Hunter Baker, J.D., Ph.D. serves as dean of arts and sciences and professor of political science at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. He is the author of three books (The End of Secularism, Political Thought: A Student’s Guide, and The System Has a Soul), has contributed chapters to several others, and has written for a wide variety of print and digital publications. He is the winner of the 2011 Michael Novak Award conferred by the Acton Institute and has lectured widely on religion and liberty. In addition to his work at Union, Baker also serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Markets and Morality and as a contributing editor for Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity. He is also a research fellow of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Hunter Baker 
Hunter,
I’m the producer for a libertarian/conservative college radio talk show. Would you be interested in doing a radio interview on your column in the Religion and Liberty journal about libertarians and conservatives? If so please email me at jkmiles@bgsu.edu and we can set up a date.
J. Miles
Producer
Political Animals
WBGU 88.1
Bowling Green Ohio
I sent you an email, Jonathan.
Mr. Baker,
I just read your article in the New Republic titled Huckabee, Darwin & Democracy. My comment is regarding the hypothetical quote in the final paragraph: “Stay away from this wicked person, my son. He has inadequate respect for the marriage of molecules and random chance…”
This statement makes clear the fact that you have not read (or, with all due respect, understood) a single thing about evolution. If you had you would surely understand that it has nothing at all to do with “random chance.” In fact, it is based on an entirely opposite principle; cumulative change through an extremely long process of natural selection. Your editors should have corrected you on this point, but they are probably apologists for the theocratic fringe right just like seem to be. I suggest you actually read The Origin of Species (or any other text found in the mountains of evidence for the fact of evolution) before you embarrass yourself further. Excuse me if that is a bit rude, but your article is incredibly offensive to rational, thinking people.
Thank you,
Tim McGrath, concerned secular conservative
“Firstly, why, if species have descended from other species by insensibly fine gradations, do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?” -Darwin (Chapter 6, Origin of Species)
I would also encourage you to read Darwin’s own assessment of the “imperfection” (as in nonexistense) of the geological record or “crust of the earth” problems that he couldn’t fully account for. Is it “incredibly offensive” still when the author himself recognizes that there are evidentiary gaps in his theory?
Mr. McGrath, I understand how evolution works. I think it is fairly clear from the portion of the piece you quoted that the statement was hyperbolic in nature.
Dr. Baker –
I wanted to thank you for the wonderfully constructed thoughts placed in the recent Art of Manliness blog.
Since obtaining my Masters degree in 2002, I have been contemplating the next step in my spiritual and secular walk. For the last 9+ years, I have worked at various newspapers and am currently employed with Gannett as a Market Research Analyst. Since newspapers are beginning to implode with recent changes in our audience targets, web migration and overall economy, I am beginning to turn inward to reexamine the things that drive my life: God, family, people and teaching.
On the side, I am a youth past (along with my wife) and have grown passionate about teaching our youth the core values of Christianity and ethics. It has become clearly evident to me (finally, at 36) that it is time to go back to obtain my Doctorate and begin teaching at a Christian college or university. The great state of Texas has always been in the back of my mind (even in my youth) as a place where I would eventually settle down. I believe that I may now use your interview as a catalyst to apply to Baylor University and begin the next chapter in my life.
Thank you for the encouraging words and for taking the time to share your experiences. I want to reach “the brass ring” (as you mentioned) and do it for a Savior who, through grace, brought me to where I am today. God bless you as you continue to progress in academia at Houston Baptist University and with your published works.
I hope to meet you in the future!
In Christ –
Kreig
Thanks, Krieg. I’m very glad to have been an encouragement to you. Any time you have questions, feel free to send me an email at hunterbaker-at-gmail-dot-com. (spelled it out to avoid spambots)
Did you come across Dr. Monsma at Baylor? He does some church/state studies stuff, and I was his student in undergrad (Pepperdine).
Hello. Not sure if this the right place to ask, but are you working on a book entitled “Secularization of Christian Higher Education? I thought i heard a relatively recent interview you had with Dr. J of the Ruth Institute where your soon-to-be-released book was discussed in the context of Notre Dame’s conferring, to their eternal shame, an Honorary Degree for President Obama.
Mark Doud
Good day Mr. Baker,
My name is Erica Wanis and I’m the Director of Research at the Center for a Just Society. You may have seen our Chairman Ken Connor’s articles on Townhall.com, Crosswalk.com, Catholic Exchange, or any of several conservative website and blogs that regularly pick up his pieces. The Center for a Just Society is a non-profit, web-based organization dedicated to advancing and defending Judeo-Christian principles of human dignity and social justice in law, policy and the public square. Our desire is to bring attention and an alternative voice to issues pertaining to social justice.
As part of this effort we seek outside contributions, to be featured in the “Forum” section of our site. We greatly admire your contribution to the conservative and Christian conversation, and would be delighted if you would consider submitting an article between 600-1200 words for publication in the Forum. Though we are a small organization, we are able to offer an honorarium of $70 for any article we publish.
Thank you for your attention and consideration!
“cumulative change through an extremely long process of natural selection.”
But doesn’t it have to be extremely fortunate randomness up to a certain point before this process takes over?
So you’re saying the random interactions are cumulative in a positive direction to enough of a point where life is created? Seems pretty far fetched to me.
Dear Mr. Baker,
I was driving near the Quad Cities in Illinois this morning and heard your comments on the radio show playing on my radio. You said “you have to vote with your party and not the person”. Sir, with all due respect, you remind me of a horse with blinders on ! Are you to say it doesn’t matter, the character of the person, what matters is that you elect unqualified people for government positions if you have to, in order to keep you Republican cronies in power ? I guess you will vote for a Sarah Palin in that case. With her crib notes scribbled on the palm of her hand. For a smart guy like you to say that means you’re really NOT inteligent at all.
The kicker was when you proceeded to blame President Obama for the increase in poverty level in America today. Let me remind you sir, it was President Bush who was handed a surplus, a balanced budget and peace at the time of his presidency. It was Bush who tripled the size of government. It was Bush who prosecuted two wars (one illegally..i might add) and cut the taxes of the top 2%. This, by the way, is unheard of. This, by the way, had NEVER EVER happened in our history as a country where taxes were cut during war time. During WWII, the American people rationed and sacrificed a lot during that war. But to blame Obama for the poverty levels today when 750 thousand jobs were being lost every month the last five months of the Bush presidency proves you’re just plain stupid. Im sorry. You sounded like an uninformed, biased, nimrod on the radio this morning.
In conclusion, if the Anti-christ is running for office somewhere in the Republican party we should vote the party line. Is that correct sir ? OK, now go get your head check.
You’re a nut.
You may have misheard me, Mr. Biggs. I said you have to vote party in a parliamentary election. A vote for whatever D rep. is a vote for Pelosi/Reid and the reverse is true for R’s. You should vote accordingly. Voting for executives like presidents and governors is a different matter.
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Re: your Lenscrafters fiasco
I’ve used Zenni Optical http://WWW.zennioptical.com which isn’t so fussy about authentifying prescriptions and dates. In fact, I made up (well, modified) my own prescription, based on my prior refraction, slight changes over the last 6 years and my desire to experiment.
Hunter,
your bio on here says you’re at Houston Baptist University. All the other info I can find on the internet says you are at Union University.
Time to update your bio?
Wolf Paul
This morning, I was reading the ACTON newsletter when, suddenly (yes, the overly used preface, “suddenly”), your name appeared…regarding a high award. “Most impressive” Dr. Baker; you have traveled far from the quasi-Dilbert, cubicle-life at BCBSF (a re-engineering effort to be sure).
I wasn’t sure if you were the same man. but hearing your voice on an ACTON interview confirmed it. Oh, and one other event: you and I actually cross paths again in Atlanta (in 2000) at a Asian restaurant.
Much more could be conveyed….but for now: congratulations on your book, your academic achievments and Christian (and other) contributions!
I plan to spend more time reading your material. Expect more comments….
Mr. Baker:
I I just read your article tited “Social Leveling”…it is a great commentary about the rise of the state – the powerful arm of secularism against the individual and particlarly the individual of Faith. I write this to you from Pa. and what happens here is probably not much different than in 49 other states. A battle is brewing – it may be the final vanquishing of private vs. public – the power to tax has far surpassed the ability to tithe. We have lost churches and schools
and our religious leaders refuse to honor the believers with this truth. Faith loses membership to the secular idiology – or better put believers remove themselves from particular faiths that challenge secularism.
A dispiriting example of this is listening to believers who get angry over tithing – and yet see their property taxes rise to the moon. Yes, the agency of secualrism is govt. education. The mindset it creates both in child and taxpayer is one of helplessness – of yielding to a certain elite…an elite whether it be professional or elected. I would advise watching a documentary called “The Cartel” – it is about the current sitaution of public ed in NJ. Pa. is no different. In this documentary six groups all have a hand in making the system both ineffective and expensive…so expensive that individuals cannot afford choice when taxes rise to a certain point. This is a game called the
Zero-Sum formula. It works like this – for any system, there is just so much funds available – hog enough of thse available resources and less will be there for the competition. My own little town is aperfect example. Mt. Pleasant
once had 4 private/parochial schools competing with govt. ed. When we did, our taxes were cheap. Today we have no private schools left and our taxes have gone to the moon…and the quality of our public schools has deteriorated.
the six groups are:1.The Teacher unions 2. The School boards 3. the school aministrations 4. the politicans bought of by public ed. 5. the state dept. of education and 6. the schools of education. Note well this is a closed group – parent/child/taxpayer is off limits. the most insidious member of the group- and the least suspected is the schools of education. This where the monopoly begins (only people”certified “-taking the mindless education courses) can teach. It is also where ALL of the really bad ideas in education begin.
All the best
Erwin, lots of good points in your comment. And what you’ve said applies to the debate we’ve seen over education unions. The union “negotiates” with candidates they have supported for office. That’s not really collective bargaining so much as a pay back.
Just a quick comment to subscribe to posts via email. (Thanks for the blog! It’s a joy and an encouragement!)
Dr. Baker,
I am a graduate of Union and currently a high school history teacher and basketball coach. In addition to your writings, could you share with me your reading diet? Books periodicals blogs etc… that inform you would be most helpful.
Thank you.
Sure, I’ll put up a post.
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By “The End Of Secularism” do you mean the beginning of Theocracy? You know that John Adams said that in no way was the United States founded on Christianity? Perhaps these founding fathers believed in god(s) as deists. I believe that Adams was the only one who atteded church. We all know how Jefferson felt about it. I’ve read his special Bible where he takes all of the magical stuff out. It’s called “The Life and Moral Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.”
How in the world can we have Freedom Of Religion under a Theocracy??? How can there be freedom of religion in a Christian Nation?
Your god stinks of Roman gods simply by the use of the word GOD and the male hierarchy. Your Jesus stinks of all of the previous goddess cults that pushed the death and rebirth of the son of god. Your bible is only mythical. Your conceptualization of GOD is blasphemous.
And this is only my opinion…
I don’t claim to know “The Truth” because
THE TRUTH OBEYS NO ONE
Not even YOU
Bonnie, you can read the book and take in my argument and get back to me. Buy it used and then you will know that neither I nor any religious institution will profit.
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Hi Hunter,
Chris and I were driving by Gainesville and got to talking about our college days. We thought of you and I looked you up on my phone. Glad to see you are doing well and happy. I enjoyed your posts.
Rachel, it’s good to hear from you. And I am so glad you and Chris are still together. It seemed to me that the two of you were made for each other.
I enjoy your writing, Hunter.
Thank you, ithabise!
Hunter,
I was really interested in the pursuing of your desire to become a professor. It has something I have wanted since I was a child. Now at age 57 that seems rather unlikely. I have a BS Sociology degree (1979) which is basically worthless at this point. Also, completed one year of my MPA. I would like to teach at a Christian college/university. Hopefully, the subject of Public Administration. I spent 28 years in the public sector and now am working for a non profit. Do you have any suggestions or the best direction to reach my goal. Like you I always enjoyed the college life and have the desire to continue learning forever.
Thanks,
Sharon
Sharon, I’d be happy to converse with you. You may email me at hunterbaker-at-gmail-dot-com.
Thanks for your time.
Sharon
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Hi. Just saw your post about your anniversary. My wife and I have been married for 36 years. She’s an MD and so am I. Congrats on your wonderful relationship! How truly wonderful for the two of you! But always remember that it’s not medicine, it’s not ministry, it’s not blogging… or anything else. Rather, are we doing what God wants us to do? Are we placing HIS will above out own? … That sounds so inspirational, blah, blah. I’m a 73 year old who is simply delighted to hear of your happy relationship and I pray earnestly that you may enjoy the happiness — through many travails — that my sweetheart and I – through God’s grace – delight in.
Concerning the “Atlas Shrugged” movies, I would have prefered that the cast from part 1 would have been retained for the other two. The cast for part 1 was closer to what my imagination came up with as I read the book. I want you all to remember that most of Miss Rand’s books are set in late ’40’s and ’50’s technology, so, my mind pictured the books a set in “period” styling. I further enjoyed the book for I was part of an UPRR family for forty-five years. Remember: You raise cattle, you rear children..
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