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Christian Socialism As a Political Ideology

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Christian Socialism As a Political Ideology Christian Socialism as a Political Ideology Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Liverpool for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy by Anthony Alan John Williams March 2016 Word Count: 97,078 Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5 Section One: The Basis of Christian Socialism 1. The Fatherhood of God and the Example of Christ ....................................... 21 2. Old and New Testament References ................................................................. 37 3. The Church, its Teaching and Sacraments .................................................... 55 4. Christian Socialist Predecessors and Other Ethical Thinkers .......................... 77 5. Other Socialisms and Examples from Society ....................................... 89 Section One Summary ............................................................................................ 113 Section Two: The Route to Christian Socialism 6. The Democratic-Revolutionary Synthesis …...................................................... 119 7. The Revolution in Practice ............................................................................... 127 8. Confusion and Contradiction ............................................................................... 149 Section Two Summary ............................................................................................ 159 Section Three: Christian Socialist Society 9. Collectivism and the Role of the State ..................................................... 163 10. Democracy, Equality and Conservatism ..................................................... 185 11. Pacifism and Utopianism ............................................................................... 207 Section Three Summary ............................................................................... 221 Section Four: Critique, Conclusions and Final Summary 12. A Socialist Critique of Christian Socialism ..................................................... 225 13. A Christian Critique of Christian Socialism ..................................................... 237 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 253 Bibliography ......................................................................................................... 263 - 1 - - 2 - Abstract A study of Christian Socialism is valuable at a time in which Christianity has become, in the minds of many, intrinsically associated with right-wing politics and conservatism. In addition, recent publications on this topic have focused on history and biography rather than the details of what Christian Socialists actually believed. This thesis considers that topic under three main headings: (1) ‘The Basis of Christian Socialism’; (2) ‘The Route to Christian Socialism’; (3) ‘Christian Socialist Society’. Firstly, Christian Socialists based their socialism mainly on the Bible, church teaching and the sacraments, to a far greater extent than any other sources. Secondly, Christian Socialists called for a revolution but were committed to democratic methods, suggesting a synthesis between revolutionary and democratic socialism. In practice this can be sketched out as a three-stage process: first, persuading people of the deficiencies of capitalism and the need for socialism; second, the election of a Labour government / the persuasion of other politicians to adopt socialism; third, the establishment of socialism, brought about by a socialist government and population. Thirdly, Christian Socialists sought to create a society of co-operation and collectivism, equality, democracy and peace. Their vision of this society was for the most part highly utopian, due to the belief that the new society would be the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. There are several criticisms of Christian Socialism which have been made, both from a Christian and from a socialist perspective, over, for example, the viability of the Christian Socialist methodology and the validity of the Christian Socialist use of Scripture and church teaching. It will be concluded that the concept at the core of Christian Socialism is brotherhood, based on the idea of the universal Fatherhood of God, and that other key concepts – co-operation, equality and democracy – are derived from this. In seeking co-operation, equality and democracy Christian Socialism is not necessarily distinct from other forms of socialism, but it is distinct in drawing upon Christian theology as a basis for these concepts as well as the language to describe a future socialist society. - 3 - - 4 - Introduction A study of Christian Socialism is valuable at a time in which Christianity has become in the minds of many intrinsically associated with right-wing politics and conservatism. This issue has been highlighted by Andy Walton, Andrea Hatcher and Nick Spencer, writing for Theos, who were spurred to carry out their research investigating the “increasing number of claims that a US-style Religious Right either exists or is rapidly emerging in Britain”. 1 The researchers cite, for example, a 2011 New Statesman article by Andrew Zak Williams, which argued “that the Christian movements both here and in the USA clearly feel most at home on the right [...] [T]he agendas of the Christian church and the political right-wing make comfortable bed-fellows. You know the kind of thing: anti-abortion, anti-unions, opposed to same-sex marriage and tough on crime”. 2 Even if we conclude with Walton, Hatcher and Spencer that there is no “Religious Right” operating in the UK – at least not as a coherent mass movement – we still have to admit that this is a reality in the United States. Daniel K. Williams writes of evangelical Christians “taking over the Republican Party” in order to further their political agenda. 3 This agenda includes both social issues – such as campaigns against abortion and same-sex marriage – but has also led to Christians embracing right-wing economic ideas such as “limited government” and “free markets”; for example, 81 per cent of Tea Party activists identify themselves as Christian. 4 The existence of this socially conservative and pro- capitalist Religious Right in the culturally-dominant US, and the perceptions of its existence here in the UK, can serve to obscure the history, traditions and ideas of left-wing Christianity in this country. A number of excellent works about Christian Socialism have been published in the last twenty years. These include Chris Bryant’s Possible Dreams: A Personal History of the British Christian Socialists (1996), Alan Wilkinson’s Christian Socialism: Scott Holland to Tony Blair (1988) and Graham Dale’s God’s Politicians: The Christian Contribution to 100 1 A. Walton, A. Hatcher and N. Spencer, Is there a ‘Religious Right’ Emerging in Britain? (London, 2013), p.8. 2 A.Z. Williams,’ Faith should not dictate political affiliation’, New Statesman , http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/06/god-debate-faith-grayling; accessed 14 th Dec 2015. 3 D.K. Williams, God’s Own Party: The Making of the Christian Right (Oxford, 2010), p.2. 4 D. Brody, The Teavangelicals: The Inside Story of How the Evangelicals and the Tea Party are Taking Back America (Grand Rapids MI, 2012), pp.9-10. - 5 - Years of Labour (2000). This thesis, however, aims at an exposition and systematisation of Christian Socialist ideology, belief and doctrine, which is not sought after by these works, which instead focus more on the history or biography of those organisations and individuals regarded as Christian Socialists. Dale follows this approach explicitly, with chapters focusing – for the most part – on just two individuals from a particular period, for example: ‘John Wheatley and Philip Snowden: 1919-26’; ‘Eric Heffer and Tony Benn: 1980-92’; and ‘John Smith and Tony Blair: 1992 onwards’. A similar approach is followed by Wilkinson, with chapters on ‘Henry Scott Holland’, ‘Charles Gore’, ‘R.H. Tawney’ and ‘William Temple’. Later chapters include biographical sketches of key figures; for example, the chapter on ‘Politicians’ includes a section detailing the life and career of John Wheatley. 5 The same is true of Bryant, with chapters titled ‘Parliamentary Lives’ and ‘Two Boys from Rugby’, the latter focusing on R.H. Tawney and William Temple. For the most part these authors offer an engaging and well-researched history rather than an in-depth focus on beliefs, doctrine or ideology. There are a few exceptions to this general rule. Dale sets out a number of Christian principles – “a commitment to service”, “a sense of urgency” and an “emphasis on equality” – arguing that Christian involvement has imbued the Labour Party with these same values. 6 Bryant also sets out some core beliefs, such as “that gross inequality is not how God would have us live; that rapacious greed and political indifference are not Christian options; that the market was made for humanity, not man for the market”, and so on. 7 However, this does not amount to the explication or systematisation of Christian Socialism to which we are aiming. Another key text, Peter d’A Jones’ 1968 study of The Christian Socialist Revival 1877-1914 goes into more detail than these more recent works, but it is still a “narrative”, a work of history, with sections and
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