Christian socialism: history, principles, and modern applications

Christian Socialism

Socialism is one of the most important concepts of political theory and one that has stayed at the basis of modern economic and social thinking since the beginning of the nineteenth century. As in any other fields of life, socialism has various forms and schools of thought, yet it relies on a fairly common idea: that the means of production are owned commonly and controlled in a cooperative manner, based on self-management, equality and a low level of hierarchical relations at the level of the central administration. In most socialists forms of economic development, goods and services are distributed through markets the same way as income is, based on principles of need and individual contribution.

The forms of socialism have varied over the centuries and even in opposing socio-political forms have appeared in other parts of the world, socialism has maintained a preeminent position both in the East as in the West. From a political point-of-view, socialism has went through various changes, going from reformist socialism to revolutionary socialism. One of the most important socio-economic developments of the socialist school is the nationalization of the means of production, distribution and exchange which over the years has witnessed positive results. Even recently, with the development of the financial crisis, nationalization of banks and other financial institutions as well as taking control over a crumbling market has proven to be the only real solution to the problems that anarchical capitalism creates.

More liberalized solutions have been attempted, with some success as well, proving not only the value of socialist principles, but also their adaptability to all forms of political and economic traditions. In this case, social democrats argue for keeping a state control on the capital whilst offering good conditions for the development of a market economy. Similarly, some schools of thought in the socialist arena have tried to prove that socialism can appear naturally and that the state should have no influence on the creation of the market rules. These libertarian socialists and anarchists argue for private ownership of means of production coordinated by independent workers' unions -- a solution that is in the view of mainstream socialism vague and without a clear strategy for future generations. The proponents of social anarchism or individual anarchists using socialist precepts argue for free market socialism, salaries based on the numbers of hours worked with decentralized autonomous communities.

The future generations aforementioned were the basis of the socialist theories that sprung in the eighteen century, as a direct result of over industrialization and private property that a relatively small number of individuals had over society. Creating mass pressures on the political and economic system was the only manner in which the intellectual and the working classes could have a say not only in the decent development of the their lives, but also for their children and grandchildren who deserved to live in an equal and promising world. As Mark and Engels pushed for, there was a clear need that capitalist anarchy should be eliminated and modern technologies to be used for rationalizing the economic activity and eliminating the instability of the capitalist industrial-financial system.

Modern times have brought a large number of capitalist and socialist states that have mixed a lot from their original socio-economic theories. As capitalist has shown its limits in the last 4 years, more and more socialist influences begin to emerge in capitalist countries. Modern social democracy, which is based on socialism, is transforming in the key to pure capitalism as it is a clear need of a more just, equitable and humane society. The economic democracy made for and by the working class is the only real sustainable form of human organization that would promote the three classical concepts enumerated before. Yet following a revolutionary path to achieving the goals of socialism and human equity will not only be based on a shallow and fragile beginning, but will also be created by the destruction of property and human lives.

A socialist state and a socialist world in which all working humans and those that are unable to perform working activities is therefore attainable if it is done on the basis of strong concepts and progressive transformation. As equality, cooperation and sharing are some of the key features of Christianity, the aforementioned goals could be attained also by using Christian Socialism as a means to attains a society that promotes the values of Christianity also in the working and political environments.

The Christian Socialist movement traces its origins in the middle of the nineteenth century when a large movement of the middle class population appeared against the huge social problems that the industrial revolution provoked. Modern industrial life of the nineteenth century, as well as modern financial life of today, require the social principles of Christianity as to decrease inequality and increase mass productivity.

Anglican theologian Frederick Denison Maurice is believed to be the main promoter of these principles when in 1838 put forward the main principles of the Kingdom of Christ where competition which is the essence of capitalism is evil and lies at the basis of all wrongs that were to be found in society. Cooperation is therefore the key and socialism should promote that more and more.

The main economic ideas that Christian Socialism argues for are cooperative societies which can be traced back to the original Christian communes which operated on similar basis. Co-partnership and profit sharing is the key for releasing social pressures from society, especially severely non-homogenous societies. The capitalist laissez-faire way of creating the economy and the clear lack of systemic cooperation and socialist coordination has led to the chaotic movements of the world markets and to the immense gaps that exist between countries of the world and especially within countries. The exploitation of the few over the many and the over-competitive nature of capitalism has created addictive relations of subordination between classes of workers as well as between strong countries and weak supply countries in Africa, Asia and Central America.

The spirit of cooperation and association that Christian Socialism promotes does not conflict in any way with other religious precepts as it aims at similar things for the exact same problems: inequality, impoverished populations and nations, over-cluster of financial resources and mass pressures with violent consequences.

The capitalist essence of selfishness and antagonism should be replaced by a spirit of association and sharing as the first has shown its terrible effects on the planet. The capitalist individualist economy has destroyed Earth from social and human issues to global environment problems, which at their turn affect populations around the globe. Over industrialization and the lack of cooperation in what regards pollution has had therefore not only considerable ecological effects but also human ones that go from basic pollution to water sustainability, massive fires, food supply chain and health / hygiene matters.

Christian Socialism promotes therefore not only the healthy socio-economic principles of socialism, but also Christian ones that can have longer and more lasting effects on the way society at large is being constructed and reconstructed. In the world where selfishness is replaced by generosity, where individualism is replaced by cooperation and where antagonism between groups is replaced by associative networks, trust between citizens of the world and happiness would certainly appear. For this to happen, all forces have to be joined in a common effort to alleviate the misery of the many and convince the few that have the world resources in their hands to share them with the rest of their peers.