Author: Cody Cook
137 page
Publication date: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Libertarian Christian Institute
Almost two hundred years before the liberal tradition of religious freedom, toleration, and consent was birthed in the west, a group of radical Christians in northern Europe had already rediscovered these ideas in the New Testament. They were called the Anabaptists.
Western Protestant and Catholicism eventually caught on to these ideas, but Anabaptists have largely been ignored in the intellectual history of these ideas which informed the liberal tradition, libertarianism, and philosophical anarchism. The Anarchist Anabaptist seeks to restore Anabaptism to its rightful place in this history. In doing so, it is hoped that those of a classical liberal bent will gain a deeper appreciation for what Christian theology contributes to our ideas of freedom and consent, and that those who find themselves drawn to Anabaptism will find the classical liberal tradition to provide answers to some of the questions which early Anabaptists posed.
Apparent tensions between Anabaptism and libertarianism, such as pacifism versus the Non Aggression Principle and the community of goods versus free market capitalism, are also discussed and resolved in a way that demonstrates how Christianity complements libertarian ideals.
Finally, other short essays are included which contribute to the themes explored in the main essay. Some are original to this work, and others have been published in Reason, FEE, Plough, and the Libertarian Christian Institute’s blog.
Those who are not necessarily specialists or scholars but who are interested in the intersection of faith and freedom should find this to be a helpful contribution for thinking more Christianly about our libertarian philosophy.
While some acknowledgement has been made of Anabaptism’s preceding the liberal tradition, this notion has not been given serious exploration—nor have there been significant attempts to bring together Anabaptism and libertarianism.
Cook has a BA in biblical & theological studies and an MA in biblical studies, both from God’s Bible School & College in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the process of receiving those degrees, he has maintained a deep interest in church historical studies and in particular the Anabaptist movement, its history, and its theology. He contributes regularly to the Libertarian Christian Institute from an Anabaptist perspective and has been published by libertarian organizations like Reason, FEE, the Mises Institute, and in Christian/Anabaptist publications such as Plough.
Cody is available for interviews to discuss The Anarchist Anabaptist. Please click on the form below to book an interview: