The Bad Roman
Are you a Christian who feels politically homeless? Like all the politicians are on the same side and you’re left to choose between two bad options called ”the right” or ”the left”? As Christians, we are supposed to follow Christ—not a political party. On this show, we explore what it means to put down a flag (be it a nation or party) and to live life choosing to pick up the Cross. In conversation with theologians, Christians, and non-Christians, host Craig Harguess, self-proclaimed former neoconservative Southern Baptist Republican from West Texas turned pacifist and Christian Voluntaryist explores the entanglement of Christians with the State (political power). New episodes are released bi-weekly. Subscribe to our newsletter and learn more at thebadroman.com.
Episodes
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Yemen: The War with No End with Scott Horton
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Thursday Mar 10, 2022
Scott Horton provides the truth about current events with historical context. He has a way of weaving together seemingly unconnected events to paint a big picture most people cannot see for themselves. He is the director of The Libertarian Institute, editor of antiwar.com, and runs a popular podcast called The Scott Horton Show.
Scott returns to The Bad Roman once again, in the midst of a media frenzy around Putin’s war with Ukraine, to remind us (and educate us) on the ongoing war, and general disruption, the United State of America has been wagging in Yemen and the Middle East.
What we’re doing in Yemen is illegal. We are providing every kind of support (besides troops) to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Al Qaeda as they bomb and blockade the Houthi people in the north. Children are starving. And what do we even gain from this? A bit of money for a corporation? A feeling of world domination? There is a long, complicated history of us meddling in the Middle East that led us to this point. Scott Horton sorts it out for us.
To learn more about Scott Horton and his work, you can follow Scott on Twitter. buy or listen to his books about the war in the Middle East. If you are interested in learning more about the situation and Yemen and the middle east check out episode 23, our first interview with Scott.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-52
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Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Jesus the Anarchist with Alexandre Christoyannopoulos and Nicholas Harrelson
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
In this episode, Alexandre Christoyannopoulos, author of Christian Anarchism, Tolstoy's Political Thought, and Essays in Anarchism and Religion, joins your host Craig Harguess alongside our beloved Bad Roman contributor, Nicholas Harrelson, from across the pond. He literally wrote the book on Christian anarchism. Alex is French and Greek, he is from Belgium and has lived in the UK since 1997. He holds a BA in economics, a MA in international relations and European studies, and a Ph.D. in politics and religion. He has studied all the major thinkers in anarchism and written several academic publications, which you can (and should) explore on his website.
In addition to being an expert scholar on Christian Anarchy, Alex is a teacher, lecturer, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. On the show, he shares what he has learned, about Jesus and Anarchy and how we can better examine our own philosophy on the topic.
The episode is a wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from pacifism and turning the other cheek to Romans 13 and the many strains of anarchism – how we can all work together? Was Jesus really an anarchist?
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-51
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Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Jesus On Earth with David Gornoski
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
In this episode, David shares his strategy for changing the direction of the world. If we want to see political change, we must change the hearts of the citizens. In order to do this, we must imitate Jesus. On his radio show, A Neighbor’s Choice, and also on his online exclusive podcast and film series, THINGS HIDDEN, David has interviewed personalities like Ron Paul, Jordan Peterson, and Slavoj Žižek.
David’s shows look at current events through the lens of anthropology and imitate what Christ did while He was on Earth.
If we want to see political change, we must change the hearts of the citizens. To do this, we must imitate Jesus. We can lead them away from the state and to Christ by healing, developing new technology, and sharing victims’ stories.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-50
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Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Why do people do bad things? with Abby Cleckner
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
In this episode, we are joined by long-time Bad Roman contributor, Abby Cleckner, to discuss her article from July 2020, Never Follow Orders. We are all capable of horrible things. With this knowledge in mind, It is important that each of us take responsibility for our actions, consider carefully why we are doing what we do, and don’t blame those in authority over us for our actions.
Studies have proven that the majority of people will do anything, even harm another person, if someone in authority demands or instructs them to. Understanding that we are all susceptible to committing atrocities if we find ourselves in positions of power or under the command of those with power, enables us to be honest about the consequences of allowing individuals and organizations to acquire too much of it. When we deny that we are capable of doing horrible things, we erroneously begin to respect the authority of another person more than that of God’s or our own values.
Abby Cleckner has contributed several articles to our blog and is now co-host for The Bad Roman Podcast! This episode was recorded before she accepted that position. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-49
Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog
Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links
Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257771975934770 (Bad Romans Only!!)
About our sponsor: Blockchain Trading Co. aims to be the leading DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) in DeFi (Decentralized Finance) by fostering a community for purveyors of fine digital assets. Whether you are new to crypto and DeFi or you've already begun your journey around the block...chain, Blockchain Trading Co. provides you with a community of people passionate about digital assets.
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Meeting People Where They Are with Justin Cornett of For All Tennessee
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
In this episode, we take the podcast in a bit of a different direction. We are anarchists, but we've brought in someone who works within the state to improve citizens’ lives through the legislature. Justin Cornett started For All Tennessee so he can act as a go-between from citizens to their representatives.
For All TN listens to citizens’ needs and works to get them taken care of them by passing bills. This organization is different because its members vote on which issues to pursue, and the company is not controlled by money. For more information, visit For All Tennessee or email info@foralltn.org.
At The Bad Roman Project, we wish the state didn't exist. But the fact is, it does. I (Craig) have been learning that people won’t immediately jump to anarchy from their brainwashed state. We have to meet them where they're at. We have to find ways to make them see that they don't want to be controlled by an authority, especially one who only cares about them as long as they're contributing financially to the government.
Part of the work Justin is doing is spreading knowledge to average citizens about the unfair and unconstitutional laws they are abiding by. He opens their eyes to what the government is doing and encourages them to join him in pushing their local representatives in a different direction. This is a step towards freedom, a step towards taking control of what's ruling their lives and realizing how harmful the government is to their community.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-48
Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog
Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links
Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257771975934770 (Bad Romans Only!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
About our sponsor: Blockchain Trading Co. aims to be the leading DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) in DeFi (Decentralized Finance) by fostering a community for purveyors of fine digital assets. Whether you are new to crypto and DeFi or you've already begun your journey around the block...chain, Blockchain Trading Co. provides you with a community of people passionate about digital assets.
Thursday Dec 30, 2021
Home School or Public School? 2021 Year End Round Table
Thursday Dec 30, 2021
Thursday Dec 30, 2021
For this year’s year-end roundtable (YERT), we have six guests and friends of the podcast, each with a different view on education to have a discussion on homeschooling in 2021.
Our guests are Abbey Cleckner, Kerry Baldwin, Jordan, Nathan Moon, and Chris and Karin Polk, most of who grew up attending public schools. A few of the pannel are, or have been, teachers both within and outside of the public school system. A couple of them currently offer training or courses to adults about how to think for themselves, skills they feel they see as lacking in current public curriculums.
In this episode, we ask questions like, are schools are a training ground for compliant citizens who will pull whatever lever they are told without question? Does the system set teachers and students up to struggle?
Most of the panel currently homeschool their children and view it as the only real way to protect their family values and provide an education tailored to their specific childs’ interests.
They also discuss how formal education influences people’s understandings and perspectives on how the world works, in terms of politics and social structures in society. If our public school system was created to make a compliant labor force, with no desire to question the system or learn on their own, then we must encourage our children to pursue their personal interests, to learn how to think and enable them to with the tools to do it themselves.
Control of our children’s education starts at home. Homeschooling might seem like an impossible dream but, especially in the last couple of years, families of every background have found a way, and there are endless resources for innumerable methods to teach the next generation.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-47
Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog
Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links
Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257771975934770 (Bad Romans Only!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
About our sponsor: Blockchain Trading Co. aims to be the leading DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) in DeFi (Decentralized Finance) by fostering a community for purveyors of fine digital assets. Whether you are new to crypto and DeFi or you've already begun your journey around the block...chain, Blockchain Trading Co. provides you with a community of people passionate about digital assets.
Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/a3Mvb8nukR
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Who is Your God? with Ian Minelly
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Former Green Beret Ian Minelly joins us in this episode to talk about Christians and the military. Ian joined the army after college because he didn’t have a better direction for his life. After many years, he became a Christian and chose not to reenlist. Ian now serves as a pastor at a Southern Baptist Church, has written several books about different issues, and encourages young Southern Baptist church kids not to join the military.
As Christians, we are called to love, not kill. Ian has seen firsthand how the work our military does is not accomplishing any good; it is harming innocent people -- both the foreign nationals and the US soldiers. He is a Southern Baptist pastor now and works to change people’s perspective on the state and how it relates to Jesus and the church.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-46
Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog
Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links
Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257771975934770 (Bad Romans Only!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
About our sponsor: Blockchain Trading Co. aims to be the leading DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) in DeFi (Decentralized Finance) by fostering a community for purveyors of fine digital assets. Whether you are new to crypto and DeFi or you've already begun your journey around the block...chain, Blockchain Trading Co. provides you with a community of people passionate about digital assets.
Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/a3Mvb8nukR
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Radically Following Jesus with Shane Claiborne
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
Thursday Dec 02, 2021
In this episode, Shane Claiborne joins us to talk about living like Jesus, abortion, gun violence, Christian nationalism, and whether we should get involved in politics as a way to help others live in freedom.
We know the teachings of Jesus, but what does it look like to actually follow them? How can we care for other humans as God instructed, and how can we do that when we live amidst a corrupt and often unjust government? As Shane points out, “If anybody should be suspicious of state power, it should be Christians who worship an executed and risen savior.” Our Lord was killed by the government. We should not trust in our rulers, but in Him, but, as Shane would argue, we can use their system to help people by getting bad policies changed.
Who is Shane Claiborne? He is a radical advocate for living as if Jesus really meant what He said. He heads up an intentional, simple-living Christian community called Red Letter Christians, and is the co-founder of The Simple Way, an intentional neighborhood-based Christian community in North Philadelphia. Shane has been to jail multiple times while advocating for the poor and against war. You can connect with him on his personal website, Twitter, email, and Instagram.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-45
Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog
Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links
Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257771975934770 (Bad Romans Only!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com
About our sponsor: Blockchain Trading Co. aims to be the leading DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) in DeFi (Decentralized Finance) by fostering a community for purveyors of fine digital assets. Whether you are new to crypto and DeFi or you've already begun your journey around the block...chain, Blockchain Trading Co. provides you with a community of people passionate about digital assets.
Join the Discord Server: https://discord.gg/a3Mvb8nukR
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Love without Politics with Bruxy Cavey
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Bruxy Cavey is a Canadian pastor working with The Meeting House, a church with roots in the Anabaptist movement. He has written a book about having a relationship with Jesus called The End of Religion. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and bruxy.com.
Satan has always been after Christians and works to seduce them with power, he convinces people they can make their country more Christian through politics. He pushes us to seek religion rather than relationships. Bruxy is here today to teach about a different way to change the world-- the way the Anabaptists follow; the way of love and non-violence; the way of Jesus. Anabaptists believe politics has nothing to do with Jesus. We should ignore what the government is doing and focus on our Kingdom mission, which is to love people and introduce them to Love Himself. You can find more about the anabaptists’ background and beliefs here: Radical Reformation Teaching.
Full Show notes: www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/44-love-without-politics-with-bruxy-cavey
Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog
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Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257771975934770 (Bad Romans Only!!)
Thursday Nov 04, 2021
Christianity, Anarchism & The Lord of The Rings with Caleb Kesterson
Thursday Nov 04, 2021
Thursday Nov 04, 2021
In this episode, Craig speaks with Caleb Kesterson about his journey to Christian-Anarchy, what the Anabaptist can teach us about Christianity, and his articles, Tolkien and the Night Watchmen State and Tolkein and Power.
Caleb is passionate about peace and was raised in Assemblies of God tradition before finding alignment with the anti-war and Jesus-centric approach of the Anabaptist. He now runs a home church, in an effort to foster discipleship and bring the teachings of Christ into the larger society.
Craig and Caleb finish their conversation by exploring Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and what Tolkien has to teach us through the novels about a voluntary society. We all know the books are better than the movies, and thankfully Caleb is here to give us that insight for a Christian-anarchist perspective.
You can connect with Caleb on Twitter @CalebMK5 and find his articles on the Bad Roman Blog.
For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/43-christianity-anarchism-amp-lord-of-the-rings-with-caleb-kesterson
Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog
Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links
Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257771975934770 (Bad Romans Only!!)
No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com