Chartered in 1983 as a non-profit educational corporation, the Blackstone Institute is a unique, cutting-edge, exciting educational adventure committed to declaring and defending the Judeo-Christian worldview of law – engaging in “constitutional and jurisprudential apologetics.” Our programs are designed to inform and inspire its students and clients, with teaching as our tool and words as our weapons in the climactic cultural engagement popularly referred to as America’s “Culture War.” Biblical truths (e.g., The Ten Commandments) are the heart of our teaching. This articulation and application of the Judeo-Christian worldview of law were epitomized in the works of the great Eighteenth Century British jurist, Sir William Blackstone, whose legal philosophy dominated both English and American law until well into the Twentieth Century. Our work also reflects the influence of great Christian apologetics scholars such as Francis Schaeffer, John Warwick Montgomery, and Norman Geisler. Our commitment to this ministry responds to the dictates of I Peter 3: 15-16, and mirrors the example of the Apostle Paul’s apologetics describe in Acts 17.
Our ministry is designed to educate, empower, and activate America’s leaders and laymen, enabling us to effectively define and defend the Judeo-Christian worldview (our “taproot”) against the radicalized Humanistic worldviews viciously committed to uprooting our taproot in today’s Culture Wars. We focus on the hegemonic role of the courts (our “judicialized America”) and the radical results of that phenomenon (the reset of America into a “post-law society”). The ultimate goal of reclaiming America is addressed in this study by the publication of a new powerful document, “The Constitutional Reclamation Amendments,” authored by Dr. Armstrong but including input from constitutional scholars involved in constitutional reform efforts for the last twenty-five years.
Blackstone is a teaching endeavor committed to promoting and pursuing research and teaching focused on constitutional theory/history, legal philosophy/history, and law-related theology, philosophy, and public policy/cultural issues – and their interrelationships. We also give attention to the classical liberal arts, which are necessary to understanding the Constitution and “the law” – and yet are typically excluded from “legal and constitutional studies.” Our teaching, therefore, is clearly interdisciplinary. We research, create, and teach both in-the-box and out-of-the-box, always dedicated to functioning in accordance with the highest standards of scholarship.
Overview/Purpose of Course: To educate and activate students to much more effective Christian civic involvement in re-establishing the Judeo-Christian foundation of American law and culture.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
Describe America’s Culture War from the worldview, interdisciplinary perspective;
Delineate the role of American courts in the Culture War;
Explain the manner in which the U. S. Constitution has become a central target in the Culture War;
Participate much more effectively in defending the Judeo-Christian worldview in the Culture War;
Lead others to be much more effectively involved in defending the Judeo-Christian worldview in the Culture War;
Apply feedback given by the professor concerning moot court briefs and presentations and other class assignments/activities.
Blitz #1 is divided into two Parts : Part I: The Radicalization of America; Part II: The Reclamation of America. Part I should be taken before Part II, but one is not obligated to take Part II even if having taken Part I.
Purpose: The two parts present a comprehensive overview of Western, particularly American, life since c. 1775, focusing on the interaction between, and decline of, American law and culture:
Part 1: “The Radicalization of America”
Part 2: “The Reclamation of America”
Each Part consists of six modules covering 1½ hours of meetings (contact time - professor and students seeing, hearing each other, or both). Thus, total contact time for each part = 6”. The totality of Blitz/Course #1 is 12” contact hour.
The first five meetings of each Part will consist of “traditional” Blackstone class procedure – presentation by professor with student interaction (Q & A, etc.). The last meeting of each Part will introduce students to our unique “Virtual Courtroom Program.”Although structured like an appellate court proceeding, this activity focuses on preparing all American patriots to ORALLY contend for our worldview in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Unique to Blackstone’ ministry, our Virtual Courtroom assumes NO particular preparation/experience on students’ backgrounds. But after these two introductory sessions, every student should be substantially better prepared to engage in our highly contentious national dialogue in a manner superior to that which they possessed upon entering the Courts.
Course Time/Dates of Meetings : Each Tuesday, beginning September 1, 2026, 6:00-7:30 CT, with the concluding meeting being November 17, 2026. Specific dates of specific meetings are listed below. EACH MEETING WILL BE RECORDED. So students having to miss any or all of the meetings (as with online students) may still participate and benefit fully. Also, ALL students may participate in Blackstone’s unique “PAL” program (“Professor Accessible Online”) by specific arrangement with the professor.
September 1 - MODULE 1: “REX V. LEX” : An Overview of the Radicalization/Culture War”: its prevalence, path, persistence, proliferation /polarization, etc. and the manner in which the Blackstone Institute studies this complex and critical phenomenon.
WHAT are the major features --- Slides #1-#15
WHEN (the path) has Radicalization spread across America --- Slides #16-20
September 8 – Module 2: “COURTING JUSTICE OR COURTING INJUSTICE?”: General identification of the combatants in the War as to their basic characteristics and clashes – the process of “ judicializing America. ” Analyzed through the lens of the Blackstone Institute’s “Four-Level Worldview Diagram,” a unique, more extended comparison of the characteristics and core conflicts between the Blackstonian/Judeo-Christian forces and the Humanistic/Radical forces in the Culture War, can be clearly seen (WHO) – Slides #21- 32
September 15; September 22 - Module 3: “THE POSTLAW COURTS V. THE JUDICIALIZED CONSTITUTION”: The Court system and Constitution are examined in detail sufficient to explain their rule in America’s radicalization. Powers, processes, principles, etc. are analyzed to allow a “deep dive” into the complicated and dark interrelationships between the radical forces, and their attempts to destroy Judeo-Christian forces fighting for America’s courts and culture. ( WHERE) – SLIDES #33-66
The Controversies
The Constitution
The Courts/”Judiocracy”:
September 29 - Module 4: “COURTING INJUSTICE”: An analysis and evaluation of critical court decisions which have plunged America into a “post-law world ” where radicalization has become a harsh reality. Specific fundamental areas addressed include religious liberties, abortion/life, evolutionism v. creationism, and the new sexualism. ( WHERE) – Slides #67-70
October 6: Moot Court Module #1; An overview of what “ moot court” is, the apologetic purposes of Blackstonian moot court, and moot court structure/procedures/illustrations. You will also be introduced to the real-world SCOTUS decision which is the most egregious ruling still in effect – Obergefell v. Hodges (granting constitutional status to same sex marriages) – which we will be arguing in Blitz #1. This is the ultimate practical training any Christian can receive.
MODULE 1:
Armstrong, “Constitutionalist Manifesto” in The Basic Backstone, 2009 (<BlackstoneInstitute.org/Courses)
[Available on Internet] Schaeffer, The God Inter-Varsity Press, 1968), Chs. I.-1.; III.-5; V.-2.
[Available on Internet] Denison, The Coming Tsunami (Forefront Books, 2022), Chs. 1, 9, “Conclusion”
[Available on Internet] Still the Law of the Land, (Crossway, 2022), Chs. 1, 9
MODULE 2:
Armstrong, “The Dangers of Bashing Blackstone,” (<BlackstoneInsitute.org/Courses>), 2005
Armstrong, “The Inevitability of Inseparability,“, 2002
Montgomery, The Law Above the Law (Bethany Fellowship, 1975), Ch. 1
MODULE 3: (Two Sessions)
[Available on Internet] The United States Constitution
[Available on Internet] The Declaration of Independence
[Available on Internet] Still the Law of the Land, Hillsdale College Press, 1987:
Lino Graglia, “How the Constitution Disappeared,” p. 37 ff.
Edwin Meese III, “The Moral Foundations of Republican Government,” p. 63 ff.
[Available on Internet] Trueman, Strange New World, Ch. 8
MODULE 4:
Armstrong, “The Constitutionalist Papers,” in The Basic Blackstone (selected items as listed by professor in class) (<BlackstoneInstitute.org/Courses)
[Available on Internet] Geisler, Christian Apologetics (Baker Book House, 1976), Chs. 8 & 13
MOOT COURT MODULE, I:
Armstrong, “The Virtual Courtroom,” (<BlackstoneInstitute.org/Courses)
Other: Vanderhoff v. Obergefell (Armstrong’s outline of arguments for he overturning of Obergefell , 2015)
Other materials as assigned by professor
*COURSE PROFESSOR: Virginia Armstrong, Ph.D. (Public Law and Political Science) – President, co-founder, the Blackstone Institute; career as Director and Senior Professor of Legal Studies, Hardin-Simmons University; Affiliate Professor of Blackstone Apologetics, Houston Christian (Baptist) University; University Fellow, Arizona Christian University; Founder and Chairman of the Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association; Law & Worldview Chairman, National Eagle Forum
OTHER AUTHORITIES INCLUDED:
Jim Denison
Lino Graglia
Edwin Meese, III
Norman Geisler
Francis Schaeffer
John Warwick Montgomery
Carl Trueman
END OF BLACKSTONE BLITZ #1, PART I
October 13 – “INTRODUCTION” – Slides #1-14
Module 1: “TRUTH ON TRIAL, I. – THE JUDICIALIZATION OF AMERICA”: This session launches a continued application of the Blackstonian Worldview Model to law and the culture, with emphasis on Levels 1 and 2 of the model – theology/religion and philosophy (both general and legal –“jurisprudence”). Using varied forms of data, the analysis begins a fierce defense of America’s taproot of truth, the Judeo-Christian worldview. – Slides #15-32
October 20 - Module 2: “TRUTH ON TRIAL, II – THE RULE OF LAWLESSNESS IN AMERICA”: This session continues the definition and defense of theological and jurisprudential truths in a Judeo-Christian America. Included is a discussion of both the Constitution and Declaration of Independence as expressions of the taproot of truth in America. Three central theological truths are defined and defended. Then five philosophical/jurisprudential truths are revealed as critically related to the theological truths and the various resulting relationships are also defended. – Slides #33-59
October 27- Module 2: “TRUTH ON TRIAL, II (CONT.) – Slides #-33-59
November 3 - Module 3: “THE RADICALIZING REVOLUTION”: A deeper dive into the nature, leaders, goals, and strategies of the Radicalizing forces in America, and the major consequences resulting for our culture and our Constitution. Particular attention is given to the immense role that a few landmark Court decisions have played in the Radicalization Revolution. – Slides #60-85
November 10 – Module 4: “RECLAIMING AMERICA: REVIVING THE TAPROOT AND THE CONSTITUTION”: Analysis of a powerful new tool for reversing America’s radicalizing plunge - the “Constitutional Reclamation Amendments.” These three measures cleanse American law of disastrous radical judicial decisions central to the poisoning of our law and culture, and simultaneously enact powerful limits on the judiciary to prevent its further mischief – “curb the courts.” Specific reforms and the steps they required will be presented. Slides #86-124
November 17 – Moot Court Module #2; A continuation of what “ moot court” is, the apologetic ruling still in effect – Obergefell v. Hodges – and other advancements in moot court training as begun in MC Module #1
MODULE 1:
Wallace, “Whose Constitution?: An Inquiry into the Limits of Constitutional Interpretation,” in Still the Law of the Land, “ pp, 15 ff.
Cramton, “The Ordinary Religion of the Law School Classroom,” Cornell Law School (<http://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/facpub), 1978
MODULE 2:
Armstrong, “Law and the Christian Worldview,” (<BlackstoneInstitute.org/Courses), 2006
Schaeffer, The God Who is There, Chs. III-1; IV.-2
MODULE 3:
Armstrong, “ Roe v. Wade and Why It Must Go Nar,” in The Constitutionalist Papers, Ch. 3
Armstrong, “Sodomy, Survival, and the Supremes,” Ch. 9 in Papers (<BlackstoneInstitute.org/), 2009
Trueman, Strange New World, Chs. 7, 8
MODULE 4:
Trueman, Strange New World, Ch. 9
Armstrong, “Facts v. Fiction: Christians in Law and Civic Life”
MOOT COURT MODULE, II:
Continuation of Module I
