Christian libertarianism is the synthesis ofChristian beliefs withlibertarian political philosophy, with a focus on beliefs aboutfree will,human nature, and God-giveninalienable rights.
As with some other forms of libertarianism, Christian libertarianism holds that what is prohibited by law should be limited to various forms ofassault,theft andfraud.[1] Other actions that are forbidden by Christianity can only be disciplined by the church, or in the case of children and teens, one's parents or guardians.[citation needed] Likewise, beliefs such as "love your neighbor as yourself" are not imposed on others so long as thenon-aggression principle, which Christian libertarians believe to be foundational,[citation needed] has not been violated.[citation needed]
According toAndrew Sandlin, an American theologian and author, Christian libertarianism is the view that mature individuals are permittedmaximum freedom under God's law.[2]
The origins of Christian libertarianism in theUnited States can be traced back to 18th-centuryclassical liberalism and 19th-centuryindividualist anarchism.[citation needed] According toAustrian School economist andanarcho-capitalist andpaleolibertarian theoristMurray Rothbard, of the three libertarian experiments during theEuropean colonization of the Americas in the mid-17th century, all three were begun bynonconformist Protestant groups.[3]
Martin Luther, one of the principal figures of theProtestant Reformation, is referred to as "libertarian" in the introduction toLuther and Calvin on Secular Authority, published by theCambridge University Press. The term used here is something quite different from theruggedly individualist ideology ofAmerican-libertarian type ofright-libertarianism. The book's editor Harro Hopfl states that libertarian as well asegalitarian and communal motifs were part of the texture ofLuther's theology.[4]
English Catholic historian andLiberal statesmanLord Acton posited that political liberty is the essential condition and guardian of religious liberty. TheActon Institute, an American Christianconservative libertarianthink tank, is named after him.[5]
