Christian Anarchism

Educational level: this is a tertiary (university) resource.
Completion status: this resource is just getting off the ground. Please feel welcome to help!

Course Introduction edit

This course (in rudimentary stub-form at this time) is designed to be a basic introduction to Christian Anarchism. It would be appropriate for clergy, seminarians, college students and activists.

Christian anarchism is a movement in political theology that claims Christianity is fundamentally anarchistic.It is an important movement. 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, and thus rejects the idea that human governments have ultimate authority over human societies. Christian anarchists denounce the state as they claim it is violent, deceitful and, when glorified, idolatrous. Christian anarchists hold that the proper relationship between God and people is the "Reign of God" in which human relationships would be characterized by divided authority, servant leadership, and universal compassion rather than the hierarchical, authoritarian structures normally attributed to religion.

More than any other Bible source, the Sermon on the Mount is used as the basis for Christian anarchism. Most Christian anarchists are pacifists and reject the use of violence, such as war. Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God Is Within You is often regarded as a key text for modern Christian anarchism.[1]

Course Structure edit

Section 1: Introduction edit

Definitions: what is Anarchism? What is Christianity? What is Christian Anarchism? edit

Anarchism which aligns itself with socially libertarian ideals in the Bible, and the belief in the abolition of the state, which includes all unnecessary hierarchies.

Political theory and taxonomy edit

Section 2: Anarchism in Religious History edit

Anarchism in The Jewish Tradition edit

Anarchism in Jesus and The Sermon on the Mount edit

Anarchism in The Early Church edit

Anarchism in the context of Christendom edit

 
Woodcut from a Diggers document by William Everard.

Anarchism in the context of the Reformation edit

Leo Tolstoy edit

 
Leo Tolstoy wrote extensively about Christian pacifism and anarchism.

Liberation Theology edit

The New Monastic Movement edit

Interfaith connections edit

Section 3: Practical Application/Orthopraxy edit

Anarchism and Ethics edit

Anarchism and the church edit

Religious vs. Non-Religious Anarchism edit

More information edit

Videos edit

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Audio edit

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Books edit

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Web edit

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See also edit

External links edit

References edit

  1. Wikipedia: Christian anarchism