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Biblical Economics, Freedom & the Fallen Nature of Humanity In this fascinating episode, Barry Shore welcomes Dave Arnott— dean at Turning Point USA and author of Biblical Economic Policy — for a wide-ranging conversation about the foundational assumptions that shape economies, governments, and everyday life. Dave makes a compelling case that economics is a social science, not a hard science, and that every economist operates from a worldview.
His worldview is biblical — and he argues that the concept of scarcity in economics maps directly onto the theological idea of the fallen nature of humanity. Free market capitalism, he explains, acknowledges this fallen nature, while socialism ignores it — and history shows the consequences. From George Orwell's Animal Farm to Milton Friedman's famous challenge to Phil Donahue, from the founding of Plymouth Colony to Boris Yeltsin's stunned visit to a Texas grocery store in 1989, Dave and Barry walk through vivid real-world examples of why biblical economic principles and free enterprise have produced abundance where command economies have not.
The episode also touches on the founding of Israel's kibbutz system, the genius of the U.S. Constitution, and what it means to carry an American mindset no matter where you live in the world. A thought-provoking, soul-stirring conversation grounded in history, theology, and economics. Dave Arnott is the dean of Turning Point USA's Prep Year program, a professor of management and economics, and the author of five books including *Biblical Economic Policy.
Show Notes:
- 00:00 – Purpose, Choice & Gratitude — Barry opens with the fundamentals of purposeful living and why “choice, not chance” determines your direction.
- 07:00 – Biblical Economics & Human Nature — Dave Arnott explains biblical economics, scarcity, human motivation, and the worldview behind free-market capitalism.
- 17:00 – Freedom, Faith & Free Enterprise — Barry and Dave explore economic freedom, private ownership, and how biblical principles shape their understanding of markets.
- 28:00 – Why Economic Freedom Matters — From Boris Yeltsin’s American grocery-store experience to Viktor Frankl, Dave connects freedom, abundance, personal choice, and responsibility.
- 33:00 – Turning Point USA & the Prep Year — Dave shares the mission of the Prep Year program: preparing young people to communicate, lead, debate, and engage people who disagree with them.
- 47:00 – Creativity, Service & Hope for the Future — The conversation closes on serving others through business, human creativity, refusing to fear the future, and choosing hope and purpose.
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About Dave Arnott
Dave Arnott is Dean of the Turning Point USA Prep Year program in Ft. Worth, TX. He recently retired after serving 31 years as a professor of Management and Economics at Dallas Baptist University.
He has authored five books on the topics of Leadership, Management and Economics. His Ph.D. is from the University of Texas at Arlington. As “The Christian Economist” he has delivered 200 podcasts, exploring the intersection of Christianity and Economics.
They are available on the Dave Arnott You Tube channel. His latest book is Biblical Economic Policy. He is an accomplished keynote speaker who has visited 60 countries and led business study visits to many of those countries. He has led more than 200 days of management seminars. “The Professor and Ginger” live on a small farm near Dallas where they enjoy go-kart races around the pasture with their seven grandchildren.
