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(Redirected from Religious Left)
The 'Religious Left' is a term used to describe those who hold strong religious beliefs and share Left-wing ideals. The term often specifically refers to Christian beliefs and can be interchangeable with the term 'Christian Left'.
As with any division into left-wing and right-wing, a label is always an approximation. The term 'left wing' might encompass a number of values which may or may not be held by different Christian movements and individuals.
As the unofficial title of a loose association of believers, it does provide a clear distinction from the more commonly known "Christian Right" or "Religious Right" and its key leaders and political views.
The most common religious viewpoint which might be described as 'left wing' is social justice, or care for the poor. Supporters of this might encourage universal health care, generous welfare, subsidized education, foreign aid and government subsidized schemes for improving the conditions of the disadvantaged. Stemming from egalitarian values from a Christian perspective, adherents of the Christian left consider it part of their Christian duty to take actions on behalf of the oppressed. As nearly all major religions contain some kind of requirement to help others, social justice has been cited by various religions as in line with their faith.
The Christian Left holds that social justice, renunciation of power, humility, forgiveness, and private observation of prayer (as opposed to publicly mandated prayer) are clearly mandated by the Gospel text[1]. Bible scholars observe that early church practices, would be described as socialism if practiced today. Evidence for a form of non-Marxist communism (sometimes referred to as Christian communism) can even be found in the Scriptures: ("The community of believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common." - Acts 4:32). In his day Jesus repeatedly advocated for the poor and outcast over the wealthy, powerful, and religious. The Christian Left maintains that stance is as relevant today as it was in Jesus' time. Also, because they adhere to Jesus' higher standard of "turning the other cheek", which they believe supersedes the Old Testament law of "an eye for an eye", the Christian Left often hearkens towards pacifism even if they see society in general tending toward militarism.
While non-religious socialists find support for socialism in the Gospels (for example Mikhail Gorbachev citing Jesus as "the first socialist" [1]), the Christian Left does not find that socialism alone is of particular merit. Christian faith is the core of their belief which in turn demands social justice.
★ Early Christian anti-materialism
★ Opposition to Rome
★ Christian communism
A number of movements of the past had similarities to today's Christian Left:
★ Anglo-Catholicism
★ Baptists of the Reformation (some radical segments)
★ Elements of Puritanism, Fifth Monarchists, Diggers, Quakers
★ Heretical movements such as the Cathars
★ Liberation theology
★ Lollard
★ Old-Catholicism
★ Peace churches
★ German Peasants' War
★ Role of Christians in the Peasants' Revolt in England, See Lollard priest John Ball.
★ Waldenses
For much of the early history of anti-establishment leftist movements such as socialism and liberalism (which was highly anti-clerical in the 19th century), established churches were led by a reactionary clergy who saw progress as a threat to their status and power. Most people viewed the church as part of the establishment. Revolutions in America, France, Russia and (much later) Spain were in part directed against the established churches (or rather their leading clergy) and instituted a separation of church and state.
However, in the 19th century, some writers and activists developed a school of thought, Christian socialism, a branch of Christian thought that was infused with socialism.
Early socialist thinkers such as Robert Owen, Charles Fourier, and the Duc de Saint-Simon based their theories of socialism upon Christian principles. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels reacted against these theories by formulating a secular theory of socialism in ''The Communist Manifesto''.
From St. Augustine of Hippo's ''City of God'' through St. Thomas More's ''Utopia'', major Christian writers have expounded socialist views. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, some began to take on the view that "genuine" Christianity had much in common with a Leftist perspective, pointing out that there is an extremely strong thread of egalitarianism in the New Testament. Other common leftist concerns such as pacifism, justice, racial equality, human rights, and the rejection of excessive wealth are also expressed strongly in the Bible. In the late 19th century, the Social Gospel movement arose (particularly among some Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Baptists in North America and Britain,) which attempted to integrate progressive and socialist thought with Christianity to produce a faith-based social activism, promoted by movements such as Christian Socialism. Later, in the 20th century, the theology of liberation and Creation Spirituality was championed by such writers as Gustavo Gutierrez and Matthew Fox.
Some Christian groups were closely associated with the peace movements against the Vietnam War as well as the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Religious leaders in many countries have also been on the forefront of criticizing any cuts to social welfare programs. In addition, many prominent civil rights activists (such as Martin Luther King, Jr.) were religious figures.
In the United States, members of the Christian Left come from a spectrum of denominations: Peace churches, elements of the Protestant mainline churches, elements of Roman Catholicism, and some parts of the evangelical community.
The Christian Left does not seem to be so well-organized or publicized as its right-wing counterpart. Opponents state that this is because it is less numerous. Supporters contend that it is actually more numerous but composed predominantly of persons less willing to voice political views in as forceful a manner as the Christian Right, possibly because of the perceived aggressiveness of the Christian Right. Further, supporters contend that the Christian Left has had relatively little success securing widespread corporate, political, and major media patronage compared to the Right. In the aftermath of the 2004 election in the United States Progressive Christian leaders started to form groups of their own to combat the Religious Right; The Center For Progressive Christianity and The Christian Alliance For Progress are two such groups that have formed to promote the cause.
Members of the Christian Left who work on interfaith issues are part of building the Progressive Reconstructionist movement.
The following beliefs are held by some to be representative of US Liberal Christians:[2]
★ Beliefs vary from the literal to the symbolic belief in Jesus Christ as God's incarnation. Some believe we are all sons and daughters of God and that Christ was exemplary, but not God.
★ Some believe all will go to heaven, as God is loving and forgiving. Others believe salvation lies in doing good works and no harm to others, regardless of faith. Some believe baptism is important. Some believe the concept of salvation after death is symbolic or nonexistent.
★ Most liberal churches teach that abortion is morally wrong, but many ultimately support a woman's right to choose, usually accompanied by policies to provide counseling on alternatives. Many are accepting of homosexuality and gay rights.
One of the largest strains of Christian Left thinking has been in the developing world, especially Latin America. Since the 1960s, Catholic thinkers have integrated left-wing thought and Catholicism, giving rise to Liberation Theology. It arose at a time when Catholic thinkers who opposed the despotic leaders in South and Central America allied themselves with the communist opposition. However, the Vatican decided that, while Liberation Theology is partially compatible with Catholic social teaching, certain Marxist elements of it (such as the doctrine of perpetual class struggle) are against Church teachings. However, by today's standards, the Catholic church maintains a fairly moderate viewpoint overall.
The Christian Left sometimes differs from other Christian political groups on issues including (but not limmited to) homosexuality. This is sometimes not a matter of different religious ideas, but one of focus -- viewing the prohibitions against killing, or the criticism of concentrations of wealth, as far more important than social issues emphasized by the religious right, such as opposition to homosexuality.
On the other hand, there are members of the Christian left who affirm that homosexual practice is compatible with the Christian life and believe common biblical arguments used to condemn homosexuality are either misinterpreted, taken out of context, or irrelevant to modern gay and lesbian relationships.
A related strain of thought is the (Catholic and evangelical leftist) Consistent Life Ethic, which sees opposition to capital punishment, militarism, euthanasia, abortion and the global maldistribution of wealth as being related. It is an idea shared by abrahamic religions as well as Buddhists, Hindus, and members of other religions. Sojourners is particularly associated with this strand of thought.
Other Christian leftists, such as Catholics for a Free Choice[3]., and the members of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice regard safeguarding women's reproductive freedom, and feminist advocacy, as one of their central focuses, and tie the absence of reproductive health services for women into their work.
Jim Wallis believes that one of the biggest problems that faces the left in any effort to reach out is to (evangelical and some Catholic) religious voters.[4] To this, Catholics for a Free Choice has responded that these progressive evangelical and Catholic pro-lifers have difficulties dealing with the implications of feminist theology and ethics for Christian faith.
★ Elisa Carrió, leftist politician
★ Frank Brennan, Jesuit and advocate for Australia's indigenous peoples
★ Tim Costello, Baptist minister, CEO of World Vision in Australia
★ Peter Garrett, rock singer and politician for the Australian Labor Party and member of Greenpeace
★ Kevin Rudd, politician and federal leader for the Australian Labor Party
★ Ivan Illich
★ Leonardo Boff, academic and social activist
★ Richard Allen, politician and historian of Christian socialism
★ Charlie Angus, writer and politician
★ Bill Blaikie, minister and politician
★ Andrew Brewin, politician and author
★ Lorne Calvert, minister and politician and premier of Saskatchewan
★ Cheri DiNovo, minister and politician
★ Tommy Douglas, minister, politician, Medicare pioneer and "The Greatest Canadian"
★ Stanley Knowles, minister and politician
★ Desmond McGrath, priest, trade union organizer and activist
★ Bill Phipps, church leader and activist
★ Frank Scott, poet and constitutional expert
★ William Horace Temple, politician, minister, and trade union activist
★ J. S. Woodsworth, minister and politician and "The 100th Greatest Canadian"
★ Camilo Torres Restrepo, Liberation theologian and guerrilla
★ Philip Agee
★ Rafael Correa, incumbent president and former finance minister.
★ Óscar Romero, archbishop
★ Bishop Jacques Gaillot, Roman Catholic Bishop of Partenia, social activist
★ Abbé Pierre, Roman Catholic social activist
★ Personalism (Emmanuel Mounier, etc.)
★ Christoph Blumhardt, Lutheran theologian
★ Rudi Dutschke, student protest leader
★ Emil Fuchs, Quaker theologian
★ Helmut Gollwitzer, Lutheran theologian
★ Hans Küng, Catholic theologian
★ Jürgen Klute, Electoral Alternative for Labor and Social Justice candidate
★ Johann Baptist Metz, Catholic theologian
★ Dorothee Sölle, Lutheran theologian
★ Jean-Bertrand Aristide, former President of Haiti
★ Gérard Jean-Juste, liberation theologian
★ E. Stanley Jones, Methodist Missionary and close friend of Mahatma Gandhi.
★ Mahatma Gandhi, a non-violent and devout religionist (practicer of all religions, mainly Hinduism)
★ Bono possibly the most powerful rockstar in the world.
★ Ermanno Gorrieri, trade union activist, economist and co-founder of Social Christians
★ Pierre Carniti, trade union leader and co-founder of Social Christians
★ Huub Oosterhuis, theologian and poet
★ Ernesto Cardenal, Liberation theologian
★ Daniel Ortega, Leader of Sandinists, Nicaraguan politician and president
★ Lloyd Geering, theologian
★ Walter Nash, prime minister
★ Arnold Nordmeyer, minister and politician
★ Helen Bjørnøy, minister of the environment and Lutheran minister
★ Gustavo Gutiérrez, founder of liberation theology
★ Leo Tolstoy, writer and social reformer
★ Vekoslav Grmič, Slovenian Roman Catholic bishop and theologian
★ Edvard Kocbek, Poet, Essayist and polititian
★ Gorazd Kocijančič, Philosopher (defines himself as "Christian anarchist")
★ Boris Pahor, Writer and essayist
★ Nelson Mandela, former South African president
★ Desmond Tutu, former Anglican Archbishop of South Africa
★ K. G. Hammar, former Archbishop of Uppsala
★ Lukas Moodysson, film writer and director
★ Karl Barth, neo-orthodox theologian
★ Hermann Kutter, Reformed theologian
★ Leonhard Ragaz, Reformed theologian
★ Walt Brown, ex-Oregon state Senator,
★ Jimmy Carter, humanitarian and former President
★ Robert Casey, former Pennsylvania governor
★ Bill Clinton, former President
★ Dorothy Day, Catholic Worker Movement cofounder, Wobbly
★ Diane Drufenbrock, nun, Socialist Party USA
★ John Edwards, Former United States Senator and current Presidential candidate
★ Al Gore, Former Vice President of the United States and activist
★ Thomas J. Hagerty, founding member of IWW
★ Ammon Hennacy, Wobbly
★ Hubert Humphrey, Former Vice President of the United States
★ Jesse Jackson, politician and civil rights leader
★ John Lewis, U.S. congressman and civil rights leader
★ Barack Obama, junior senator from Illinois, and current presidential candidate
★ Walter Mondale, Former Vice President of the United States
★ Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President
★ Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America presidential candidate
★ Al Sharpton, 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and civil rights leader
★ Harry S Truman, President
★ Atlee Yarrow, political activist, candidate (twice), union organizer, Host of Christian Socialist Party USA website
★ Frank P. Zeidler, ex-Mayor of Milwaukee, Socialist Party USA
★ Tony Campolo, Baptist evangelist and sociologist
★ Forrester Church, Unitarian Universalist minister, author
★ William Sloane Coffin, Jr., UCC minister and peace activist
★ Daniel Berrigan, Catholic priest & peace activist
★ Kim Bobo, founder, Interfaith Worker Justice
★ Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report and Sunday School Teacher
★ John Cort, writer, editor for Commonweal, Peacework, Religious Socialism
★ Jerome Davis, labor organizer and sociologist
★ James A. Forbes, minister at Riverside Church
★ Tom Gabel, Anarcho-Catholic and Punk Rock Icon
★ Jeannine Gramick, Roman Catholic nun and founder of New Ways Ministry
★ Thomas Gumbleton, Roman Catholic bishop of Detroit and social activist
★ Coretta Scott King, civil rights activist and wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.
★ Martin Luther King, Jr. - Nobel Prize winning civil-rights activist.
★ Rev. Joseph Lowery Civil Rights Leader who humiliated GW Bush.
★ Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
★ Pauli Murray, first female Episcopal minister and co-founder of NOW
★ Charles Owen Rice, Catholic priest, labor leader, and civil rights activist
★ Ron Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action
★ Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
★ Jim Wallis, editor of ''Sojourners Magazine''
★ Barry Welsh Congressional Candidate and Minister (United Methodist Church)
★ Ava Lowery Up and comming Activist (United Methodist Church)
★ Cindy Sheehan
★ Michiael Moore
★ David Ray Griffin, Theology professor and 9/11 Truth author
★ Anne Lamott, author
★ Stanley Hauerwas, theologian and ethicist
★ Brian McLaren, Emerging Church Leader
★ Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Church
★ Walter Rauschenbusch, social gospel thinker
★ John Shelby Spong, retired bishop and liberal political activist
★ John Howard Yoder, biblical scholar and ethicist
★ Cornel West, theologian, academic, activist
★ Jim Winkler leading member of the United Methodist Church
★ Johnny Cash, singer/songwriter
★ June Carter Cash, singer/songwriter
★ David Allan Coe, singer/songwriter
★ Garth Brooks, singer/songwriter
★ Waylon Jennings,singer/songwriter
★ Willie Nelson,singer/songwriter
★ Gene Robinson, first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church
★ Hank Snow, singer/songwriter
★ Sweet Honey in the Rock, all-female gospel choir and social activists
★ Bernie Ward, radio personality, "Lion of the Left"
★ Keith Whitley, singer/songwriter
★ Hank Williams, singer/songwriter
★ Dane Cook Catholic Comedian
★ Rob Corddry Episcopalian Comedian
★ Moby singer/songwriter
★ Kevin Smith Writer/Director/Actor/Producer etc.
★ Steve Carell Actor/Comedian
★ George Lucas Film Icon (United Methodist Church)
★ Bruce Springsteen Catholic rock Icon
★ John Woo Lutheran/Director
★ John Mellencamp Singer/Song Writer
★ Val Kilmer Actor
★ Prince Musician) Musician
The medieval Lollards, particularly John Ball, took up many anti-establishment causes. During the English Civil War many of the more radical Parliamentarians, such as John Lilburne and the Levellers, based their belief in universal suffrage and proto-socialism on their reading of the Bible. Other people on the Christian left include:
★ George Fox, Quaker
★ Frank Weston, Bishop of Zanzibar, Anglo-Catholic
★ Father Robert W. R. Dolling, Anglo-Catholic
★ Stewart Headlam, Anglo-Catholic
★ Charles Gore, Anglo-Catholic
★ Charles Marson, Anglo-Catholic
★ Conrad Noel, Anglo-Catholic
★ Bishop B.F. Westcott, Anglo-Catholic and spiritualist
★ R. H. Tawney, economist and historian
★ Chris Bryant, Labour MP and former priest
★ John Lewis, philosopher
★ David Cairns, Labour MP and former priest
★ Maurice Reckitt, writer
★ Mark Ballard, Green Member of the Scottish Parliament
★ Tony Benn, former Labour MP
★ George Galloway, former Labour MP and current RESPECT MP for Bethnal Green and Bow
★ Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
★ Social Christians (Italy)
★ Evangelical People's Party (Switzerland)
★ Christian Social Party (Switzerland) (Catholic)
★ Christian Democratic and Flemish (Belgium)
★ Evangelical People's Party (The Netherlands)
★ Alianza Pais (Ecuador)
★ Christian Socialist Party (USA)
★ Christian Democratic Party (Uruguay)
★ Christian Left Party (Chile)
★ COPEI (Venezuela)
1.
Mikhail S. Gorbachev Quotes
2. [2]
3. Catholics for a Free Choice has been attacked as not being genuinely Catholic. The Real Agenda of Catholics for a Free Choice, William A. Donohue, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
4. "And there are literally millions of votes at stake in this liberal miscalculation. Virtually everywhere I go, I encounter moderate and progressive Christians who find it painfully difficult to vote Democratic given the party’s rigid, ideological stance on this critical moral issue, a stance they regard as "pro-abortion." Except for this major and, in some cases, insurmountable obstacle, these voters would be casting Democratic ballots." from Make Room for Pro-Life Democrats, Jim Wallis, Sojourners Magazine, hosted on beliefnet
★ Anglo-Catholicism
★ Christian anarchism
★ Christian communism
★ Christian democracy
★ Christian pacifism
★ Christian socialism
★ Creation Spirituality
★ Episcopal Church
★ Evangelical left
★ Homosexuality and Christianity
★ International League of Religious Socialists
★ Jewish left
★ Liberal Christianity
★ Liberation Theology
★ Pacifism
★ Progressive Christianity
★ Progressive Reconstructionist
★ Religion and abortion
★ Religious Society of Friends
★ Social Gospel
:''Contrast: Religious right, Christian right, Secular left, Secular right''
★ Anglo-Catholic Socialism
★ CrossLeft: Balancing the Christian Voice, Organizing the Christian Left
★ The Christian Leftist: The 'Religious' 'Right' Is Neither
★ Religious Movements Homepage: Call to Renewal: Christians for a New Political Vision
★ Every Church a Peace Church
★ Left-wing Christian politics from an American perspective
★ NOW with Bill Moyers:The Christian Left?
★ Musings from the Christian Left by Michael Bindner
★ The Christian Libertarian Party Manifesto by Michael Bindner
★ Religion and Socialism Commission of the Democratic Socialists of America
★ Socialism and Faith Commission of the Socialist Party USA
★ Sojourners Magazine
★ Social Redemption
★ Turn-Left.com - Religious Left Goods
★ The Center for Progressive Christianity
★ The Christian Alliance for Progress
★ Totalitarian Daydreams and Christian Humanism At the Crossroads
★ Known Author - discussion forum for liberal Christians
The 'Religious Left' is a term used to describe those who hold strong religious beliefs and share Left-wing ideals. The term often specifically refers to Christian beliefs and can be interchangeable with the term 'Christian Left'.
As with any division into left-wing and right-wing, a label is always an approximation. The term 'left wing' might encompass a number of values which may or may not be held by different Christian movements and individuals.
As the unofficial title of a loose association of believers, it does provide a clear distinction from the more commonly known "Christian Right" or "Religious Right" and its key leaders and political views.
The most common religious viewpoint which might be described as 'left wing' is social justice, or care for the poor. Supporters of this might encourage universal health care, generous welfare, subsidized education, foreign aid and government subsidized schemes for improving the conditions of the disadvantaged. Stemming from egalitarian values from a Christian perspective, adherents of the Christian left consider it part of their Christian duty to take actions on behalf of the oppressed. As nearly all major religions contain some kind of requirement to help others, social justice has been cited by various religions as in line with their faith.
The Christian Left holds that social justice, renunciation of power, humility, forgiveness, and private observation of prayer (as opposed to publicly mandated prayer) are clearly mandated by the Gospel text[1]. Bible scholars observe that early church practices, would be described as socialism if practiced today. Evidence for a form of non-Marxist communism (sometimes referred to as Christian communism) can even be found in the Scriptures: ("The community of believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common." - Acts 4:32). In his day Jesus repeatedly advocated for the poor and outcast over the wealthy, powerful, and religious. The Christian Left maintains that stance is as relevant today as it was in Jesus' time. Also, because they adhere to Jesus' higher standard of "turning the other cheek", which they believe supersedes the Old Testament law of "an eye for an eye", the Christian Left often hearkens towards pacifism even if they see society in general tending toward militarism.
While non-religious socialists find support for socialism in the Gospels (for example Mikhail Gorbachev citing Jesus as "the first socialist" [1]), the Christian Left does not find that socialism alone is of particular merit. Christian faith is the core of their belief which in turn demands social justice.
History
Early Christianity
★ Early Christian anti-materialism
★ Opposition to Rome
★ Christian communism
Movements
A number of movements of the past had similarities to today's Christian Left:
★ Anglo-Catholicism
★ Baptists of the Reformation (some radical segments)
★ Elements of Puritanism, Fifth Monarchists, Diggers, Quakers
★ Heretical movements such as the Cathars
★ Liberation theology
★ Lollard
★ Old-Catholicism
★ Peace churches
★ German Peasants' War
★ Role of Christians in the Peasants' Revolt in England, See Lollard priest John Ball.
★ Waldenses
Early antagonism between the left and Christianity
For much of the early history of anti-establishment leftist movements such as socialism and liberalism (which was highly anti-clerical in the 19th century), established churches were led by a reactionary clergy who saw progress as a threat to their status and power. Most people viewed the church as part of the establishment. Revolutions in America, France, Russia and (much later) Spain were in part directed against the established churches (or rather their leading clergy) and instituted a separation of church and state.
However, in the 19th century, some writers and activists developed a school of thought, Christian socialism, a branch of Christian thought that was infused with socialism.
Early socialist thinkers such as Robert Owen, Charles Fourier, and the Duc de Saint-Simon based their theories of socialism upon Christian principles. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels reacted against these theories by formulating a secular theory of socialism in ''The Communist Manifesto''.
Alliance of the left and Christianity
From St. Augustine of Hippo's ''City of God'' through St. Thomas More's ''Utopia'', major Christian writers have expounded socialist views. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, some began to take on the view that "genuine" Christianity had much in common with a Leftist perspective, pointing out that there is an extremely strong thread of egalitarianism in the New Testament. Other common leftist concerns such as pacifism, justice, racial equality, human rights, and the rejection of excessive wealth are also expressed strongly in the Bible. In the late 19th century, the Social Gospel movement arose (particularly among some Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Baptists in North America and Britain,) which attempted to integrate progressive and socialist thought with Christianity to produce a faith-based social activism, promoted by movements such as Christian Socialism. Later, in the 20th century, the theology of liberation and Creation Spirituality was championed by such writers as Gustavo Gutierrez and Matthew Fox.
Christian left and campaigns for peace and human rights
Some Christian groups were closely associated with the peace movements against the Vietnam War as well as the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. Religious leaders in many countries have also been on the forefront of criticizing any cuts to social welfare programs. In addition, many prominent civil rights activists (such as Martin Luther King, Jr.) were religious figures.
Christian left in the United States
In the United States, members of the Christian Left come from a spectrum of denominations: Peace churches, elements of the Protestant mainline churches, elements of Roman Catholicism, and some parts of the evangelical community.
The Christian Left does not seem to be so well-organized or publicized as its right-wing counterpart. Opponents state that this is because it is less numerous. Supporters contend that it is actually more numerous but composed predominantly of persons less willing to voice political views in as forceful a manner as the Christian Right, possibly because of the perceived aggressiveness of the Christian Right. Further, supporters contend that the Christian Left has had relatively little success securing widespread corporate, political, and major media patronage compared to the Right. In the aftermath of the 2004 election in the United States Progressive Christian leaders started to form groups of their own to combat the Religious Right; The Center For Progressive Christianity and The Christian Alliance For Progress are two such groups that have formed to promote the cause.
Members of the Christian Left who work on interfaith issues are part of building the Progressive Reconstructionist movement.
The following beliefs are held by some to be representative of US Liberal Christians:[2]
★ Beliefs vary from the literal to the symbolic belief in Jesus Christ as God's incarnation. Some believe we are all sons and daughters of God and that Christ was exemplary, but not God.
★ Some believe all will go to heaven, as God is loving and forgiving. Others believe salvation lies in doing good works and no harm to others, regardless of faith. Some believe baptism is important. Some believe the concept of salvation after death is symbolic or nonexistent.
★ Most liberal churches teach that abortion is morally wrong, but many ultimately support a woman's right to choose, usually accompanied by policies to provide counseling on alternatives. Many are accepting of homosexuality and gay rights.
Liberation Theology
One of the largest strains of Christian Left thinking has been in the developing world, especially Latin America. Since the 1960s, Catholic thinkers have integrated left-wing thought and Catholicism, giving rise to Liberation Theology. It arose at a time when Catholic thinkers who opposed the despotic leaders in South and Central America allied themselves with the communist opposition. However, the Vatican decided that, while Liberation Theology is partially compatible with Catholic social teaching, certain Marxist elements of it (such as the doctrine of perpetual class struggle) are against Church teachings. However, by today's standards, the Catholic church maintains a fairly moderate viewpoint overall.
Christian left and issues
The Christian Left sometimes differs from other Christian political groups on issues including (but not limmited to) homosexuality. This is sometimes not a matter of different religious ideas, but one of focus -- viewing the prohibitions against killing, or the criticism of concentrations of wealth, as far more important than social issues emphasized by the religious right, such as opposition to homosexuality.
On the other hand, there are members of the Christian left who affirm that homosexual practice is compatible with the Christian life and believe common biblical arguments used to condemn homosexuality are either misinterpreted, taken out of context, or irrelevant to modern gay and lesbian relationships.
The Consistent Life Ethic
A related strain of thought is the (Catholic and evangelical leftist) Consistent Life Ethic, which sees opposition to capital punishment, militarism, euthanasia, abortion and the global maldistribution of wealth as being related. It is an idea shared by abrahamic religions as well as Buddhists, Hindus, and members of other religions. Sojourners is particularly associated with this strand of thought.
Other Christian leftists, such as Catholics for a Free Choice[3]., and the members of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice regard safeguarding women's reproductive freedom, and feminist advocacy, as one of their central focuses, and tie the absence of reproductive health services for women into their work.
Jim Wallis believes that one of the biggest problems that faces the left in any effort to reach out is to (evangelical and some Catholic) religious voters.[4] To this, Catholics for a Free Choice has responded that these progressive evangelical and Catholic pro-lifers have difficulties dealing with the implications of feminist theology and ethics for Christian faith.
Notable Christian leftists
Argentina
★ Elisa Carrió, leftist politician
Australia
★ Frank Brennan, Jesuit and advocate for Australia's indigenous peoples
★ Tim Costello, Baptist minister, CEO of World Vision in Australia
★ Peter Garrett, rock singer and politician for the Australian Labor Party and member of Greenpeace
★ Kevin Rudd, politician and federal leader for the Australian Labor Party
Austria
★ Ivan Illich
Brazil
★ Leonardo Boff, academic and social activist
Canada
★ Richard Allen, politician and historian of Christian socialism
★ Charlie Angus, writer and politician
★ Bill Blaikie, minister and politician
★ Andrew Brewin, politician and author
★ Lorne Calvert, minister and politician and premier of Saskatchewan
★ Cheri DiNovo, minister and politician
★ Tommy Douglas, minister, politician, Medicare pioneer and "The Greatest Canadian"
★ Stanley Knowles, minister and politician
★ Desmond McGrath, priest, trade union organizer and activist
★ Bill Phipps, church leader and activist
★ Frank Scott, poet and constitutional expert
★ William Horace Temple, politician, minister, and trade union activist
★ J. S. Woodsworth, minister and politician and "The 100th Greatest Canadian"
Colombia
★ Camilo Torres Restrepo, Liberation theologian and guerrilla
Cuba
★ Philip Agee
Ecuador
★ Rafael Correa, incumbent president and former finance minister.
El Salvador
★ Óscar Romero, archbishop
France
★ Bishop Jacques Gaillot, Roman Catholic Bishop of Partenia, social activist
★ Abbé Pierre, Roman Catholic social activist
★ Personalism (Emmanuel Mounier, etc.)
Germany
★ Christoph Blumhardt, Lutheran theologian
★ Rudi Dutschke, student protest leader
★ Emil Fuchs, Quaker theologian
★ Helmut Gollwitzer, Lutheran theologian
★ Hans Küng, Catholic theologian
★ Jürgen Klute, Electoral Alternative for Labor and Social Justice candidate
★ Johann Baptist Metz, Catholic theologian
★ Dorothee Sölle, Lutheran theologian
Haiti
★ Jean-Bertrand Aristide, former President of Haiti
★ Gérard Jean-Juste, liberation theologian
India
★ E. Stanley Jones, Methodist Missionary and close friend of Mahatma Gandhi.
★ Mahatma Gandhi, a non-violent and devout religionist (practicer of all religions, mainly Hinduism)
Ireland
★ Bono possibly the most powerful rockstar in the world.
Italy
★ Ermanno Gorrieri, trade union activist, economist and co-founder of Social Christians
★ Pierre Carniti, trade union leader and co-founder of Social Christians
Netherlands
★ Huub Oosterhuis, theologian and poet
Nicaragua
★ Ernesto Cardenal, Liberation theologian
★ Daniel Ortega, Leader of Sandinists, Nicaraguan politician and president
New Zealand
★ Lloyd Geering, theologian
★ Walter Nash, prime minister
★ Arnold Nordmeyer, minister and politician
Norway
★ Helen Bjørnøy, minister of the environment and Lutheran minister
Peru
★ Gustavo Gutiérrez, founder of liberation theology
Russia
★ Leo Tolstoy, writer and social reformer
Slovenia
★ Vekoslav Grmič, Slovenian Roman Catholic bishop and theologian
★ Edvard Kocbek, Poet, Essayist and polititian
★ Gorazd Kocijančič, Philosopher (defines himself as "Christian anarchist")
★ Boris Pahor, Writer and essayist
South Africa
★ Nelson Mandela, former South African president
★ Desmond Tutu, former Anglican Archbishop of South Africa
Sweden
★ K. G. Hammar, former Archbishop of Uppsala
★ Lukas Moodysson, film writer and director
Switzerland
★ Karl Barth, neo-orthodox theologian
★ Hermann Kutter, Reformed theologian
★ Leonhard Ragaz, Reformed theologian
United States
Leaders (political)
★ Walt Brown, ex-Oregon state Senator,
★ Jimmy Carter, humanitarian and former President
★ Robert Casey, former Pennsylvania governor
★ Bill Clinton, former President
★ Dorothy Day, Catholic Worker Movement cofounder, Wobbly
★ Diane Drufenbrock, nun, Socialist Party USA
★ John Edwards, Former United States Senator and current Presidential candidate
★ Al Gore, Former Vice President of the United States and activist
★ Thomas J. Hagerty, founding member of IWW
★ Ammon Hennacy, Wobbly
★ Hubert Humphrey, Former Vice President of the United States
★ Jesse Jackson, politician and civil rights leader
★ John Lewis, U.S. congressman and civil rights leader
★ Barack Obama, junior senator from Illinois, and current presidential candidate
★ Walter Mondale, Former Vice President of the United States
★ Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President
★ Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America presidential candidate
★ Al Sharpton, 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and civil rights leader
★ Harry S Truman, President
★ Atlee Yarrow, political activist, candidate (twice), union organizer, Host of Christian Socialist Party USA website
★ Frank P. Zeidler, ex-Mayor of Milwaukee, Socialist Party USA
Leaders a/o activists (civil)
★ Tony Campolo, Baptist evangelist and sociologist
★ Forrester Church, Unitarian Universalist minister, author
★ William Sloane Coffin, Jr., UCC minister and peace activist
★ Daniel Berrigan, Catholic priest & peace activist
★ Kim Bobo, founder, Interfaith Worker Justice
★ Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report and Sunday School Teacher
★ John Cort, writer, editor for Commonweal, Peacework, Religious Socialism
★ Jerome Davis, labor organizer and sociologist
★ James A. Forbes, minister at Riverside Church
★ Tom Gabel, Anarcho-Catholic and Punk Rock Icon
★ Jeannine Gramick, Roman Catholic nun and founder of New Ways Ministry
★ Thomas Gumbleton, Roman Catholic bishop of Detroit and social activist
★ Coretta Scott King, civil rights activist and wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.
★ Martin Luther King, Jr. - Nobel Prize winning civil-rights activist.
★ Rev. Joseph Lowery Civil Rights Leader who humiliated GW Bush.
★ Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
★ Pauli Murray, first female Episcopal minister and co-founder of NOW
★ Charles Owen Rice, Catholic priest, labor leader, and civil rights activist
★ Ron Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action
★ Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
★ Jim Wallis, editor of ''Sojourners Magazine''
★ Barry Welsh Congressional Candidate and Minister (United Methodist Church)
★ Ava Lowery Up and comming Activist (United Methodist Church)
★ Cindy Sheehan
★ Michiael Moore
Thinkers
★ David Ray Griffin, Theology professor and 9/11 Truth author
★ Anne Lamott, author
★ Stanley Hauerwas, theologian and ethicist
★ Brian McLaren, Emerging Church Leader
★ Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Church
★ Walter Rauschenbusch, social gospel thinker
★ John Shelby Spong, retired bishop and liberal political activist
★ John Howard Yoder, biblical scholar and ethicist
★ Cornel West, theologian, academic, activist
★ Jim Winkler leading member of the United Methodist Church
Others
★ Johnny Cash, singer/songwriter
★ June Carter Cash, singer/songwriter
★ David Allan Coe, singer/songwriter
★ Garth Brooks, singer/songwriter
★ Waylon Jennings,singer/songwriter
★ Willie Nelson,singer/songwriter
★ Gene Robinson, first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church
★ Hank Snow, singer/songwriter
★ Sweet Honey in the Rock, all-female gospel choir and social activists
★ Bernie Ward, radio personality, "Lion of the Left"
★ Keith Whitley, singer/songwriter
★ Hank Williams, singer/songwriter
★ Dane Cook Catholic Comedian
★ Rob Corddry Episcopalian Comedian
★ Moby singer/songwriter
★ Kevin Smith Writer/Director/Actor/Producer etc.
★ Steve Carell Actor/Comedian
★ George Lucas Film Icon (United Methodist Church)
★ Bruce Springsteen Catholic rock Icon
★ John Woo Lutheran/Director
★ John Mellencamp Singer/Song Writer
★ Val Kilmer Actor
★ Prince Musician) Musician
United Kingdom
The medieval Lollards, particularly John Ball, took up many anti-establishment causes. During the English Civil War many of the more radical Parliamentarians, such as John Lilburne and the Levellers, based their belief in universal suffrage and proto-socialism on their reading of the Bible. Other people on the Christian left include:
★ George Fox, Quaker
★ Frank Weston, Bishop of Zanzibar, Anglo-Catholic
★ Father Robert W. R. Dolling, Anglo-Catholic
★ Stewart Headlam, Anglo-Catholic
★ Charles Gore, Anglo-Catholic
★ Charles Marson, Anglo-Catholic
★ Conrad Noel, Anglo-Catholic
★ Bishop B.F. Westcott, Anglo-Catholic and spiritualist
★ R. H. Tawney, economist and historian
★ Chris Bryant, Labour MP and former priest
★ John Lewis, philosopher
★ David Cairns, Labour MP and former priest
★ Maurice Reckitt, writer
★ Mark Ballard, Green Member of the Scottish Parliament
★ Tony Benn, former Labour MP
★ George Galloway, former Labour MP and current RESPECT MP for Bethnal Green and Bow
★ Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
Parties of the Christian left
★ Social Christians (Italy)
★ Evangelical People's Party (Switzerland)
★ Christian Social Party (Switzerland) (Catholic)
★ Christian Democratic and Flemish (Belgium)
★ Evangelical People's Party (The Netherlands)
★ Alianza Pais (Ecuador)
★ Christian Socialist Party (USA)
★ Christian Democratic Party (Uruguay)
★ Christian Left Party (Chile)
★ COPEI (Venezuela)
References
1.
Mikhail S. Gorbachev Quotes
2. [2]
3. Catholics for a Free Choice has been attacked as not being genuinely Catholic. The Real Agenda of Catholics for a Free Choice, William A. Donohue, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
4. "And there are literally millions of votes at stake in this liberal miscalculation. Virtually everywhere I go, I encounter moderate and progressive Christians who find it painfully difficult to vote Democratic given the party’s rigid, ideological stance on this critical moral issue, a stance they regard as "pro-abortion." Except for this major and, in some cases, insurmountable obstacle, these voters would be casting Democratic ballots." from Make Room for Pro-Life Democrats, Jim Wallis, Sojourners Magazine, hosted on beliefnet
See also
★ Anglo-Catholicism
★ Christian anarchism
★ Christian communism
★ Christian democracy
★ Christian pacifism
★ Christian socialism
★ Creation Spirituality
★ Episcopal Church
★ Evangelical left
★ Homosexuality and Christianity
★ International League of Religious Socialists
★ Jewish left
★ Liberal Christianity
★ Liberation Theology
★ Pacifism
★ Progressive Christianity
★ Progressive Reconstructionist
★ Religion and abortion
★ Religious Society of Friends
★ Social Gospel
:''Contrast: Religious right, Christian right, Secular left, Secular right''
External links
★ Anglo-Catholic Socialism
★ CrossLeft: Balancing the Christian Voice, Organizing the Christian Left
★ The Christian Leftist: The 'Religious' 'Right' Is Neither
★ Religious Movements Homepage: Call to Renewal: Christians for a New Political Vision
★ Every Church a Peace Church
★ Left-wing Christian politics from an American perspective
★ NOW with Bill Moyers:The Christian Left?
★ Musings from the Christian Left by Michael Bindner
★ The Christian Libertarian Party Manifesto by Michael Bindner
★ Religion and Socialism Commission of the Democratic Socialists of America
★ Socialism and Faith Commission of the Socialist Party USA
★ Sojourners Magazine
★ Social Redemption
★ Turn-Left.com - Religious Left Goods
★ The Center for Progressive Christianity
★ The Christian Alliance for Progress
★ Totalitarian Daydreams and Christian Humanism At the Crossroads
★ Known Author - discussion forum for liberal Christians
| See: Christian politics (index) for articles related to this subject. |
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