Doug is on a comic kick! In this episode, comic magician Doc Dixon unwittingly exposes Doug’s affinity for dark humor. Just kidding. This fun and lively interview takes us behind the scenes with the guy who fooled Penn and Teller (link below). And Doc even comedically corrects the idea that magic is deceiving others.
Summary – Deceiving Others for a Living, with Doc Dixon
Doc Dixon chats with Doug Stuart about being a (Reformed) Christian libertarian and comic magician. Dixon has been featured on Penn & Tell’s Fool Us, and successfully fooled them. Like many of us, Dixon came to libertarianism during the Ron Paul Revolution and the libertarian view of economics and monetary policy. Dixon talks about the natural compatibility between Christianity and libertarianism.
They shift topics to discuss Dixon’s career choice as a magician. Dixon demystifies professional magic by pointing out that it’s a learned skill like anything else. How do magicians decide to share their secrets? (And how much is already “out there” thanks to the Internet). What’s the community of magicians like? Do they get together to learn from each other? and much more! Of course, the performance is personal and we get to hear how his personality comes out in his work.
Do some Christians believe magic deceiving others and so off limits for us? Dixon has a perfect response for this – “there’s an unintended hubris there.” Not even Las Vegas, in Dixon’s view, are the magic shows really superstitious or occult-like. (Though that’s not to say everything in Vegas is that innocent.) Dixon and Stuart take a few (more than a few) friendly jabs at one another throughout. So sit back and enjoy this more lighthearted episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast.
Main Points of Discussion
| 00:00 | Introduction |
| 02:36 | How does Doc Dixon identify? Comedian or Magician |
| 04:38 | Doc Dixon’s Christian background and how he came to faith |
| 06:10 | What led you to Ron Paul? |
| 09:13 | Do you believe Christianity and libertarianism is naturally compatible |
| 11:42 | Do you incorporate libertarianism into you shows? |
| 16:25 | How do you become a magician? |
| 20:08 | Magician cocktail parties? |
| 23:16 | Are Las Vegas magicians dabbling in the occult in their performances? |
| 27:25 | Workshopping magic with other magicians |
| 30:35 | Is incorporating humor a part of who you are? |
| 34:26 | Dark humor? |
| 37:12 | People in other fields you admire? |
| 42:48 | Magic over Zoom? How does that experience work? |
| 45:18 | Concluding thoughts Libertarianmagician.com? |
Resources Mentioned
- Dox Dixon’s website https://docdixon.com
- Libertarianmagician.com Forthcoming
- Magician Doc Dixon FOOLS Penn & Teller on Penn&Teller:Fool Us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaDnY5q_mxg
Related Stories
- Ep 297: Speaking as a Comedian, with Lou Perez
- Ep 296: Doug Stuart Talks Social Justice and How to Speak to the Left
- Ep 295: Bonnie Kristian and the Unhealthy Skepticism Corrupting Culture
The Libertarian Christian Institute is an educational and religious nonprofit organization that promotes libertarianism from a Christian point of view. LCI is convinced that libertarianism is the most consistent expression of Christian political thought. LCI is ecumenical in nature, welcoming all those who confess the traditional creeds of the universal church. Visit https://libertarianchristians.com