gurugeorge

When did the underclass come to power under Marxism?

Malachi151

I was wanting to stay focues on Christianity here, but I would say in every case of "Communist" revolution they did, in one degree or another, come to power, though new underclasses formed of course, after the fact, and not every member of the underclass came to power, but clearly they exerted influnence in ways they never did before, much of that influence being "negative".

Pretty much all of the killing that was assocaited with Communist reovlutions was done by the public. It ws a democratic process, it wasn't directed from above, it was allowed from above to go on, it was largely vigilante.

Wymihere

Seems the nobility in Europe during the "Dark Ages" quickly learned to use Christianity and the Catholic Church as a handy tool to keep their serfs (slaves) under their thumbs.

"Yes my children your lives are hard and miserable, but if you remain good , your rewards will come when you get to heaven"

Gamera

Interesting post, Malachi. It is consistent with Jesus' message of "liberation" and "freedom", as well as Paul's.

I think Christianity helped put an end to the various oppression institutionis of classic paganism, and set the stage for the Enlightenment.

aa5874

Slavery and exploitation was sanctioned by Christianity. Haven't you heard of the Slave Trade and the Christians who owned slaves?

boneyard bill

Yes! I'm having a hard time with this depiction of Christianity as a movement against oppression. It smacks too much of the "Revolution Theology" nonsense.

Jesus definitely sides with the poor. But as I read it, he almost suggests that poverty is a necessary precondition for virtue. The rich and the powerful are going to have a rough time entering the Kingdom of Heaven. And the Kingdom of Heaven is something that can be attained during our lifetimes. We don't have to die to achieve it. The attitude toward poverty seems to me to be much closer to the Buddha or to Gandhi than to Marx.

Gamera

You've confused various institutions that purported to be Christian and Christianity. A common mistake.

In fact it was radical Christians (like John Brown) who were central in the abolitionist movement.

Malachi151

Oh please. You have confused various institutions that putported to be Christian with Christianity.

The abolitionist movement started in the 1600s with Humanists. The first loud voices for abolition came from French atheists and people like Thomas Paine.

John Brown was a minority figure whose views were well outside the mainstream, and I'm not sure I'd even consider him a good person considering his rampages, etc., and his views.

Plus, all of this is irrelevent anyway since I am discussing ancient Christianity, i.e. the first 300-400 years.