Who I Am
In Relation to God
I am a thinker. Thinkers are people who naturally connect with God through the use of their intellect. I want to clearly understand my faith, and I appreciate having logical explanations for what I am asked to believe. I will read and study, alone or with others, in order to better grasp the truth of my faith. I believe that God wants me to discover the order that may seem hidden in the more abstract aspects of religious faith. I seek to relate to God through thinking, study, and discussion. I tend to be more formal in my prayer. If I were to meet God face to face, I would want to discuss with God how I have come to understand my faith.
In Relation to Myself and Others
I come to grips more frequently and thoroughly with myself and my environment than do most people. I detest superficiality; I would rather be alone than have to suffer through small talk. But my relationships with my friends are highly intensive, which gives me the inner tranquility and harmony that I need in order to feel good. I do not mind being alone for extended periods of time; and I rarely become bored.
In Relation to My Country
I consider myself a libertarian.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of libertarians: rights theorists and consequentialists. Rights theorists (some of whom may be deontologists) assert that all persons are the absolute owners of their lives, and should be free to do whatever they wish with their persons or property, provided they do not infringe on the rights of other–i.e., they allow others the same liberty. They maintain that the initiation of force by any person or government, against another person or their property—with force meaning the use of physical force, the threat of it, or the commission of fraud against someone—who has not initiated physical force, threat, or fraud, is a violation of that principle. They do not oppose force used in response or resistance to initiatory aggressions such as violence, threat of violence, fraud or trespassing.
Consequentialist libertarians do not have a moral prohibition against “initiation of force,” but believe that a society that allows individuals to enjoy a large scope of political and economic liberty is the most conducive environment for individuals, or society as a whole, to achieve maximum well-being and prosperity. Many of them (including myself) maintain that a limited government is necessary for the maximization of liberty. This type of libertarianism is associated with Milton Friedman, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, and James M. Buchanan. Some of these writers who have been called libertarians have also been referred to as classical liberals, by others or themselves. Also, some use the phrase “the freedom philosophy” to refer to libertarianism, classical liberalism, or both. Libertarians may differ over particular issues, such as abortion (pro-shutthefuckupandputacondomon), and some support the U.S. led coalition’s invasion of Iraq while some oppose it (mixed reviews there, ask me if you really want to hear it). There is a distinction between a libertarian and a member of a Libertarian Party, the latter of which would be called a Libertarian with a capital “L”, as not all libertarians agree with any particular libertarian organization’s platform.