24 - A Conservative Credo

Summary:

In this episode of the Fire for Effect podcast, hosts James McBride and Marcus Moyer discuss entering the new year, reflecting on the importance of defining, articulating, and defending core beliefs. They explore the foundations of conservative values, and the necessity of pursuing Truth. The conversation delves into the role of family and community, the importance of shared reality, the influence of religion, and the balance of rights and responsibilities in a functioning society. They explore the erosion of community, and discuss the principle of ‘subsidiarity,’ emphasizing that solutions to human problems should be found at the local level. They discuss the role of the Church's responsibility to care for the community. They highlight love as the highest motivation for human action and the interrelation of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty as guiding principles. The conversation concludes with a call to pursue knowable truth and to articulate these principles in a gracious manner.

Chapters:

02:59 Celebrating the New Year and the 250th Anniversary of America

05:38 St. Augustine quote

08:40 Conservative Credo: Foundations of Belief

16:23 The 1st principle: Conservatism seeks the Truth that has emerged over time

18:44 Margaret Thatcher quote

21:43 Harvard University’s official motto and logo from 1692

22:11 Benjamin Franklin quote

23:05 G.K. Chesterton quote (“Chesterton’s fence”)

24:40 Graphical depictions of global human prosperity over time

27:05 John 18:36-37

28:26 America the Beautiful quote

32:09 The 2nd principle: God is our Creator; The 3rd principle: Man is fallible by nature

38:58 Romans 3:23 and Romans 3:12

43:28 The 4th principle: The conservative protects freedom and dignity of each person; The 5th principle: Each man and woman is equal in dignity

47:07 Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas quote

48:53 The 6th principle: The family is the essential building block of civilization

01:00:41 The 7th principle: The conservative values ‘subsidiarity’

01:06:33 James Madison quote from Federalist No. 51

01:08:15 The 8th principle: Culture is more important than politics

01:13:22 Mary Wollstonecraft quote

01:17:07 The 9th principle: Conservatives prioritize caring for neighbor

01:25:01 The 10th principle: The True, the Good and the Beautiful are interrelated and transcendental goals to pursue

01:31:57 The 11th principle: Truth is knowable, and is our duty to seek it; and the virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance should be pursued

01:33:10 Philippians 4:8

01:34:21 The 12th principle: Love is the highest motivation of the human person

01:38:55 Steven Pressfield’s book: Gates of Fire

01:40:45 1 John 4:18

01:41:10 John 15:13

01:44:41 Romans 2:4

01:45:07 Hebrews 4:12

References in this episode:

- Elliot, Barbara J. Conservative Credo, The Imaginative Conservative, April 25th, 2013. https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2013/04/conservative-credo-barbara-elliott.html

- 1776 Commission: https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/1776-commission-takes-historic-scholarly-step-restore-understanding-greatness-american-founding/

- Conservative Central Office. The Right Approach: A Statement of Conservative Aims. London: Conservative Party, October 4, 1976. British Political Documents Collection. Margaret Thatcher Foundation. https://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/109439

- Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Men, in a Letter to the Right Honourable Edmund Burke. 1790, p. 135. Wikisource

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Credits:

- All music written and performed by John Jones of JohnJonesMusicMaker.com