I bought Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto two days ago, and it has proven very thought-provoking. It's been a long time since I last read material of this depth and scope, not to mention controversial (unless you count Brian McLaren's A New Kind of Christian).
Last night, Steven asked me, is it possible to be a Theistic Communist? Sivin's opinion is yes, and they are the Liberation Theologians of South America. Keat Lim noted that much of Christian writing seems influenced by Communist thought, and come to think of it, even the book of Acts may seem pretty Communist in some ways.
Steven also sent me an article on Reforming Theology, which I have yet to work through. I must certainly read it before next weeks Postmodernity Seminar!
He also pointed out that the word 'philosophy' comes from the Greek phileo sophia, which literally means 'lover/friend of wisdom'. That means all are philosophers who love and seek wisdom.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, Jesus is called the 'wisdom of God'. The words phileo sophia are used here; indeed it is a call to people everywhere to become lovers of wisdom, to long for and seek wisdom all the days of our lives. It is high time we become phileo sophia.
Yet it is a known fact that many philosophical ideas are good and praiseworthy... until they are implemented. There is a human factor that interrupts the transition of ideas, no matter how good or flawless, from the mind to the actual world around us. Our context, culture and environment heavily influence the translation of these ideas, hence strict purism is impossible.
Let our hearts and minds be set on the never-ending journey of leading each other into a more real understanding of wisdom and how it ultimately functions in our lives. For it is here, more so than in any other area known to man, that some of the most otherwordly (and if I may say so, heavenly) ideas are wrought. Yet it is also here that the bringing to life of those very ideas is the hardest.
Compatibility issues often arise, and the Matrix awaits us. Phileo Sophia of all countries, unite!
1 comment:
Communism as an economic and political system has of course been seen to be not workable especially since the fall of the Berlin wall. I am not sure the Darwinian unbridled greed of a materialistic open market economy is really that better.
Christian writings influenced by communism? I suspect that it is the other way round. The early communists were willing to give their lives for a cause, the cause of their own verison of an ideal kingdom. They arranged themselves around small groups called cells. They were committed to the equality of all.
And to the shame of the church, we were often aligned with the rich and privileged against the poor and suffering like in pre communist Russia. The communists were working for the poor and powerless.
But history is the crucible of testing the outworkings of any ideology. Millions died in communist Russia and China. A new oppressive power structure soon appeared to take the place of the evil ones deposed.
It would seem that the diagnosis of the communists were wrong. Ultimately the problem of humankind was not the battle between land owners and landless labourers. The ultimate problem of humankind is sin which is found in every heart and the only cure for that is the Gospel.
Yes the early Christians in Acts were were willing to share so that none were in need. But they did it willingly, out of the love of God poured into their hearts. They did not do it out of the compulsion of the state.
I believe Christians have much to learn from the communists. If nothing else, the willingless to give one's life fully to what one believes.
Long winded sooinn
sooinn@graceatwork.org
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