It is what it is.... :)

Finally!

Finally, Dave and I just shoot the breeze. Nothing heavy. Just proud bois and masks and the President and Doug Hayes and thinks like that. Also, Dave tells a really disturbing public urinal story that you won't want to miss.

The poor quality on this one is due to me recording it in Molalla. I risked my life to bring you this episode.

Show Notes:

"Molalla" actually means "Deer Berry's"

Here's the proud boys in their own words: (not going to link to their site...sorry)

"Minimal Government

Here's how they act lol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DyTXpnFpZU (if you're at all into this movement....it might make you upset...fair warning. Come on and talk about it with us! [email protected])

Ichiro Suzuki broke the single season hit record in 2004. Uncle Takashi is not from Taiwan, he's from Japan. I misspoke and have brought shame to my house.

Here's the Peter Attia article I reference during the mask discussion: https://peterattiamd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID19-Patient-Update-4.4.2020.pdf

Stay tuned for a possible upcoming episode where Nancy gives her recipe for the most excellent rye whiskey old fashioned you've ever tasted....I hope it happens, honestly. No guarantee though.

A common theme will emerge when reading pieces critical to the movement. That is, the inability of the secular mind to process the idea of literally applying commands of Jesus to our present day lives. The default resort for most criticisms is to focus on the MANY areas of divisiveness within the movement and amplify those to their end, depending on whatever it is they're taking issue with.

This makes what our pastor at RCC, Devin Smith, had to say on Sunday extremely relevant. Not that it wasn't anyway, but in this discussion for sure! Enjoy. More resources coming with the next episode.

Devin's Sermon from Sunday

Historical Timeline of Religious Movements

Mainstream View of Reconstructionism (Highly Critical)

2019 Chalcedon Article: "Reconstruction is not Dead"

Chalcedon (Rushdoony Org) Definition of the Movement

Explanation of Reconstructionism's influence on U.S. Politics (grain of salt time here people)

"What is Theonomy" by Mark Rushdoony

"The Long Strange History of R.J. Rushdoony and Christian Reconstructionism"

Show Notes: 

I did a lot of background for this show, but after we recorded it. While this is stupid, it's also useful. We talked about some of this in passing, but we will dive in, in future episodes.  Again....emails are great for clarification: [email protected].

***Disclaimer.... The reconstructionist movement is filled with some pretty inflammatory stuff, especially outside of context.  Be careful with this. It has been fodder for a lot of damaging conversations and interactions over the years and there are a lot of hurt feelings and broken hearts still in much need of healing. Give grace, edify, be iron sharpening iron. That's our desire here. <3

The Arda description of the movement: 

RCC - What is Christian Reconstruction - 

Joanna Brook - "Reclaiming America for Christian Reconstruction: The Rhetorical Constitution of a 'People'" - UMass Amherst Scholarly work. Picks apart things from a secular viewpoint and a good amalgamation of the various arguments against the movement.  

Michael J. McVicar: Christian Reconstruction: R.J. Rushdoony and American Religious Conservatism - I have this book if you want to borrow it. Good stuff examining the results of application and misapplication of Biblical views. Pretty objective although not without bias.

Katherine Stewart: A Founder of American Religious Nationalism - Strikingly reductionist attempt to paint Rushdoony as a white master, aching for economic libertarianism. Some interesting facts If you can keep yourself from getting upset at the characterizations. 

Randall Kennedy: Racist Litter - Undoubtedly, when searching for Christian Reconstruction, you will run across threads tying it back to the post civil war Reconstruction Movement between 1863-1877.  

Eric Foner: Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution - There's reconstruction, and then there is Christian Reconstruction. To understand what Rushdoony was pushing, it's important to understand what he was reacting to. This is a leading work on the American Reconstruction period.

We mention "Ron Sider."  - 

Howard Ahmanson: "What Christian Reconstruction Gave Me" - Critical piece by ex-reconstructionist https://howardahmansonjr.com/2018/08/what-christian-reconstruction-gave-me/

Reconstructionists in the news: 

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/the-philosophy-of-orb%C3%A1ns-misguided-christian-friends/

https://www.texasobserver.org/power-worshippers-christian-nationalism-katherine-stewart/

https://religionnews.com/2020/07/31/behind-trumps-push-to-reopen-schools-a-gift-for-bible-based-education/

https://www.salon.com/2017/12/01/exploring-the-radical-roots-of-roy-moores-theocratic-christianity/

https://blog.oup.com/2015/07/five-unexpected-places-influenced-christian-reconstruction-rousas-john-rushdoony/

https://psmag.com/social-justice/give-me-that-old-time-religion

https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/the-nationalist-roots-of-white-evangelical-politics

https://religiondispatches.org/shades-of-christian-reconstructionism-in-trump-education-pick-betsy-devos/

https://blog.acton.org/archives/28410-theonomists-reconstructionists-and-dominionists-oh-my.html

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2005/12/nation-under-god/

Recap episode to highlight some things we wanted to add, some feedback we received, and our upcoming show regarding the 1988 RCC pamphlet, "What is Christian Reconstruction?"

Listen to Jesse tell an embarrasing story, hear feedback we received on our last podcast ep, get further insight into Thomas Brooks resources, and hear about our upcoming BARN BURNER EPISODE....."What is Christian Reconstruction?"

Episode Resource List:

Music: https://www.discogs.com/artist/86616-The-Meters

Thomas Brooks - Puritan Library: http://www.cpr-foundation.org/library/index.php#Thomas%20Brooks

A Brief History of Christian Reconstruction: http://www.thearda.com/timeline/movements/movement_27.asp (I know this is broad brush...keep your pants on)

Do you like to listen to two guys relentlessly chew ice and tell inside jokes about Christianity and it's various sects? That's....kind of weird. Like us!

If you'd like to comment, come on the show, have suggestions, or just feel like yelling at someone on the internet, you can send us an email: [email protected]

Show Notes:

Apologies that this was so rambling, but honestly, get over it. What do you want here...The point of this podcast in particular is to get you TURNED ON.....to Thomas Brooks. If you've read him already, re-visit! It's an encouraging visit into a Puritan's mind, who dealt with many of the same issues we find ourselves dealing with in 2020. Here's a list of all the resources I found while doing this work: