humans Involved 36:22    The unjust handling of sexual violence by our criminal justice system 40% of police officers perpetrate domestic violence in their own homes. 37:41    Are victims of rape stigmatized because of prostitution, or is prostitution stigmatized because of certain views about women, already discussed? (Connection to spiritual manipulation of religious values) 41:57    The perpetual victim status of women - propagated by feminists and patriarchalists 43:17    How do we change society to value women and children, abhor the evils done against them, and still maintain a system of justice? 43:59    Misunderstanding economic demand is resulting with failure and unintended consequences 46:39    In countries that have the Nordic model, no decrease in demand but an increase in antisocial behavior 50:18    Compare to New Zealand - decriminalized sex work in 2007 51:05    Why Christians should care about decriminalizing sex work - even while we don't endorse it. 52:12    Let our yes mean yes, and our no mean no - justice requires it. 52:58    Concluding thoughts - what decriminalizing prostitution means for Christian teaching about a biblical sexual ethic. Additional Resource Links Mere Liberty Monthly Memberships The laws that sex workers really want | Juno Mac Deacon pleads guilty to child porn charges

    55 min
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To challenge and rethink our paradigms for understanding society, by applying Reformed theology and philosophy to politics, religion, and culture, in order to encourage individual freedom and responsibility within our own spheres of influence. Mere Liberty is about liberty at its most fundamental core. It’s stripping away the rhetoric that we’ve become accustomed to hearing and challenging the paradigms that face us today. Mere Liberty is not about politics per se, rather it’s about the philosophies (and theology) behind the problems presented in politics and culture. Challenging the manner in which we see these problems will push us to think beyond mere political solutions that in effect isolate us from own responsibility, and eschewing responsibility means relinquishing our associated freedoms.

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