Was Jesus a Socialist?

[the_mango55]

I think the teachings of Jesus is very simular to socialism, yes.
But Christianity is very different from socialism, interesting huh?

proto-christianity was a form of proto-socialism

I have often though of this, and these statements simply reminded me of them. They orginally came from the win-win situation thread but instead of hijacking that one I figured I would start a new one.

So, is true Christianity socialism? Most hardcore religious people in America don't like socialists, but is mostly based on the fact that democrats are close to socialists, and religious people usually disagree with democrat's social policies. Anyway, Christ taught to be charitable, about the equality of people, the importance of peace, etc.

In my opinion, Christianity is very similar to socialism, however the major difference is the fact that in socialism generosiity is enforced by law, while Christ encouraged people to be generous without being forced to be. Does this differentiate Christianity from socialism, or are they one and the same?

Discuss.

[Fenris]

So, is true Christianity socialism? Most hardcore religious people in America don't like socialists,

Because of them only have the christian title, but not the attitude or the morality.

but is mostly based on the fact that democrats are close to socialists

Not at all, democrats are a lot closer to republicans than to socialists.

and religious people usually disagree with democrat's social policies.

Refer to first comment.

Anyway, Christ taught to be charitable, about the equality of people, the importance of peace, etc.

But most people only take what they want from christianity and leaves the parts they don't like. And they still call themselves christians.

[Justinian]

I don't see how Christianity could be socialist in nature. It's a religion, not a government, and Jesus never preaches about Christianity being some form of government (give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's - this means the government is one thing and religion is another, not that the two are intertwined).

[Fenris]

I don't see how Christianity could be socialist in nature. It's a religion, not a government, and Jesus never preaches about Christianity being some form of government (give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's - this means the government is one thing and religion is another, not that the two are intertwined).

Ok I will rephrase his question.

Are the philosophy behind christianism and the philosophy behid socialist the same?

[the_mango55]

I don't see how Christianity could be socialist in nature. It's a religion, not a government, and Jesus never preaches about Christianity being some form of government (give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's - this means the government is one thing and religion is another, not that the two are intertwined).

This is kind of how I feel. Jesus preaches values that socialism enforces, but does not say they must be done. It is still an interesting topic.

Because of them only have the christian title, but not the attitude or the morality.

Not at all, democrats are a lot closer to republicans than to socialists.

Refer to first comment.

By social policies I mean ones like gay marriage, abortion, and not allowing religious articles in public, which Jesus would definately be against.

And Democrats are a lot closer to socialists than Republicans are.

[Revan The Great]

Perhaps at the base, but socialisim in today is alot more complex then simply being charitable. Particularily with welfare, which can be cheated. Socialisim today, simply is in part, lazy people taking advantage of the system. I think Jesus wanted people to do personal acts of charity, not Government giving money to some con-artist.

-Revan

[Francisco Montana]

Main difference.

Jesus tried to teach us to be generous and help the poor.

Socialsim forces it on you and spends that money how they deem fit.

I know alot of conservatives that give heavily to the poor and to charity.

They aren't socialists, they try to follow the teaching of Christ.

[Fenris]

By social policies I mean ones like gay marriage, abortion, and not allowing religious articles in public, which Jesus would definately be against.

Did Jesus said he was against those anywhere? No, the church did.

[Kino]

Deleted by user.

[leeho730]

If you recon that "if the rich does not give at least half of his possessions he won't make it to heaven" means voluntary donation, yes. Sounds more like unconditional surrender of worldly possessions to me. Jesus' mistake was that he didn't constitutionalised his church...

Many of Jesus' apostles were the people who abandoned their worldly possessions (St. Peter and his ship for example) and followed Jesus, and the early Christian society was very similar to communism i.e. sharing their wealth.

It is quite funny to see that many of the conservatives who value Christianism are the one in favour of tax and welfare cuts and believe that the poor and the unfortunate should be on their own. Charity and donations are very unreliable measure of redistributing wealth.

[Francisco Montana]

*Tad off topic:

True. The Quakers are alot more progressive than alot of people think too. I've found myself attracked to their doctrine often.

[Kino]

Deleted by user.

[Mr.Flint]

He possibly was a socialist considering the fact that proto-christianity practiced by the Esseans was in fact proto-socialism... so its feasible.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

Was Jesus a socialist? His followers didn't seem to have a problem with pooling resources and dividing wealth evenly, according to people's needs:

All the believers joined together and shared everything in common; they sold their possessions and goods and divided the proceeds among the fellowship according to individual need.
(Acts 2:44-45)

Socialists!

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had... There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
(Acts 4:32-35)

Damn commies!

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.
(Acts 5:1-11)

How's that for coercion? What Stalinists!

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
(Acts 6:1)

Typical nanny-state liberals - not only expecting handouts but complaining they don't get enough.

Only the man who says goodbye to all his possessions can be my disciple.
(Luke 14:33)

Who is this hippy?! Oh, it's Jesus ...

The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
(Luke 3:11)

Damned socialism! Is this guy FRENCH or something??!! Oh, hang on - that's Jesus again ...

Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you.

Well this guy just has to be a bleeding heart liberal - not only is he encouraging some kind of nanny-state, socialistic handouts to moochers, but he's also soft on criminals. Oh - it's Jesus again ...

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
(Matt 6:24)

Hasn't this loser met those 'Greed is Good' MegaChurch pastors with their huge cars and shiny suits? Who is this Trotskyite? Oh, Jesus again ...

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.
(Luke 14:14)

Yep - and you'll also have a loungeroom full of smelly, dirty, sick and disabled freaks! Who is his bleeding heart? Oh - Jesus ...

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?"

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied.

Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
(Mark 12:13-17)

So he supported paying taxes to 'Big Government' - typical Democrat policy.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
(Matt 9: 10)

So, he was even friends with tax collectors! Obviously a socialist.

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
(John 2: 13-16)

Great - not only is he opposed to perfectly legitimate business, but he's also a radical protester who resorts to violence and incites a riot! A terrorist, even!

Jesus was a bearded socialist, a radical protester, a scruffy hippy, a liberal and a Jew. Can you imagine him wanting to join the Republican Party? Or them letting him join? If he tried to enter a Republican Party Convention he'd have riot police macing him into submission within seconds.

[visigothe]

he is obviously some form of socialist/communists

just look at the evidence presented

[Kino]

Deleted by user.

[GodNeptune]

I don't think he was a socialist in the modern sense of the word. He wanted people to be charitable on their own accord and not by the statist redistribution of their wealth. I've never seen any verses where he expresses any political views on how a state should function. He is probably more accurately described as being a hippie anarchist new ager.

[leeho730]

Jesus was a bearded socialist, a radical protester, a scruffy hippy, a liberal and a Jew. Can you imagine him wanting to join the Republican Party? Or them letting him join? If he tried to enter a Republican Party Convention he'd have riot police macing him into submission within seconds.

In a way, Jesus wasn't liberal, he was a moralist. He strongly opposed the concept of divorce and also opposed sexual intercourse outside marriage.

He wanted people to be charitable, knowing that if they didn't they would not go to heaven. What's the point of being Christian if one cannot be saved and go to heaven, because if one cannot go to heaven then the only alternative would be hell, unless you believe in reincarnation...

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

My post was clearly a joke

In John 2: 13-16 He is mad because they are using the church for business.

A perfectly legitimate business. Roman money and coinage couldn't be taken into the Temple because it had images on it - forbidden by Jewish law. And people had to get the doves etc they sacrificed from somewhere.

The gospels are actually pretty vague about what precisely Jesus' beef was. It seems that it may have been aimed more at the Temple priestly elite - the Saducees - than at the traders themselves.

The fact that the Saducees then moved pretty quickly to track him down and arrest him supports the idea that there may have been more to this incident than the gospels make out.

[Francisco Montana]

Here's socialism. In a more recent book, aka the new testiment, there's a part by John I believe (again, theologans, save me here) anyway. Jesus has something to say about pedophiliacs.

"Let those who would force a child to commit sin be case to the ocean with a mill-stone tied around his neck"

I'm sick and tired of people thinking Jesus Christ was some limp-wristed hippy with long hair.


He wasn't.

He loves all man. But if you hurt a child. He may stilll love you, but in hell you will burn.

Kapish?


Remember, Jesus was jew, hehe.