Comments on: A lot of Evangelical Christians are a bit like Revolutionary Marxists

By: Why revolutionary Marxists can be like evangelical Christians | Politics in the Zeros. Anti-war, global warming, peak oil, progressive politics

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:26:54 +0000

[...] are the bullet points, read the whole thing. 1. There is no salvation apart from [...]

By: ee

ee — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:49:44 +0000

Good stuff. Actually, this similarity was one of the things that first made me question conservative Christianity. I remember the socialist worker guy from Swansea Uni standing there trying to bring on the revolution one leaflet at a time and thinking, ‘We do exactly the same thing, and it’s pointless, outdated. Surely God does not want us to live like this.’

I particularly agree with the shared practice of shoehorning every last inconvenient fact into a simplistic worldview.

By: A lot of Evangelical Christians are a bit like Revolutionary Marxists - stillbreathing.co.uk - website design and development

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:28:34 +0000

[...] So says Wood. And I agree with him. [...]

By: John Cooper

John Cooper — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:39:15 +0000

Blogrolled always sounds like something to do with the toilet really. Anyway the book I was talking about was

Marx and the Failure of Liberation Theology, published by SCM Press circa1990. it looks at how the abandonment of marxism is the reason liberation theology has failed. But it takes it much further than this as well looking at how ideas such as secularisation have ensured the authors view that liberation theology doesn’t cut the mustard any more.

I don’t fully agree with the author but good stimulating reading, and a nice mish mashing of the marxian critique of, as well as Christian living out of, concepts of religion and religious practice.

Regards
John

By: Wood

Wood — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:18:58 +0000

Is it not more accurate to describe religion as a subset of ideology, rather than ideologies as religions?

As for the question of the word “cult”, the term’s so loaded that it’s impossible to use it without some sort of prejudice creeping in. I mean, I know exactly what you mean. But there’s got to be a better word.

By: DJ

DJ — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:55:21 +0000

Perhaps the word you’re looking for is “cult.” Though often misused, this little word represents much of what you describe: strict orthodoxy with some form of enforcement, isolation from others, apocalyptic vision. What’s more, it can apply not only to religious groups, but to “civil religion” as well.

And yes, I would describe Marxism, as practiced by many of its adherents, as nothing less than a religion. As any Buddhist can affirm, a religion need not be focused on God.

By: Politics in the Zeros » Why evangelical Christians are like revolutionary Marxists

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:10:44 +0000

[...] Wood, a Christian, at The John Heron Project. These are his main points, read the whole thing! (my comments are in italics,) Itâ€™s not what they believe thatâ€™s so similar; itâ€™s the way [...]

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 03:26:55 +0000

Whenever I go with Bob to his socialist / activist meetings, I always get the feeling I'm suspected of being a mole for the petty bourgeoisie.

By: DV

DV — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:20:25 +0000

There are definitely sociological similarities between fringe religions and fringe political groups; someone should do academic research on this and make their fortune.

That said, any of the people I know in the Swimmers at the moment are relatively normal, though one of them has complained about the party’s open door policy to the mentally ill.

On the Mensheviks - it’s easy to get people to think you are not psychos when you are LuSoRs.

By: Wood

Wood — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:14:40 +0000

Thanks, John. I’ve blogrolled you (which I should have done a ways back).

In other news, it’s occurred to me (having re-read Chalky’s comment) that I forgot a seventh point: Lovebombing. I trust you know what I’m talking about here.