Christian socialism 328794 225067158 2008-07-11T18:53:38Z 128.163.229.138 /* Quotes */ added another Hugo Chavez quote having to do with Christianity and socialism {{Socialism}} {{portal|Christianity}} '''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. 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 (UK)|Christian Socialist Movement]] (CSM), a specifically Christian grouping affiliated with the British [[The Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. The term also pertains to such earlier figures as the nineteenth century writers [[Frederick Denison Maurice]] (''The Kingdom of Christ'', 1838), [[Charles Kingsley]] (''Water-Babies'', 1863), [[Thomas Hughes]] (''Tom Brown's Schooldays'', 1857), [[Frederick James Furnivall]] (co-creator of the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]''), [[Adin Ballou]] (''Practical Christian Socialism'', 1854), and [[Francis Bellamy]] &mdash; Baptist minister and author of the United States' [[Pledge of Allegiance]]. On the Catholic side, the ''[[Rerum Novarum]]'' encyclical letter of [[Leo XIII]] (1891) was the starting point of a Teaching on social questions that was expanded and updated all through the 20th century. Though avoiding the word ''Socialism'' (as the Socialist movements of the day were anti-religious) the [[encyclical]] promotes a kind of [[corporatism]] based on [[social solidarity]] among the classes with respects for the needs and rights of all. In the more Catholic countries of [[Europe]] the encyclical's teaching was the inspiration that led to the formation of new Christian-inspired Socialist parties. 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 &mdash; according to Christian [[Gospel]] &mdash; 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 [[Communism|Communists]] ''(see [[Christian communism]])''. This phenomenon was most common among Christian [[missionary|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 language|German]]-speaking world, such as the contemporary [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria]] or the [[Christian Social Party (Austria)|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== * [[Christian Democratic Union (Ecuador)]] * [[Social Christians]] (Italy) * [[Partido Social Cristiano]] (Ecuador) * [[Christian Left Party (Chile)]] * [[Marc Sangnier]]'s ''[[Sillon]]'' and then ''[[Ligue de la jeune République]]'' * [[League of Christian Socialists]] (the Netherlands) * [[Christian Social Party (Netherlands)]] * [[Christian Social Party (Switzerland)]] * [[Christian Social Party (Slovenia)]] ==Prominent Christian socialists== The [[British Labour Party]] and [[Australian Labor Party]] have both been influenced by Christian socialism, and many figures from both parties could be considered to be Christian socialists, depending on the definition of 'socialism' used. Former British Labour leader [[Tony Blair]] is a member of the [[Christian Socialist Movement]]<ref>[http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/20030827_3_en.htm UK: Tony Blair's pact with God<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> although his adherence to Christian Socialist ideals are highly disputed.<ref>[http://www.workersliberty.org/node/8841 Poplarism, Christianity and Socialism | Workers' Liberty<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Australian Prime Minister]] [[Kevin Rudd]] wrote in 2006 that "A Christian perspective, informed by a social gospel or Christian socialist tradition, should not be rejected contemptuously by secular politicians as if these views are an unwelcome intrusion into the political sphere."<ref>[http://www.themonthly.com.au/excerpts/issue17_excerpt_001.html Faith in Politics | The Monthly<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However he also described socialism as an "arcane, 19th century" doctrine and stated that "I am not a socialist. I have never been a socialist and I never will be a socialist."<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rudd-rejects-socialism/2006/12/13/1165685753120.html Rudd rejects socialism - National - theage.com.au<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Karl Barth]] *[[Tony Benn]] *[[Robert Malachy Burke]] *[[Walt Brown]] *[[Dorothy Day]] *[[Percy Dearmer]] *[[Tommy Douglas]] *[[Diane Drufenbrock]] *[[Vekoslav Grmič]], [[Slovenia]]n [[Roman Catholic]] bishop, writer, essayist and public figure *[[Thomas J. Hagerty]] *[[Keir Hardie]] *[[Thomas Hughes]] *[[Fletcher Jones|Sir David Fletcher Jones]] *[[Edvard Kocbek]], [[Slovenians|Slovenian]] thinker, poet and politician *[[George Lansbury]] *[[John Ludlow]] *[[Martin Luther King]], arguably the most famous Christian socialist, though not famous ''as'' a Christian socialist.<ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0120-08.htm Remembering the Real Martin Luther King<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Charles Kingsley]] *Father [[Walter Lini]], for whom Christianity and socialism held strong similarities and could be combined to form the basis of [[Melanesian socialism]] *[[Margaret MacDonald (Wife of Prime Minister)|Margaret MacDonald]], wife of UK Prime Minister [[Ramsay MacDonald]] *[[F. O. Matthiessen]] *[[Frederick Maurice]] *[[Jürgen Moltmann]] *[[Brian Moore (politician)|Brian P. Moore]], candidate for the 2008 US Presidential elections *[[Reinhold Niebuhr]] *[[Huub Oosterhuis]] *[[Michael Joseph Savage]] *[[Dorothee Sölle]] *[[R. H. Tawney]] *[[Norman Thomas]] *[[Paul Tillich]] *[[Cornel West]] *[[Jackson Stitt Wilson]] (1868-1942) Methodist minister and socialist mayor of Berkeley, California from 1911-13. *[[Frank P. Zeidler]], ex-Milwaukee mayor, Socialist Party USA ==Quotes== {{cquote|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?|4=[[John Ball (priest)|John Ball]]<ref>John Richard Green, [http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=s&p=l&ID=1904#John%20Ball ''History of the English People'']. Accessed [[2007-07-22]].</ref>}} {{cquote|Socialism which means love, cooperation and brotherhood in every department of human affairs, is the only outward expression of a Christian's faith. I am firmly convinced that whether they know it or not, all who approve and accept competition and struggle against each other as the means whereby we gain our daily bread, do indeed betray and make of no effect the "will of God."|4=[[George Lansbury]]{{citequote}}}} {{cquote|Capitalism is the way of the devil and exploitation. If you really want to look at things through the eyes of Jesus Christ — who I think was the first socialist — only socialism can really create a genuine society.|4=[[Hugo Chávez]]<ref>Tim Padgett, ''Time'' magazine, [[2006-09-22]]. [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1538296,00.html Chavez: "Bush Has Called Me Worse Things"]. Accessed [[2007-07-22]].</ref>}} {{cquote|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.|4=[[Hugo Chávez]]<ref>Dave Marlow, The Red Mantis. [http://theredmantis.blogspot.com/2006/08/on-christianity-and-socialism.html On Christianity and Socialism]. Accessed [[2008-07-11]].</ref>}} ==See also== * [[Christian anarchism]] * [[Christian communism]] * [[Christian left]] * [[Christian politics (index)]] * [[International League of Religious Socialists]] * [[Liberation theology]] * [[Postmodern Christianity]] ==References== <references/> * ''Agrarian socialism in America: Marx, Jefferson, and Jesus in the Oklahoma Countryside, 1904-1920'' ([[University of Oklahoma Press]], 1999). * ''The Aftermath with Autobiography of the Author'' ([[John Bedford Leno]] published By Reeves & Turner, London 1892) ==External links== * [http://www.christiansocialist.org.uk/ Official site of Christian Socialist Movement (UK)] * [http://www.religioussocialism.com/vision.html Religious Socialists] Vision Statement of the Religion and Socialism Commission of the Democratic Socialists of America *[http://www.sp-usa.org/commissions/index.html Socialism and Faith Commission of the Socialist Party USA] * [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/REsocialism.htm Spartacus Educational on nineteenth-century Christian socialism] * [http://www.anglocatholicsocialism.org Anglo-Catholic Socialism] [[Category:Christian denominations]] [[Category:Christian philosophy]] [[Category:Christian socialists| ]] [[Category:Christian politics|Socialism]] [[Category:Socialism]] [[da:Kristensocialismen]] [[de:Religiöser Sozialismus]] [[es:Socialismo cristiano]] [[fr:Catholicisme social]] [[ko:기독교 사회주의]] [[it:Socialismo cristiano]] [[nl:Christen-socialisme]] [[ja:キリスト教社会主義]] [[pl:Socjalizm chrześcijański]] [[pt:Socialismo cristão]] [[ru:Христианский социализм]] [[sk:Kresťanský socializmus]] [[fi:Kristillinen sosialismi]] [[sv:Kristen socialism]] [[zh:基督教社會主義]]