Difference between revisions of "Anarchism and religion"

Revision as of 18:49, 19 October 2008

Anarchists traditionally have been skeptical and opposed to organized religion. Most organized religions are hierarchical in nature and, more often than not, aligned with contemporary power structures similar to those found in state hierarchies. This does not mean that anarchists are in opposition to personal faith, only to the perceived authoritarian nature of organized religion. Further, Anti-authoritarianism is a central theme in some religious sects and non-sectarian churches, and some other variants of mainstream religions. Many notable anarchists have been religious. Some anarchists, like Leo Tolstoy and Ammon Hennacy, were firm believers in the principles of Christian anarchism and nonviolence.

Anarchist clashes with religion

Published posthumously in French in 1882, Mikhail Bakunin's God and the State was one of the first Anarchist treatises on religion. Bakunin expounds his philosophy of religion's place in history and its relationship to the modern political state. It was later published in English by Mother Earth Publications in 1916.

Anarchists in Spain in the early 20th century were responsible for burning several churches, though many of the church burnings were actually carried out by members of the Radical Party while anarchists were blamed. The implicit and/or explicit support by church leaders for fascism during the Spanish Civil War greatly contributed to anti-religious sentiment.

Emma Goldman wrote in "Anarchism: What It Really Stands For",

Anarchism has declared war on the pernicious influences which have so far prevented the harmonious blending of individual and social instincts, the individual and society. Religion, the dominion of the human mind; Property, the dominion of human needs; and Government, the dominion of human conduct, represent the stronghold of man's enslavement and all the horrors it entails.

Late 19th Century/early 20th Century anarchists such as Voltairine de Cleyre were often associated with the freethinkers movement, advocating atheism.

Anarchist themes in religion

Anarchistic and anti-authoritarian movements have played significant roles in the development of certain religions, particularly those that arose during a class struggle. Some of these are viewed as having explicit anarchist teachings.

Anarchism and Buddhism

Main article: Buddhist anarchism

Buddhism is a nontheistic, humanistic, experientially based tradition in contrast to many other religions. Most Buddhist schools recognize Buddha as a man and as a symbol for attainment of enlightenment although he is worshipped as the lord by a few schools. Buddhist scriptures, like the Kalama Sutta, have an anti-authoritarian attitude encouraging the questioning of authority and religious dogma and trusting personal judgment.

Buddhist communities are often feared by kings or rulers due to their lack of property. By voluntarily rejecting all material possessions and not fearing pain or death, Buddhists naturally "escape" earthly systems of power because there was no way to manipulate them.

Anarchism and Christianity

Main article: Christian anarchism

According to some, Christianity was originally a peaceful anarchist movement. Jesus is said, in this view, to have come to empower individuals and free people from oppressive religious doctrines in Mosaic law; he taught that the only rightful authority was God, not Man, evolving the law into the Golden Rule.

According to Christian anarchists, there is only one source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable, the authority of God as embodied in the teachings of Jesus. Christian anarchists believe that freedom from government or Church is justified spiritually and will only be guided by the grace of God if men display compassion and turn the other cheek when confronted with violence.

As per Christian communism, anarchism is not necessarily opposed by the Catholic Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states "She (the Church) has...refused to accept, in the practice of "capitalism," individualism and the absolute primacy of the law of the marketplace over human labor. Regulating the economy solely by centralized planning perverts the basis of social bonds; regulating it solely by the law of the marketplace fails social justice". Notable Catholic Anarchists include Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin who founded the Catholic Worker Movement.

Libertarian Christian anarchists, on the other hand, see the invisible hand of the marketplace as a natural replacement for the state. "Anarcho-capitalist" Christians are confident that such market-based alternatives as aggression insurance, private security, and private arbitration will replace abusive state monopolies in these areas.

The discovery of the ancient Gnostic texts at Nag Hammadi coupled with the writings of the science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, especially with regard to his concept of the Black Iron Prison, has lead to the development of Anarcho-Gnosticism.

Discordianism

The teachings of Discordianism strongly resemble Situationist ideas and other core anarchist sentiments. The surreality of Discordianism certainly rings of anarchism, even if it is only ontological.

Anarchism and Judaism

Template:Main article There have been many Jewish anarchists. Jewish anarchists, primarily Ashkenazi Jews were prominent in the labor movement from the 1880s to the 1930s. Nowadays, there is a large anarchist movement in Israel.

Anarchism and Islam

Main article: Islam and anarchism

There have been anti-authoritarian traits throughout the history of Islam, often related to Sufism. The end of the 20th century brought the syncretism of Islam and anarchism into a non-violent, anti-authoritarian philosophy espoused by people like Hakim Bey and Yakoub Islam.

Paganism

A number of anarchists in the U.S. are pagans and vice versa. The Reclaiming Tradition of paganism is overtly anarchistic in structure and cofounder, Starhawk, has associated herself with anarchism for some time.

Stregheria

Stregheria, from c. 1350 onwards, is based around the teachings of Aradia de Toscano. According to Stregheria, the wealthy Christian class made slaves of the poor, who fled from their oppressors and became thieves and assassins and began to make homes for themselves in outlaw camps in the Alban Hills surrounding Lake Nemi. Aradia, after her initiation into a Dianic Witchcraft cult, began to counsel and to take pity on them. She became known as La Bella Pelegrina (The Beautiful Pilgrimess). After receiving a vision from Diana, she came to believe she was the spiritual incarnation of the goddess Aradia, and was revered by the outlaws. She taught them Witchcraft and methods to curse their wealthy oppressors.

Stregheria originally honored the Roman god Lucifer, the Roman goddess Diana, and their daughter Aradia. Stregheria came to adopt a somewhat Christianized view of Lucifer and Diana; Lucifer became a brave rebel who opposed the tyrant God of the Christians, whilst Diana became a nearly Lilith-like figure.

The Benandanti, Witches employed by the Church to combat the followers of Aradia (labeled the Malandanti), eventually joined the movement when they also became the target of witch-hunts.

Stregheria lacks centralized authority in a strict sense, though deities are honored as wise teachers.

Taoism

The central text of Taoism and taoist philosophy, the Tao Te Ching, is considered by some as one of the great anarchist classics. At the time it was written in ancient China, there was a struggle between Taoists, Legalists and Confucians, where the Legalists were in favor of codification of law and a centralization of governance, while the Confucianists generally preferred moderation using rites instead of laws. The Taoists, on the other hand, rejected such ideas. At the center of Taoism lies the notion of Wu wei (often translated; action through inaction). It can be summed up by the following quote from the Tao Te Ching; 'The world is ruled by letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.' This and other ideas in the Tao Te Ching resonates with modern concepts of anarchism.

Thelema

One of the most important rules in Thelema simply states "Do what thou wilt, shall be the whole of the law." and also there is a strong emphasize and focus on individualism in Thelema. Aleister Crowley himself also encouraged (usually indirectly) followers to refuse dogma's and things that may appear as collectivism. Therefore, many ideas prevailent in Thelema could be more or less described as anarchist.

Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian Universalism, or UUism, is not necessarily an anarchist religion, but has structures which have anarchist characteristics. UUism is a religion in which the churches and services are generally democratically run and somewhat decentralised and autonomous. Lay congregants often organise their own services when the ministers take breaks. The services are often open to member participation. The seven values of UUism are generally in agreement with anarchist values.

Vodun

Vodun, like Stregheria, evolved as a religion by which slaves were able to reconnect with their cultural roots. Like Stregheria, it was somewhat influenced by Christianity as it did so.

Wicca

Wicca is a decentralized religion where each practitioner is free to modify rituals, prayers, etc as long as they adhere to the Wiccan Rede: "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will". Wiccan covens (groups) are self-contained and have no central authority greater than the High Priestess of the coven. Although most Wiccans are not anarchists themselves the dozens of branches of Wicca, along with the many thousands of Solitary Wiccans (Wiccans not connected to any coven), are a testament to Wicca’s inherent anarchistic structure.

See also

• Christian anarchism
• Islam and anarchism
• Hojjatieh
• Simple living
• Tax resistance

External links

• Zen and the Art of Anarchy, essay by King Mob
• Zenarchy, by Kerry Thornley
• Buddhist Anarchism, by Gary Snyder
• Buddhist Anarchism, by Daniel Trent Dillon
• Anarchism and Unitarian Universalism, by Clayton Dewey
• Why faithful anarchism works and why it fails