Christian anarchism

Christian anarchism is the belief that 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 therefore feel that earthly authority such as government, or indeed the established church do not and should not have power over them. Christian anarchists are pacifists and oppose the use of all physical force, both proactive and reactive. They believe individuals seeking a path to freedom will only be guided by the grace of God if they display compassion for others and turn the other cheek when confronted by violence.

Related Topics:
Christians - God - Jesus - Government - Pacifists - Turn the other cheek

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Its adherents believe this quest for freedom is justified spiritually and quote the teachings of Jesus, some of whom are critical of the existing establishment and church. They believe all individuals can directly communicate with God and will eventually unify in peace under this one God.

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Many regard Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God is Within You http://www.kingdomnow.org/withinyou.html (1894), read alongside the Bible, to be the founding text for Christian anarchism. Tolstoy called for a society based on compassion, nonviolent principles and freedom. Leo Tolstoy's work was one of the inspirations behind Mahatma Gandhi's use of nonviolent resistance and mass civil disobedience during the Indian Independence Movement.

Related Topics:
Leo Tolstoy - The Kingdom of God is Within You - 1894 - Bible - Nonviolent - Mahatma Gandhi - Nonviolent resistance - Civil disobedience - Indian Independence Movement

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Some Christian anarchists have opposed war and other statist aggression through nonviolent tax resistance. Ammon Hennacy endorsed this principle. Many Christian anarchists oppose profiting from economic transactions and state capitalism. Most Christian anarchists, such as Tolstoy and Hennacy, are vegetarian or vegan.

Related Topics:
Statist - Tax resistance - Ammon Hennacy - Vegetarian - Vegan

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