This wide-ranging and provocative Q&A session brings together R.J. Rushdoony and Marshall Foster to address pressing questions about Christian responsibility in a broken world covering issues of global poverty, missions, liberation theology, political involvement, education, law and grace, civil religion, and cultural transformation. With candor and conviction, they challenge sentimental charity, passive faith, and shallow theology, arguing instead for a biblical vision of dominion rooted in God’s law, covenant faithfulness, and the lordship of Christ over every sphere of life. The discussion confronts hard realities from persecution of missionaries and manipulation of public institutions to the limits of obedience to civil authority calling Christians to informed action, moral courage, and faithful witness in both church and society.

R.J. Rushdoony and Otto Scott discuss modern society’s fear and denial of death, describing it as a cultural “pornography” and taboo. They contrast this with the Christian perspective, where death is accepted as part of life and a transition to eternal life, emphasizing the profound dignity and peace possible for believers even in dying.

They explore contemporary issues such as suicide, abortion, and euthanasia, linking them to a societal love of death and a rejection of maturity, responsibility, and God’s order. They also critique cultural trends like the obsession with perpetual youth, media distortions, and moral incoherence, arguing that without a spiritual center and acknowledgment of life and death, society collapses morally, spiritually, and socially.

He emphasizes that morality and life are inseparable: without faith and a commitment to God, ethical principles erode, leaving society vulnerable. Only a vigorous, pro-life Christian faith, grounded in action and obedience to God, can restore vitality and counter the pervasive cultural drift toward death, immorality, and decay.

Finally, they stress that modern society has lost independence, self-reliance, and a moral grounding in God. Scott and Rushdoony warn that relying on politics, economics, or rationalistic theories without ethical and spiritual foundation has led to diminished freedom, societal decline, and economic vulnerability. They conclude that reassessing assumptions and restoring moral, cultural, and practical independence is essential for future survival.

They critique the modern economy’s dependence on debt, foreign aid, and overleveraged international systems, noting the hidden costs of inflation, declining domestic production, and reliance on other nations for resources. Both discuss Japan’s protectionist policies, the U.S. trade deficit, and the vulnerability created by foreign dependency, emphasizing that economic mismanagement and political interference distort reality.

R.J. Rushdoony and Otto Scott examine the pitfalls of free trade, protectionism, and modern economic policies. Rushdoony notes that free trade presupposes a rational and moral world, ignoring cultural, political, and ethical realities, and argues that no economic system can succeed if the people are corrupt or morally deficient. Scott emphasizes that historical context matters: nations like the U.S. grew through protected industries, hard work, and cultural cohesion, while modern assumptions of universal rationality and economic fairness are misguided.

Dr. Rushdoony and Otto Scott analyze modernism as a cultural and intellectual force rooted in the Transcendentalists, particularly Emerson and Frothingham, which rejects God and biblical authority in favor of the spirit of the age. Modernism elevates human impulses, experience, and cultural trends above objective moral standards, affecting education, art, literature, and politics. Scott emphasizes that liberalism, as the practical expression of modernism, erodes societal norms and weakens resistance to evil, while Rushdoony warns that liberal clergy spread this ideology within churches. Together, they conclude modernism functions as an anti-Christian force, dismantling Christian civilization and replacing divine order with human-centered, relativistic values.

Gary Mose recounts his two trips behind the Iron Curtain, particularly to Romania, to support persecuted Christians and observe the reality of life under Communist rule. He describes Romania as devastated—materially, spiritually, and socially—with extreme poverty, shortages of basic goods, oppressive surveillance, and a stark divide between the ruling elite and ordinary citizens. Despite these hardships, he witnessed strong Christian communities providing mutual aid and inspiring loyalty even among some non-Christians.

Mose contrasts his observations with misleading Western reports and visits by prominent figures, such as Billy Graham, who portrayed a false impression of religious freedom. He explains that Soviet and Eastern Bloc propaganda, including phrases like “spiritual needs” or “coexistence,” actually serve communist ideology, advancing Leninism and humanistic morality rather than true faith.

Rushdoony and Scott emphasize that communism is fundamentally anti-Christian and Satanic, and any cooperation or flattery from Western churchmen supports that system. Mose warns that the West must recognize the deception and ideological nature of Leninism, which uses propaganda to maintain control while masquerading as openness or tolerance, and contrasts this with true Christian dominion, which submits all authority to Christ."