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Christian socialism generally refers to those on the Christian left whose politics are both Christian and socialist and who see these two things as being interconnected. Broadly speaking, this category can include Liberation theology and the doctrine of the social gospel. The term "Christian Socialism" is used in this sense by organizations such as the Christian Socialist Movement (CSM), a specifically Christian grouping affiliated with the British Labour Party. The term also pertains to such earlier figures as the nineteenth century writer Frederick Denison Maurice (The Kingdom of Christ, 1838) and Francis Bellamy — Baptist minister and author of the United States' Pledge of Allegiance.

A number of Christian socialist movements and political parties throughout the world group themselves into the International League of Religious Socialists. It has member organizations in 21 countries representing 200,000 members.

Christian socialists draw parallels between what some have characterized as the egalitarian and anti-establishment message of Jesus, who — according to Christian Gospel — spoke against the religious authorities of his time, and the egalitarian, anti-establishment, and sometimes anti-clerical message of most contemporary socialisms. Some Christian Socialists have gone as far as to become active Communists (see Christian communism). This phenomenon was most common among Christian missionaries in China, the most notable being James Gareth Endicott, who became supportive of the struggle of the Communist Party of China in the 1930s and 1940s.

Christian socialism is not to be confused with certain parties with "Christian Social" in their names which are found in the German-speaking world, such as the contemporary Christian Social Union in Bavaria or the Christian Social Party in Austria-Hungary circa 1900. Such parties do not claim to be socialist, nor are they considered socialist by others. The term Christian Democrat is more appropriately applied to the contemporary parties.

1 Christian socialist parties
2 Prominent Christian socialists
3 Quotes
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Christian socialist parties

Democracia Popular, largest party in Ecuador
Social Christians (Italy)
Christian Left Party (Chile)

[edit] Prominent Christian socialists

Thomas J. Hagerty
Karl Barth
Robert Malachy Burke
Dorothy Day
Thomas Hughes
John Ludlow
Charles Kingsley
Frederick Maurice
F. O. Matthiessen
R. H. Tawney
Paul Tillich
Cornel West
Percy Dearmer
Dorothee Soelle
Juergen Moltmann
Tommy Douglas
Diane Drufenbrock
Keir Hardie
Martin Luther King – arguably the most famous Christian socialist, though not famous as a Christian socialist. <ref>http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0120-08.htm</ref>
Tony Blair is a Christian, and is a member of the Christian Socialist Movement,<ref>http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/20030827_3_en.htm</ref> though not all definitions of socialism would include his political views.
Hugo Chávez has indicated a connection between his left-wing views and his religious beliefs.
Father Walter Lini (for whom Christianity and socialism held strong similarities and could be combined to form the basis of Melanesian socialism)

[edit] Quotes

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Capitalism is the way of the devil and exploitation. If you really want to look at things through the eyes of Jesus Christ — who I think was the first socialist — only socialism can really create a genuine society.—Hugo Chávez [1]

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