Are the Courts an Enemy to Justice?

Descartes and Rationalism

Modern rationalism begins with René Descartes, whose famous claim “I think, therefore I am” made human self-consciousness the starting point of reality. Instead of God creating and defining all things, man’s thinking became the judge of what is real. God was reduced to an object that must be validated by human reason, laying the groundwork for the modern idea that God can be “created” or dismissed by man. This logic was developed further by Kant and Hegel, leading to the belief that the rational is the real. The result is a worldview in which man, not God, stands at the center, severed from the authority of the past, divine revelation, and moral consequence. Existentialism followed naturally, stressing the isolated moment and denying lasting meaning, accountability, or future hope. Cartesian rationalism ultimately collapses into irrationality, shrinking both theology and human life by exaggerating man’s powers. Christianity must reject this man-centered starting point and return to the Biblical foundation: God’s revelation, not human reason, is the source of truth, meaning, and reality.

Shiloh

When Jacob lay dying, he prophesied of the Messiah and called Him Shiloh “He whose right it is” the true King and Lawgiver to whom all authority and all nations belong (Gen. 49:10). Christ affirmed this office after His Resurrection when He declared, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” commanding His church to disciple the nations and teach them to obey all His commandments (Matt. 28:18–20). As Shiloh, no sphere church, state, school, family, or any area of life stands outside His rightful rule. But humanistic man, claiming to be his own lord, cuts every institution loose from Christ and subjects them instead to man’s word and man’s law, thereby waging war against the true Shiloh. Psalm 2 describes both this rebellion and the certain victory of the Son. The real question is which Shiloh we serve: the false one we see in the mirror, or the true One, Jesus Christ. If man is our Shiloh, we will advance humanism and have no grounds to complain about the world we are producing. But if Christ is our Shiloh, then our duty is clear to bring every person, institution, and realm of life under His government, for He alone holds the right to rule all things.

Easy Chair No. 147, May 26, 1987 - The Tree of Hate, Dr. Philip Wayne Powell

In Easy Chair No. 147, R.J. Rushdoony and Otto Scott host Dr. Philip Wayne Powell to discuss his book The Tree of Hate, which exposes the historical myths and prejudices surrounding the Hispanic world, especially the Spanish Empire and Latin America. Powell explains how Northern European propaganda, dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, fostered widespread misconceptions about Spain’s colonization of the Americas, exaggerating violence and portraying Spaniards as barbaric. These distortions, combined with the “black legend,” have shaped modern perceptions in the United States and contributed to a general Hispanophobic bias. The discussion also covers U.S.-Latin American relations, emphasizing the ignorance and indifference of U.S. policymakers and citizens toward the region. Powell and Scott note that Americans often rely on superficial or ideologically biased information, leading to poor foreign policy and cultural misunderstandings. They highlight examples such as misguided diplomatic appointments, misinterpretations of Latin American history, and the undervaluing of Spain’s contributions to Christianity, education, and governance. Finally, the conversation explores broader themes, including the importance of historical accuracy, the influence of language on culture, and the value of Hispanic contributions to global history. Powell underscores the need to study Spain and Latin America carefully, noting that understanding the region is critical for current and future U.S. policy. He also stresses the role of language, particularly Castilian Spanish, in the formation and maintenance of the Spanish Empire, drawing parallels to the decline of English precision and cultural understanding today."

A Flawed Man Blessed the Land Judges 8:22–35

Israel offers Gideon the crown. He says the right thing — the Lord shall rule — and in the very next breath asks for the gold. He builds an ephod, fuses kingship with priesthood, and brings the philosophy of Midian into his own tent. And yet the land gets forty years of peace. This episode unpacks why the king-priest fusion is the defining mark of paganism, why "Christ rules my heart but men rule the world" is the same harlotry in church clothes, and why you shouldn't turn your nose up at an imperfect deliverer when the Lord is plainly using him.

Murder Mysteries

From the 1920s through the ’40s, the detective novel and Western were wildly popular because, in a culture where modern fiction was denying God and morality, these stories still portrayed a world in which right was right, wrong was wrong, murder was evil, and justice was pursued. But as writers grew “sophisticated,” even mysteries and Westerns began excusing evil with psychological explanations, blurring moral boundaries and leaving readers frustrated. Today’s growing appetite for TV shows featuring a good policeman or detective fighting clear evil proves people still long for sharp distinctions between righteousness and wickedness. Yet in real life, we avoid such clarity because it must begin with judging our own sin; most men want moral reform everywhere except in themselves. Only Christ draws an absolute line between good and evil and alone can remake us according to His righteousness. But as long as people prefer moral clarity only in fiction and not in their own lives, their lives will remain blurred, weakened, and decaying.