Christian socialism

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Christian socialism generally refers to those on the Christian left whose politics are both Christian and socialist and who see these two things as being interconnected. Broadly speaking, this category can include Liberation theology and the doctrine of the social gospel. The term "Christian Socialism" is used in this sense by organizations such as the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM), a specifically Christian grouping affiliated with the British Labour Party. The term also pertains to such earlier figures as the nineteenth century writer Frederick Denison Maurice (The Kingdom of Christ, 1838) and Francis Bellamy — Baptist minister and author of the United States' Pledge of Allegiance.

A number of Christian socialist movements and political parties throughout the world group themselves into the International League of Religious Socialists. It has member organizations in 21 countries representing 200,000 members.

Christian socialists draw parallels between what some have characterized as the egalitarian and anti-establishment message of Jesus, who — according to Christian Gospel — spoke against the religious authorities of his time, and the egalitarian, anti-establishment, and sometimes anti-clerical message of most contemporary socialisms. Some Christian Socialists have gone as far as to become active Communists (see Christian communism). This phenomenon was most common among Christian missionaries in China, the most notable being James Gareth Endicott, who became supportive of the struggle of the Communist Party of China in the 1930s and 1940s.

Christian socialism is not to be confused with certain parties with "Christian Social" in their names which are found in the German-speaking world, such as the contemporary Christian Social Union in Bavaria or the Christian Social Party in Austria-Hungary circa 1900. Such parties do not claim to be socialist, nor are they considered socialist by others. The term Christian Democrat is more appropriately applied to the contemporary parties.

Christian socialist parties

• Democracia Popular, largest party in Ecuador
• Social Christians (Italy)
• Christian Left Party (Chile)

Prominent Christian socialists

• Thomas J. Hagerty
• Karl Barth
• Tony Blair
• Robert Malachy Burke
• Thomas Hughes
• John Ludlow
• Charles Kingsley
• Frederick Maurice
• F.O. Matthiessen
• Cornel West
• Percy Dearmer
• Tommy Douglas
• Diane Drufenbrock
• Keir Hardie
• Martin Luther King - arguably the most famous Christian socialist, though not famous as a Christian socialist. [link]

Quotes

"He [Jesus] accompanied me in difficult times, in crucial moments. So Jesus Christ is no doubt a historical figure — he was someone who rebelled, an anti-imperialist guy. He confronted the Roman Empire.... Because who might think that Jesus was a capitalist? No. Judas was the capitalist, for taking the coins! Christ was a revolutionary. He confronted the religious hierarchies. He confronted the economic power of the time. He preferred death in the defense of his humanistic ideals, who fostered change.... He is our Jesus Christ."

Hugo Chávez, untitled speech delivered at the Latino Pastoral Action Center in Bronx, New York City.

"If we all came of the same father and mother, of Adam and Eve, how can they say or prove that they are better than we, if it be not that they make us gain for them by our toil what they spend in their pride?"

attributed to John Ball

"True compassion is more than flinging a coin at a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring."

Martin Luther King

See also

• Christian anarchism
• Christian left
• Christian communism
• Christian politics (index)
• Liberation theology

References

• Agrarian socialism in America: Marx, Jefferson, and Jesus in the Oklahoma Countryside, 1904-1920 (University of Oklahoma Press, 1999).

External links

• [Official site of Christian Socialist Movement (UK)]
• [Spartacus Educational on nineteenth-century Christian socialism]
• [Anglo-Catholic Socialism]
• [Socialism and Faith Commission of the Socialist Party USA]

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