School
Christian anarchism
Overview
Christian anarchism is a school of political theology that claims anarchism is inherent in Christianity and the Gospels. It is grounded in the belief that there is only one source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable—the authority of God as embodied in the teachings of Jesus. It therefore rejects the idea that human governments have ultimate authority over human societies. Christian anarchists denounce the state, believing it is violent, deceitful and idolatrous.
Christian anarchists hold that the "Kingdom of God" is the proper expression of the relationship between God and humanity. Under the "Kingdom of God", human relationships would be characterized by horizontal organization, servant leadership, and universal compassion—not through the traditional structures of organized religion, which most Christian anarchists consider hierarchical or authoritarian structures. Most Christian anarchists are also pacifists who reject war, militarism, and the use of violence.
More than any other Bible source, the Beatitudes are seen as a basis for Christian anarchism. Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God Is Within You is often regarded as a key text for modern Christian anarchism.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
Christianity is called the religion of _pity._—Pity is opposed to the tonic passions which enhance the energy of the feeling of life: its action is depressing. A man loses power when he pities. By means of pity the drain on strength which suffering itself already introduces into the world is multiplied a thousandfold.
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, The Twilight of the Idols
States what Christian anarchism is; the author is tied to Christian anarchism in the knowledge graph.
And therefore a Church, such as one as is capable to Command, to Judge, Absolve, Condemn, or do any other act, is the same thing with a Civil Common-wealth, consisting of Christian men; and is called a Civill State, for that the subjects of it are Men; and a Church, for that the subjects thereof are Christians. Temporall and Spirituall Government, are but two words brought into the world, to make men see double, and…
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
States what Christian anarchism is; the author is tied to Christian anarchism in the knowledge graph.
This is, properly speaking to exalt himself above all that is called God as Paul says, 2 Thess. 2, 4. Even the Turks or the Tartars, great enemies of Christians as they are, do not do this, but they allow whoever wishes to believe in Christ, and take bodily tribute and obedience from Christians.
Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles
States what Christian anarchism is.
Philosophers who discussed Christian anarchism
Related ideas
- Ritual
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Jesus
- God in Christianity
- Political freedom
- First Epistle to the Corinthians
- Agrarianism
- Anarchism
- Government
- Gospel
- Luigi Galleani
- French Wars of Religion
- George Woodcock
- Murray Bookchin
- Personalism
- Just war theory
- Anarchist communism
- Nonviolence
- Simone Weil
- Christians
- Leo Tolstoy
- Ernest Renan
- BBC
- Militarism
Place in the tradition
Part of Anarchism.