CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM

'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 (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.
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 — 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.

Contents

Christian socialist parties

Prominent Christian socialists

Quotes

See also

References

External links

Christian socialist parties

★ Democracia Popular

★ 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)

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^[1] although his adherence to Christian Socialist ideals are highly disputed.^[2]
Australian Labor Party leader 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" [1]. 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". [2].

★ Karl Barth

★ Tony Benn

★ Robert Malachy Burke

★ Walt Brown

★ Hugo Chávez

★ Dorothy Day

★ Percy Dearmer

★ Tommy Douglas

★ Diane Drufenbrock

★ Thomas J. Hagerty

★ Keir Hardie

★ Thomas Hughes

★ George Lansbury

★ John Ludlow

★ Martin Luther King – arguably the most famous Christian socialist, though not famous ''as'' a Christian socialist. ^[3]

★ 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 Ramsay MacDonald

★ F. O. Matthiessen

★ Frederick Maurice

★ Jürgen Moltmann

★ Reinhold Niebuhr

★ 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 major, Socialist Party USA

★ Edvard Kocbek, Slovenian poet, thinker and polititian

★ Vekoslav Grmič, Slovenian Roman Catholic bishop, writer, essayist and public figure

Quotes

See also

★ Christian anarchism

★ Christian left

★ Christian communism

★ Christian politics (index)

★ Liberation theology

★ Postmodern Christianity

References

1. http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/20030827_3_en.htm
2. http://www.workersliberty.org/node/8841
3. http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0120-08.htm


★ ''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)

★ Religion and Socialism Commission of the Democratic Socialists of America

★ Socialism and Faith Commission of the Socialist Party USA

★ Spartacus Educational on nineteenth-century Christian socialism

★ Anglo-Catholic Socialism