Gary North
Encyclopedia
Gary Kilgore North is an economic historian and publisher who prolifically writes on topics including economics, history, and Christian
theology.
economists Ludwig von Mises
, F.A. Hayek, and Murray Rothbard
. During the same period, he began reading the works of ultra-conservative Presbyterian minister Rousas John Rushdoony
. North made it his life's work to synthesize Austrian Economics with Rushdoony's theological conservatism. Starting in 1967, North became a frequent contributor to the libertarian
journal The Freeman
where he had first read their work. He later joined the senior staff of the publisher, the Foundation for Economic Education
(FEE), 1971–73. North received a PhD
in history from the University of California, Riverside
in 1972. His dissertation was The Concept of Property in Puritan New England, 1630–1720.
He served as research assistant for libertarian Republican Congressman Ron Paul
in Paul's first term (1976), and he shared a small office with the staunchly Calvinistic
political philosopher, John W. Robbins, who later became a noted anti-Van Til
, pro-Clark
presuppositional apologist
, author, and publisher. Also on the staff was economist and historian Bruce Bartlett
, although in his pre-supply-side economics
days. Many of North's articles have appeared on LewRockwell.com
.
, Joel Skousen
, Edward Yourdon
Ed Yardeni, and many others, North suggested that a Y2K date-rollover failure of the global Information Technology
(IT) infrastructure might precipitate severe disruption and perhaps even an economic collapse
. North urged his readers to take "prudent" survivalist preparedness measures. In the event there were no significant problems (dispute continues on whether because of remediation efforts or because the danger had been overstated), but North later described Y2K as "a close call." His web site Gary North's Y2K Links and Forums has been preserved at a mirror site. North's Y2K forums were all moderated by volunteer subject matter experts. For example, the Securing Your Home Forum was moderated by survival retreat
expert Joel Skousen
, and the Inventory and Barter Items Forum was moderated by the survivalist novelist James Wesley Rawles
, who later went on to be a survivalist blogger and preparedness guru. North's main Y2K web site was taken offline early in 2000.
system and a return to the gold standard
. He also opposes the US Department of Education and Council on Higher Education Accreditation, claiming it is a "cartel
" and the group has, in part, caused higher education to "become uniformly secular, liberal, and mediocre: raising the cost of entry."
.
Rousas John Rushdoony
, one of the founders of Christian Reconstructionism, was North's father-in-law, and North is a Christian Reconstructionist
. The Institute for Christian Economics published many Christian Reconstructionist books online. Christian Reconstructionists are also presuppositionalists in their approach to Christian apologetics as taught in modern Calvinism
, and oppose natural law
theory as a basis for civil law order.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
theology.
Education and Background
Gary North grew up in southern California, the son of FBI special agent Samuel W. North, Jr., and his wife, Peggy. North converted to Christianity in high school and began frequenting right-wing bookstores in the Los Angeles area during his college years. Between 1961 and 1963, while an undergraduate student, North became acquainted with the works of Austrian SchoolAustrian School
The Austrian School of economics is a heterodox school of economic thought. It advocates methodological individualism in interpreting economic developments , the theory that money is non-neutral, the theory that the capital structure of economies consists of heterogeneous goods that have...
economists Ludwig von Mises
Ludwig von Mises
Ludwig Heinrich Edler von Mises was an Austrian economist, philosopher, and classical liberal who had a significant influence on the modern Libertarian movement and the "Austrian School" of economic thought.-Biography:-Early life:...
, F.A. Hayek, and Murray Rothbard
Murray Rothbard
Murray Newton Rothbard was an American author and economist of the Austrian School who helped define capitalist libertarianism and popularized a form of free-market anarchism he termed "anarcho-capitalism." Rothbard wrote over twenty books and is considered a centrally important figure in the...
. During the same period, he began reading the works of ultra-conservative Presbyterian minister Rousas John Rushdoony
Rousas John Rushdoony
Rousas John Rushdoony was a Calvinist philosopher, historian, and theologian and is widely credited as the father of Christian Reconstructionism and an inspiration for the modern Christian homeschool movement...
. North made it his life's work to synthesize Austrian Economics with Rushdoony's theological conservatism. Starting in 1967, North became a frequent contributor to the libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
journal The Freeman
The Freeman
The Freeman: Ideas on Liberty is one of the oldest and most respected libertarian journals in the United States. It is published by the Foundation for Economic Education . It started as a digest sized monthly study journal; it currently appears 10 times per year and is a larger-sized magazine. FEE...
where he had first read their work. He later joined the senior staff of the publisher, the Foundation for Economic Education
Foundation for Economic Education
The Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement...
(FEE), 1971–73. North received a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in history from the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
in 1972. His dissertation was The Concept of Property in Puritan New England, 1630–1720.
He served as research assistant for libertarian Republican Congressman Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
in Paul's first term (1976), and he shared a small office with the staunchly Calvinistic
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
political philosopher, John W. Robbins, who later became a noted anti-Van Til
Cornelius Van Til
Cornelius Van Til , born in Grootegast, the Netherlands, was a Christian philosopher, Reformed theologian, and presuppositional apologist.-Biography:...
, pro-Clark
Gordon Clark
Gordon Haddon Clark was an American philosopher and Calvinist theologian. He was a primary advocate for the idea of presuppositional apologetics and was chairman of the Philosophy Department at Butler University for 28 years...
presuppositional apologist
Presuppositional apologetics
In Christian theology, presuppositionalism is a school of apologetics that presumes Christian faith is the only basis for rational thought. It presupposes that the Bible is divine revelation and claims to expose flaws in other worldviews...
, author, and publisher. Also on the staff was economist and historian Bruce Bartlett
Bruce Bartlett
Bruce Bartlett is an American historian who turned to writing about supply-side economics. He was a domestic policy adviser to President Ronald Reagan and was a Treasury official under President George H.W. Bush....
, although in his pre-supply-side economics
Supply-side economics
Supply-side economics is a school of macroeconomic thought that argues that economic growth can be most effectively created by lowering barriers for people to produce goods and services, such as lowering income tax and capital gains tax rates, and by allowing greater flexibility by reducing...
days. Many of North's articles have appeared on LewRockwell.com
LewRockwell.com
LewRockwell.com is a 501 libertarian web magazine operated by Burton Blumert , Lew Rockwell , Eric Garris , and others associated with the Center for Libertarian Studies ; its motto is "anti-state, anti-war, pro-market"...
.
Y2K controversy
North gained some notoriety for his prediction of a possible Y2K catastrophe in print and online, before 2000. Like economists Don McAlvanyDon McAlvany
Donald S. McAlvany is an American Christian conservative political and economics commentator, podcaster, and newsletter author. His newsletter focuses on economics and globals events, with and emphasis on "hard money" economics. McAlvany is a proponent of gold and silver, both as an investment,...
, Joel Skousen
Joel Skousen
Joel M. Skousen is an American conservative political commentator non-fiction Survivalist author, and retreat consultant who specializes in preparedness topics, particularly survival retreat and fallout shelter design and construction, as well as in what he calls "strategic relocation." Skousen is...
, Edward Yourdon
Edward Yourdon
Edward Nash Yourdon is an American software engineer, computer consultant, author and lecturer, and pioneer in the software engineering methodology...
Ed Yardeni, and many others, North suggested that a Y2K date-rollover failure of the global Information Technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
(IT) infrastructure might precipitate severe disruption and perhaps even an economic collapse
Economic collapse
There is no precise definition of an economic collapse. While some might consider a a severe, prolonged depression with high bankruptcy rates and high unemployment an economic collapse, others would additionally look for a breakdown in normal commerce, such as hyperinfalation, or even a sharp...
. North urged his readers to take "prudent" survivalist preparedness measures. In the event there were no significant problems (dispute continues on whether because of remediation efforts or because the danger had been overstated), but North later described Y2K as "a close call." His web site Gary North's Y2K Links and Forums has been preserved at a mirror site. North's Y2K forums were all moderated by volunteer subject matter experts. For example, the Securing Your Home Forum was moderated by survival retreat
Retreat (survivalism)
A retreat is a place of refuge for those in the survivalist subculture or movement. Retreats are also sometimes called Bug-Out Locations...
expert Joel Skousen
Joel Skousen
Joel M. Skousen is an American conservative political commentator non-fiction Survivalist author, and retreat consultant who specializes in preparedness topics, particularly survival retreat and fallout shelter design and construction, as well as in what he calls "strategic relocation." Skousen is...
, and the Inventory and Barter Items Forum was moderated by the survivalist novelist James Wesley Rawles
James Wesley Rawles
James Wesley, Rawles is a New York Times best-selling survivalist-fiction author, blogger, and survival retreat consultant. Rawles is a Christian conservative. He is the editor of SurvivalBlog.com, a blog on survival and preparedness topics...
, who later went on to be a survivalist blogger and preparedness guru. North's main Y2K web site was taken offline early in 2000.
Political beliefs
North argues for the abolition of the fractional-reserve bankingFractional-reserve banking
Fractional-reserve banking is a form of banking where banks maintain reserves that are only a fraction of the customer's deposits. Funds deposited into a bank are mostly lent out, and a bank keeps only a fraction of the quantity of deposits as reserves...
system and a return to the gold standard
Gold standard
The gold standard is a monetary system in which the standard economic unit of account is a fixed mass of gold. There are distinct kinds of gold standard...
. He also opposes the US Department of Education and Council on Higher Education Accreditation, claiming it is a "cartel
Cartel
A cartel is a formal agreement among competing firms. It is a formal organization of producers and manufacturers that agree to fix prices, marketing, and production. Cartels usually occur in an oligopolistic industry, where there is a small number of sellers and usually involve homogeneous products...
" and the group has, in part, caused higher education to "become uniformly secular, liberal, and mediocre: raising the cost of entry."
Religious Views and Affiliations
He is the founder of the publishing firm Institute for Christian Economics (ICE). The company reportedly got its start with a bequest from an anonymous benefactor. North never received a salary or book royalties for the 25 years of its existence. At North's request, the board disbanded the ICE in 2001. The assets were transferred to Dominion Educational Ministries, Inc., a non-profit organization that operates Christian day care centers. North is a member of the Presbyterian Church in AmericaPresbyterian Church in America
The Presbyterian Church in America is an evangelical Protestant Christian denomination, the second largest Presbyterian church body in the United States after the Presbyterian Church . The PCA professes a strong commitment to evangelism, missionary work, and Christian education...
.
Rousas John Rushdoony
Rousas John Rushdoony
Rousas John Rushdoony was a Calvinist philosopher, historian, and theologian and is widely credited as the father of Christian Reconstructionism and an inspiration for the modern Christian homeschool movement...
, one of the founders of Christian Reconstructionism, was North's father-in-law, and North is a Christian Reconstructionist
Christian Reconstructionism
Christian Reconstructionism is a religious and theological movement within Evangelical Christianity that calls for Christians to put their faith into action in all areas of life, within the private sphere of life and the public and political sphere as well...
. The Institute for Christian Economics published many Christian Reconstructionist books online. Christian Reconstructionists are also presuppositionalists in their approach to Christian apologetics as taught in modern Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, and oppose natural law
Natural law
Natural law, or the law of nature , is any system of law which is purportedly determined by nature, and thus universal. Classically, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature and deduce binding rules of moral behavior. Natural law is contrasted with the positive law Natural...
theory as a basis for civil law order.
Books and newsletters
North has authored or co-authored more than fifty books, most of which are available for free download. For many years, North has been the author/editor of the newsletter The Remnant Review. More recently, he has also edited Gary North's Reality Check, a widely-circulated free e-newsletter.- 75 Bible Questions, 1986 ASIN B0006YN4P8
- A Study Guide To Gary North's Liberating Planet Earth, (Co-authored by Geoffrey W. Donnan, Jr. Charles W. Armstrong) 1991 ISBN 0930464427
- An Introduction To Christian Economics, 1973 ASIN B000T4BMKE
- Backward Christian Soldiers, 1984 ISBN 093046401X
- Baptized Patriarchalism: The Cult of the Family, 1995 ISBN 0930464710
- Boundaries and Dominion: An Economic Commentary of Leviticus, 1994 ISBN 0930464729
- Christian Reconstruction (Co-authored by Gary DeMarGary DeMarGary DeMar is an American writer, lecturer and the president of American Vision, an American Christian nonprofit organization. The think-tank has a vision of "an America that recognizes the sovereignty of God over all of life and where Christians are engaged in every facet of society".-Family life...
), 1991 ISBN 9780930464523 - Coase Theorem: A Study In Economic Epistemology, 1992 ISBN 0930464613
- Conspiracy: A Biblical View, 1996 ISBN 0930462114
- Conspiracy in Philadelphia: The Origins of the U.S. Constitution, 2004 e-book
- Cooperation and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Romans, 2000
- Crossed Fingers: How the Liberals Captured the Presbyterian Church, 1996 ISBN 0930464745
- The Dominion Covenant: Genesis, 1987 ISBN 0930464036
- Dominion & Common Grace: The Biblical Basis of Progress, 1987 ISBN 0930464095
- Fighting Chance: Ten Feet to Survival (co-authored by Dr. Arthur B. RobinsonArthur B. RobinsonArthur B. Robinson is an American scientist and activist. He is the founder, president, and professor of chemistry at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, which describes itself as a research institute that studies protein chemistry, nutrition, and predictive and preventive medicine...
), 1986 ISBN 0930462106 - Government By Emergency, 1986 (revised in 1992) ISBN 093046205X
- Healer Of The Nations: Biblical Principles for International Relations, 1987 ISBN 0930462211
- Heredaran La Tierra (in Spanish): Esquemas Biblicos para la Economia Politica (Biblical Principles for Economics), 1987 ISBN 0930464265
- The Hoax of Higher Criticism, 1989 ISBN 0930464303
- Honest Money: Biblical Principles of Money and Banking', 1986 ISBN 0930462157
- The Implosion Strategy: How to stay out of the black hole during the next recession and its aftermath, 1990 ISBN 1559261307
- Inherit The Earth: Biblical Principles for Economics, 1987 ISBN 0930462564
- Inheritance and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Deuteronomy, 1999 ISBN 0930464788
- Is The World Running Down?: Crisis in the Christian Worldview, 1988 ISBN 0930464133
- Judeo Christian Tradition: A Guide for the Perplexed, 1990 ISBN 0930464281
- La Liberation Del Planeta Tierra (in Spanish) Una Introduction a los prototipos Biblicos, 1987
- Leviticus: An Economic Commentary, 1994 ISBN 0930464729
- Liberating Planet Earth: An Introduction to Biblical Blueprints, 1987, revised in 1991 ISBN 0930462513
- Liberating Planet Earth (in Korean) An Introduction to Biblical Blueprints, 1987
- Lone Gunners for Jesus: Letters to Paul J. Hill, 1994 ISBN 0930464737
- Marx's Religion of Revolution: Regeneration Through Chaos, 1989 ISBN 093046415X
- Marx's Religion of Revolution (in Russian) Regeneration Through Chaos, 1994
- Millennialism And Social Theory, 1990 ISBN 0930464494
- Moses and Pharaoh: Dominion Religion vs. Power Religion, 1985 ISBN 0930464052
- Political Polytheism: The Myth of Pluralism, 1989 ISBN 093046432X
- Priorities and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Matthew, 2000
- Puritan Economic Experiments: Puritans and Government Controls, 1988 ISBN 0930464141
- Rapture Fever: Why Dispensationalism is Paralyzed Dispensationalism, 1993 ISBN 0930464672
- Salvation Through Inflation: The Economics of Social Credit, 1993 ISBN 0930464664
- Sanctions and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Numbers, 2000 ISBN 0930464761
- Sinai Strategy: Economics And The Ten Commandments (Part Two of North's commentary on Exodus), 1986 ASIN B001S1Y6J6
- Tactics of Christian Resistance, 1983 ISBN 0939404079
- Theology of Christian Resistance: A Symposium, 1983 ISBN 0939404052
- Theonomy: An Informed Response, 1991 ISBN 0930464591
- Tithing and the Church, 1994 ISBN 0930464699
- Tools of Dominion: The Case Laws of Exodus, 1990 ISBN 0930464109
- Treasure and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Luke, 2000
- Trespassing For Dear Life: What About Operation Rescue?, 1989 ASIN B00071L36M
- Unconditional Surrender: God's Program for Victory, 1994 ISBN 0930464125
- Unholy Spirits: Occultism and New Age Humanism, 1994 ISBN 093046253X
- Victim's Rights: The Biblical View of Civil Justice, 1990 ISBN 0930464176
- Was Calvin a Theonomist?, 1990 ISBN 0930464362
- Westminster's Confession: The Abandonment of Van Til's Legacy, 1991 ISBN 0930464540
- When Justice Is Aborted: Biblical Standards For Non-Violent Resistance, 1989 ISBN 1559261242
Documentary and educational film
- Unknown History of the 20th Century (DVD) (2006) ASIN B000GABZ26
Quotes
See also
- Christian fundamentalism
- Christian ReconstructionismChristian ReconstructionismChristian Reconstructionism is a religious and theological movement within Evangelical Christianity that calls for Christians to put their faith into action in all areas of life, within the private sphere of life and the public and political sphere as well...
- Dominion TheologyDominion TheologyDominion Theology is seen by some as a subset of Dominionism, a term used by some social scientists and journalists to describe a theological form of political ideology, which they claim has broadly influenced the Christian Right in the United States, Canada, and Europe, within Protestant...
- Neo-CalvinismNeo-CalvinismNeo-Calvinism, a form of Dutch Calvinism, is the movement initiated by the theologian and former Dutch prime minister Abraham Kuyper.- Introduction :...
- SurvivalismSurvivalismSurvivalism is a movement of individuals or groups who are actively preparing for future possible disruptions in local, regional, national, or international social or political order...
- TheonomyTheonomyTheonomy is a theory in Christian theology that God is the sole source of human ethics. The word theonomy derives from the Greek words “theos” God, and “nomos” law. Cornelius Van Til argued that there "is no alternative but that of theonomy or autonomy"...
- Y2K
External links
- North's official site
- Articles by North
- Mises on Money by Gary North
- Gary North writings available free to read online
- "Invitation to a Stoning: Getting cozy with theocrats" by Walter OlsonWalter OlsonWalter K. Olson is an author and blogger who writes mostly about tort reform. Olson is a senior fellow of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington DC. Formerly Olson was associated with the Manhattan Institute in New York City...
, ReasonReason (magazine)Reason is a libertarian monthly magazine published by the Reason Foundation. The magazine has a circulation of around 60,000 and was named one of the 50 best magazines in 2003 and 2004 by the Chicago Tribune.- History :...
, November 1998 - ‘Christian Economics’ Meets the Antiunion Movement, New York Times
- "Super-Cheap Accredited Colleges"—video by North, on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....