Christian Socialism? What it is and What the Gospel Says About it.

This is the first in a series of videos on Christian Socialism in which Maureen and Rich talk about similarities and differences between the the teachings of Jesus and the ideals socialism espouses. In this video they look back to people who promoted Christianity-infused socialistic ideals such as Herman Kutter and Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt as well as John Ruskin, William Morris, Rosa Luxemburg, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, and Peter Maurin. They also look at passages from the New Testament that point to a type of society that might be described as socialistic.

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About our LIFE TOGETHER series

In this series, we take an in-depth look at a topic from a variety of perspectives across several videos. Topics will draw from experiences and challenges that the Bruderhof has learned from over the last 100 years, discussing both our experiences and answering your questions.

Our past series covered:

Interested in a specific topic for the future? Have a question about the current topic? Let us know in the comments or by email.

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What is the Bruderhof?

More info is at:

[chazchillings]

I feel that there is so much literature I have never been exposed to before. Thank you.

[latifoljic]

I've been into politics for a long time, and for much of that time I was a capitalist in the sense that I thought capitalism was good. Recently I've become a socialist, and I've found that my political beliefs now are so much more compatible with Christianity. I've now realized that as a capitalist, I was becoming slowly more and more detached from Christ's teachings. I never expected that becoming a socialist would bring me closer to Christ but it has. Before, I would have hesitated to call myself a Christian, probably because I suspected deep down that my views were incompatible with Christianity. Now, as a socialist, I would not hesitate at all to call myself a Christian.

[barnabywylde]

Jesus: sell your belongings and use the proceeds to help the lame, sick and any who has need. We don't find a value like that in the policies of our government.

[zackhussain]

I’m Muslim and I like these good folks.

[soonheaven]

Great video and presentation between the two speakers and the many quotes and ideas of profound thinkers. All glory to our great God.

[jeanmichellelaurent]

Christian socialism is based, it's true socialism and true Christianity!!

[raqueljacobs]

You guys are awesome!! I’m a Christian and a Socialist and I’m excited by everything I have seen from you! Thank you for adding your opinion to the discourse! I look forward to seeing more about your opinions and lifestyle choices!

[illuminatinixon]

In the UK our left wing Labour party was said to be "more methodism than marxism".
We've had figures like Donald Soper and many of our left wing politicians were motivated by their faith, but that's rarer and rarer these days unfortunately.

[sagethecommunist]

It's kind of weird to hear socialism as being critiqued for being 'coercive' when simply existing under capitalism mandates coerced labour :/

[adrijan]

I'm muslim I'm socialist and I love Jesus

[olgalavado]

Agnostic socialist here... I am really happy to find this channel. It is very informative and clear.

[grahamrogers]

I love you guys. I am now in my 50s but I have totally believed in Christian socialist ideas since I first gave my life to Christ as a teenager. I wish I had discovered you guys 40 years ago. When I found you I cried tears of joy.

[miriamsilata]

I was us pro with all capitalist values but the more I study the bible in new testament Christians I became socialist activist . No one convince me I was convicted by myself to accept socialism..
Lens from the eastern Christianity..
Godbless you, don't stop making such video give some foundmental idea to geopolitics and it's system.
Good job..

[CocoTheDiamond]

i’m really impressed with the bruderhof and with your knowledge of theology. if only i had found you guys when i was in my early 20s. alas. i’m now an atheist but love everything you guys stand for. my parents were missionaries and my dad is a pastor still in the church of christ, i went to a southern baptist seminary and was a youth minister very briefly. thanks for the videos you guys do!

[username]

It’s been more than a decade since I’ve been with the faith but when I hear more from Christian Socialists like you talk about in this video I do feel closer. Thanks for the words.

[happytraveller]

I would pay good money to have your two cents about the current political climate and certain elements of congress who pontificate about right-wing Moral Majority aspects of the Freedom caucus yet consistently withhold funding for desperately needed financial aid for housing, food and healthcare. I do NOT want to make this a political argument but am sincerely interested in knowing how your community feels about where the US is headed. If you cannot speak about topics like this, I understand.

[rickywinthrop]

I'm a lifelong social democrat agnostic. I have always thought there were many paralells between proper socialism and Jesus teachings. I may not believe in the devine but I do believe in the promotion of inherant human decency and love as a path of least resistance in life through systems of thought and organization that support the human spirit and bring us together rather than forcing us apart. Because of this I take many of jesus teachings regarding how we treat eachother in the here and now very seriously. Good advice is good advice regardless god or the supernatural. Under capitalism no one truly lives properly save the sociopaths who are without concience. Socialism is about to have its "moment" from what I can see and even as a commited nonbeliever I truly hope the words of Jesus can be used to help bring humanity and decency to this important cause.

[caracortage]

Excellent! But does love and moral judgement go way, way beyond your fellow human being? Where is wild life, nature and your fellow animals? In SIN, unfathomably cruelty and at the best sinfulness. Would Jesus have have wanted that to? And will your Sins be forgiven and should they?

[MexicoCountryLivingBacktoEden]

Wow, I'm amaze at the level of research and clarity. So much knowledge and wisdom in such short time. God richly bless you for you hard work and ministry. If you allow me, i have a question. Would it be possible for a millionaire to be part of your community? Specially if this person would like to dedicate all of his riches for the good of the community, but also be able to keep running his businesses in order to continue giving systematically everything that is optained as a result?

[ubuntuposix]

Yes, Jesus was a Socialist.
But imo Socialism needs a Rational Democracy, not a Representative one, no person should be "the leader". The best ideas should be our "leader".
So I'm thinking of a Forum for Policy Proposals, with a design for arguments and a Scoring System (based on the (Maslow's) table of human needs).