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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. 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 writers Frederick Denison Maurice (The Kingdom of Christ, 1838), Charles Kingsley (Water-Babies, 1863), Thomas Hughes (Tom Brown's Schooldays, 1857), Frederick James Furnivall (co-creator of the Oxford English Dictionary) and Francis Bellamy — Baptist minister and author of the United States' Pledge of Allegiance.

On the Catholic side, the Rerum Novarum encyclical letter of Leo XIII (1891) was the starting point of a Teaching on social questions that was expanded and updated all through the 20th century. Though avoiding the word Socialism (as the Socialist movements of the day were anti-religious) the encyclical promotes a kind of corporatism based on social solidarity among the classes with respects for the needs and rights of all. In the more Catholic countries of Europe the encyclical's teaching was the inspiration that led to the formation of new Christian-inspired Socialist parties.

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.

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

• Democracia Popular
• Social Christians (Italy)
• Partido Social Cristiano (Ecuador)
• Christian Left Party (Chile)
• Marc Sangnier's Sillon and then Ligue de la jeune République
• League of Christian Socialists (the Netherlands)
• Christian Social Party (Netherlands)
• Christian Social Party (Switzerland)
• Christian Social Party (Slovenia)

The British Labour Party and Australian Labor Party have both been influenced by Christian socialism, and many figures from both parties could be considered to be Christian socialists, depending on the definition of 'socialism' used.

Former British Labour leader Tony Blair is a member of the Christian Socialist Movement^[1] although his adherence to Christian Socialist ideals are highly disputed.^[2]

Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd wrote in 2006 that "A Christian perspective, informed by a social gospel or Christian socialist tradition, should not be rejected contemptuously by secular politicians as if these views are an unwelcome intrusion into the political sphere" [1]. However he also described socialism as an "arcane, 19th century" doctrine and stated that "I am not a socialist. I have never been a socialist and I never will be a socialist". [2].

• Karl Barth
• Tony Benn
• Robert Malachy Burke
• Walt Brown
• Hugo Chávez
• Dorothy Day
• Percy Dearmer
• Tommy Douglas
• Diane Drufenbrock
• Thomas J. Hagerty
• Keir Hardie
• Thomas Hughes
• Sir David Fletcher Jones
• George Lansbury
• John Ludlow
• Martin Luther King – arguably the most famous Christian socialist, though not famous as a Christian socialist. ^[3]
• Charles Kingsley
• Father Walter Lini (for whom Christianity and socialism held strong similarities and could be combined to form the basis of Melanesian socialism)
• Margaret MacDonald - wife of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald
• F. O. Matthiessen
• Frederick Maurice
• Jürgen Moltmann
• Brian P. Moore - US Presidential candidate for the 2008 Presidential elections
• Reinhold Niebuhr
• Dorothee Sölle
• R. H. Tawney
• Norman Thomas
• Paul Tillich
• Cornel West
• Jackson Stitt Wilson (1868-1942) Methodist minister and socialist mayor of Berkeley, California from 1911-13.
• Edvard Kocbek, Slovenian poet, philosopher and politician
• Vekoslav Grmič, Slovenian Roman Catholic bishop, writer, essayist and public figure
• Frank P. Zeidler - ex-Milwaukee major, Socialist Party USA

“	If we all came of the same father and mother, of Adam and Eve, how can they say or prove that they are better than we, if it be not that they make us gain for them by our toil what they spend in their pride?	”
—John Ball[4]

“	Socialism which means love, cooperation and brotherhood in every department of human affairs, is the only outward expression of a Christian's faith. I am firmly convinced that whether they know it or not, all who approve and accept competition and struggle against each other as the means whereby we gain our daily bread, do indeed betray and make of no effect the "will of God."	”
—George Lansbury[cite this quote]

“	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[5]

• Christian anarchism
• Christian communism
• Christian left
• Christian politics (index)
• International League of Religious Socialists
• Liberation theology
• Postmodern Christianity

1. ^ http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/20030827_3_en.htm
2. ^ http://www.workersliberty.org/node/8841
3. ^ http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0120-08.htm
4. ^ John Richard Green, History of the English People. Accessed 2007-07-22.
5. ^ Tim Padgett, Time magazine, 2006-09-22. Chavez: "Bush Has Called Me Worse Things". Accessed 2007-07-22.

• Agrarian socialism in America: Marx, Jefferson, and Jesus in the Oklahoma Countryside, 1904-1920 (University of Oklahoma Press, 1999).
• The Aftermath with Autobiography of the Author (John Bedford Leno published By Reeves & Turner, London 1892)

• Official site of Christian Socialist Movement (UK)
• Religion and Socialism Commission of the Democratic Socialists of America
• Socialism and Faith Commission of the Socialist Party USA
• Spartacus Educational on nineteenth-century Christian socialism
• Anglo-Catholic Socialism