Relections on Christian Socialism
August 13, 2011
There is only one hope for this world, in my opinion now, and that is a Christian Socialism.
I think it has to be Christian. Not only does this keep the moral balance needed in a perfect society (our constant aim) and avoid social moral corruption (where, for example, it is ok to enslave others and to bully homosexuals and left handers); but it also instills the proper work ethic, namely to do one’s best no matter what others do and do it for the sake of the best (spiritually to Christ), and furthermore to count as one of his goals the universal possession of that attitude, i.e., work with the other who will not work unless they are paid, and children.
I don’t think this will work with a materialist communist attitude. For there is no basis for the moral and our only hope is to become an auto, a form of imposition of thinking and expressing powers, i.e., speak so and not so. But here the deadbeats destroy the work ethic for there is no moral demand to do something about the deadbeats, but simply to imitate them and devolve into slavery to personal enrichment and personal protection (by hoarding).
So it has to be Christian. But something might work as in parts of Europe, for example, where people, if asked, admit they are Christians and they go to the baptism, etc., but they don’t talk about it so much, but rather get on with the work at hand, in the case of our example that would be building a society which is devoid of fear.
I don’t think that Jesus would object to such a society, but Paul would because Paul wants people to glorify Jesus as the blessed elder brother who went after his brother in the far county and showed that brother how he could come back to his father and his home (like Jesus going after Adam and his children). Once you realize that you are moved and find a desire to want to copy that in one’s on life. And so, according to Paul, if you realized what this Jesus has done for you and for the world you will be on your knees in praise and thanksgiving, for you will see that he brought you back into his father (and your father) and his home (and your home), back from the far country.
A key practical element for Christian socialism will be the notion of love of job. For the sake of efficiency we must discern the talents that people have (like the maid Joan being a tactical genius and wanting only opportunity for expression [as a good friend has informed me]) and employee them accordingly. Artists and geniuses may call for some isolation, but never opulence. The idea being that if you love your job it is no longer work.