| Christian Anarchism |
Article Index for Christian |
Shopping Anarchism |
Website Links For Christian |
Information AboutChristian Anarchism |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CHRISTIAN ANARCHISM | |
| anarchism by genre | |
| christian philosophy | |
| anarchism | |
| christian politics | |
| liberation theology | |
| political systems | |
| industrial workers of the world | |
|
Christian anarchism is any of several traditions which combine ) is a key text in modern Christian anarchism. HISTORY The early Church The early church in Acts shared their money and labor equally and fairly among the members. Women played as vital a role as men in the early community. Some, such as Ammon Hennacy and Keith Akers , have claimed that a "shift" away from Jesus' practices and teachings of nonviolence, Simple Living and freedom occurred in the theology of Paul Of Tarsus . These individuals suggest that Christians should look at returning to pre-" Pauline Christianity ". Although there is some evidence that Egalitarian Jewish Christians existed shortly after Jesus's death, possibly including the Ebionites , the majority of Christians soon followed the Hierarchical and Authoritarian religious structure which they claim was founded by Paul. As the Church grew and spread, the emerging central authorities began to advocate Legalism and strict Obedience to church Doctrine . This type of Religious Authority and adherence could be compared to the theological economy of Israelite sacrificial religion in the Second Temple period which Jesus directly attacked in throwing the money changers out of the Temple district (Matt 21:12). Other Christians point out that Paul's teachings emphasized congregational autonomy, servant-like leadership within the churches, prohibitions on one-man rule even in a local church, and other practices which contrast with this claim. Evidence of this interpretation can be found in Galatians 3:28, in which Paul describes a radically egalitarian Christian community where race, class and gender are abrogated. The conversion of the Roman Empire After the conversion of the emperor Emperor Constantine , Christianity was legalised under the Edict Of Milan in 313 bringing an end to the persecution of Christians. Some Christian anarchists argue that this merger of Church and state marks the beginning of the " Constantinian Shift ", in which Christianity gradually came to be identified with the will of the ruling elite and, in some cases, a religious justification for the exercise of power. ANARCHIST BIBLICAL VIEWS AND PRINCIPLES Antinomianism See Also: Antinomianism Some Christian anarchists hold a Higher Critical view of the Bible and therefore do not feel obliged to follow the complete text as law. They base their beliefs on what they think are the simple principles and historic messages of Jesus, such as the Sermon On The Mount , rather than obediently following every passage in the Judeo-Christian Bible. Leo Tolstoy and Ammon Hennacy subscribed to this philosophy. Pacifism and nonviolence See Also: Christian pacifism Many Christian anarchists, such as Leo Tolstoy and Ammon Hennacy , are pacifists opposing the use of both proactive (offensive) and reactive (defensive) physical force. Hennacy believed that adherence to Christianity meant being a pacifist and, due to governments constantly threatening or using force to resolve conflicts, this meant being an anarchist. These Individual s believe Freedom will only be guided by the grace of God if they show compassion to others and Turn The Other Cheek when confronted with violence. Christian anarchists appear far more likely to be pacifists than either secular anarchists or non-anarchist Christians. A few of the key historic messages many Christian anarchists practice are the principles of Nonviolence , Nonresistance and Turning The Other Cheek , which are illustrated in many passages of the New Testament and Hebrew Bible (e.g. the sixth commandment, Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 , "You shall not murder"). Simple living See Also: Simple living Christian anarchists, such as Ammon Hennacy, often follow a Simple Lifestyle , for a variety of reasons, which may include reducing taxable income. States and state control The most common challenge for the Biblical literalists is integrating the passage in Romans 13:1-7 where Paul defends obedience to "governing authorities; for there is no power but of God -- the powers that be are ordained of God." Christian anarchists who subscribe to Paul's teachings argue that this chapter is particularly worded to make it clear that organizations like the Roman Empire cannot qualify as governing authorities because they are not "approved" of God and do not recognize Him in word or action. If it could, then, according to Paul, "they [Christians] would have praise from the authorities" for doing good. Instead the early Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire for doing good, and became Martyr s. Further, the "governing authorities" that are legitimate in the passage were never given the authority to make laws, merely to enforce the Natural Law s against "doing harm to a neighbor" in verses 8-10 (see Tort and Contract law). This interpretation makes all Statute laws of states illegitimate, except as they restate Biblical moral precepts. Some Christians subscribe to the belief that God did not establish all authorities on the earth. Ernst Kaseman, in his "Commentary on Romans," has challenged the usual interpretations of Romans 13 in light of German Lutheran Churches using this passage as justification to support the Nazi holocaust. Others hold that Romans 13 teaches submission to the state while not encouraging or even condoning Christian participation in the workings of the state. According to this view Jesus submitted to the state while still refusing its means. Tax resistance See Also: Tax resistance Some Christian anarchists resist taxes in the belief that their government is engaged in immoral, unethical or destructive activities, such as War , and paying taxes inevitably funds these activities. Adin Ballou wrote that if the act of resisting taxes requires physical force to withhold what a government tries to take, then it is important to submit to taxation. Ammon Hennacy , who, like Ballou also believed in Nonresistance , managed to resist taxes without using force. Opponents cite that Jesus told his followers to " Give To Caesar What Is Caesar's, "Matthew 22:21, not mentioning unethical activity on the part of Caesar. Vegetarianism See Also: Christian vegetarianism Anarchism and animal rights Many Christian anarchists, such as Tolstoy and Hennacy, extend their belief in nonviolence and compassion to all living beings through Vegetarianism or Veganism . Vegetarianism is also common among non-Christian anarchists. Other Christian anarchists point out that the decision to be vegetarian or Omnivore is purely a personal choice, as there are many passages in the Bible that could be interpreted as permitting inclusion of meat and fish within a diet. SPIRITUALITY See Also: Christian mysticism Christian meditation The Spirituality of a Christian anarchist can be as diverse as in any Christian tradition. For Christian anarchists who have their roots in the New Testament their spirituality may be described as Mystical but is also very orthodox. Other anarchists would hold to the New Age movement which describes a broad movement of the late 20th century and contemporary Western Culture . It is characterised by an Eclectic and individual approach to spiritual exploration, such as mixing Christian principles with Meditation and Yoga practices from the East . One could describe Spirituality as anarchic, as it's based on individual freedom and choice rather than keeping within rigid boundaries. The emphasis in Spirituality is on listening to within and personally connecting with the Divine, rather than following any set doctrines. LATER ANARCHISTIC CHRISTIAN GROUPS The Doukhobors The origin of the Doukhobor s dates back to 16th and 17th century Russia . The Doukhobors ("Spirit Wrestlers") are a radical Christian sect that maintains a belief in Pacifism and a communal lifestyle, while rejecting secular government. In 1899 , the Doukhobors fled repression in Tsarist Russia and migrated to Canada, mostly in the provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia . The funds for the trip were paid for by the Quakers and Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy . Canada was suggested to Leo Tolstoy as a safe-haven for the Doukhobors by anarchist Peter Kropotkin who, while on a speaking tour across the country, observed the religious tolerance experienced by the Mennonites . Catholic Worker Movement The Catholic Worker Movement , founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin on May 1 , 1933 , is a Christian movement dedicated to nonviolence and Simple Living . Over 130 Catholic Worker communities exist in the United States where "houses of hospitality" care for the homeless. The Joe Hill House of hospitality (which closed in 1968 ) in Salt Lake City, Utah featured an enormous twelve feet by fifteen foot mural of Jesus Christ and Joe Hill . The Catholic Worker Movement has consistently protested against war and violence for over seven decades. Many of the leading figures in the movement have been both anarchists and pacifists. Catholic Worker Ammon Hennacy defined Christian anarchism as:
Maurin and Day were both baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church and believed in the institution, thus showing it is possible to be a Christian anarchist and still choose to remain within the Church. After her death, Day was proposed for sainthood by the Claretian Missionaries in 1983 . Pope John Paul II granted the Archdiocese Of New York permission to open Day's "cause" in March of 2000 , calling her a Servant Of God . ANARCHIST QUOTES Petr Chelčický
Ammon Hennacy
David Lipscomb
Leo Tolstoy
Jacques Ellul
Nicolas Berdyaev
KEY INDIVIDUALS The following people may be considered key figures in the development of Christian anarchism. This does not mean that they were all Christian anarchists themselves. Adin Ballou Adin Ballou (1803 - 1890) was founder of the Hopedale Community in what is now Hopedale, Massachusetts, and a prominent 19th century exponent of pacifism, socialism and Abolitionism . Through his long career as a Unitarian minister, he tirelessly sought social reform through his radical Christian and socialist views. Tolstoy was heavily influenced by his writings. Søren Kierkegaard Søren Kierkegaard (1813 - 1855), a Danish philosopher and theologian who some consider to be the archetypal Christian anarchist for his theory that the claims culture and state make on an individual lie in opposition to the claim God makes on all people. Kierkegaard advocated perfect obedience to God even if that conflicted with customs, secular law and government. He has been compared to Max Stirner , the great Individualist Anarchist . Kierkegaard is regarded as the father of Christian Existentialism . Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) was an American author, Pacifist , nature lover, Tax Resister and Individualist Anarchist . He was an advocate of Civil Disobedience and a lifelong Abolitionist , who dreamt of the world becoming a Utopia . Though not commonly regarded as a Christian anarchist, his essay '' Civil Disobedience '' is accredited with inspiring some of Leo Tolstoy's ideas. William B. Greene William B. Greene (1819 - 1878), an Individualist Anarchist based in the United States , was a Unitarian minister, and the originator of a Christian Mutualism, which he considered a new dispensation, beyond God’s covenant with Abraham. His 1850 ''Mutual Banking'' begins with a discussion (drawn from the work of Pierre Leroux ) of the Christian rite of communion as a model for a society based in equality, and ends with a prophetic invocation of the new Mutualist dispensation. His better-known scheme for mutual banking, and his criticisms of usury should be understood in this specifically religious context. Unlike his contemporaries among the Nonresistants , Greene was not a pacifist, and served as a Union Army colonel in the American Civil War. Leo Tolstoy (aka My Religion),'' '' The Law Of Love And The Law Of Violence ,'' and '' Christianity And Patriotism '' which criticised government and the Church in general. He called for a society based on compassion, nonviolent principles and freedom. Tolstoy was a Pacifist and a Vegetarian . His vision for an equitable society was an anarchist version of Georgism , which he mentions specifically in his novel '' Resurrection ''. Nikolai Berdyaev Nikolai Berdyaev (1874 - 1948), the orthodox Christian philosopher has been called the philosopher of freedom and is known as a Christian existentialist. Known for writing "the Kingdom of God is based on anarchy" he believed that freedom ultimately comes from God, in direct opposition to anarchists such as Mikhail Bakunin , who saw God as the enslaver of humanity (symbolically; Bakunin was an Atheist ). Christian anarchists claim Man enslaves Man, not God. Léonce Crenier Léonce Crenier (1888 - 1963) first rejected religion, becoming an Anarcho-communist when he moved to Paris from rural France in 1911. In 1913 he visited his sister in Portugal where he stayed for several years. During this period he suffered a debilitating and agonising illness. Receiving the attentions of a particularly caring nurse, he survived, despite the gloomy predictions of the doctors. Converting to Catholicism, he became a Monk . He is particularly known for his concept of Precarity , and was influential on Dorothy Day. Ammon Hennacy Ammon Hennacy ( 1893 - 1970 ) is notable for writing extensively on his work with the Catholic Workers, the IWW and at the Joe Hill House Of Hospitality . He was a practicing Anarchist , Draft Dodger , Vegetarian and Tax Resister . He also tried to reduce his tax liability by taking up a lifestyle of simple living and bartering. His autobiography The Book Of Ammon describes his work in Nonviolent , anarchist, social action, and provides insight into the lives of Christian anarchists in the United States of the 20th century. His other books are One Man Revolution In America and The Autobiography Of A Catholic Anarchist . Ammon Hennacy is also noted for several famous quotations dealing with force, law, and state powers which continue to inspire nonviolent anarchist action today. Dorothy Day Dorothy Day (1897 - 1980) was a journalist turned social activist (she was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World) and devout member of the Roman Catholic Church . She became known for her social justice campaigns in defense of the poor, forsaken, hungry and homeless. Alongside Peter Maurin , she founded the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933, espousing nonviolence, and hospitality for the impoverished and downtrodden. Dorothy Day was declared Servant of God when a cause for sainthood was opened for her by Pope John Paul II. Jacques Ellul Jacques Ellul (1912 - 1994) was a French thinker, sociologist, theologian and Christian anarchist. He wrote several books against the "technological society", and some about Christianity and politics, like '' Anarchy And Christianity '' (1991) asserting that anarchism and Christianity are socially following the same goal. Thomas J. Hagerty tradition but rather an Anarcho-syndicalist . Christian anarchists like Dorothy Day and Ammon Hennacy have been members of the Industrial Workers Of The World and found common cause with the Axiom "an injury to one is an injury to all." Philip Berrigan Philip Berrigan was an internationally renowned Peace Activist and Roman Catholic priest. He and his brother Daniel Berrigan were on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for illegal Nonviolent actions against war. Ivan Illich Ivan Illich was a Libertarian-socialist social thinker, with roots in the Catholic Church, who wrote critiques of technology, energy use and compulsory education. In 1961 Illich founded the Centro Intercultural de Documentación (CIDOC) at Cuernavaca in Mexico, in order to "counterfoil" the Vatican's participation in the "modern development" of the so-called Third World. Illich's books Energy And Equity and Tools For Conviviality are considered classics for Social Ecologists interested in Appropriate Technology , while his book Deschooling Society is still revered by activists seeking alternatives to compulsory schooling. John Dear John Dear is a Jesuit priest, writer and peace activist. Dave Andrews Dave Andrews is a prominent member of the Waiters Union , community developer, Neopelagian thinker, author of ''Christi-Anarchy'' (1999), speaker, and activist {Link without Title} . Vernard Eller Vernard Eller is a member of the Church Of The Brethren and author of ''Christian Anarchy: Jesus' Primacy Over the Powers'' (1987) {Link without Title} . ANARCHIST ORGANISATIONS SEE ALSO
REFERENCES
EXTERNAL LINKS
:'''' |
|
|