Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:56 am
firstborn888 wrote:http://www.atheists-for-jesus.com/about.phpMelchizedek wrote:Evidently, Christian atheist is a valid term, as well as Christian anarchist. Interesting new post at: http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/
As far as anarchists - anarchy is a broad concept. Literally meaning "no ruler" it can be applied to Christianity because leaders are to be servants - NOT rulers. Jesus taught that the way of peace is not through ruling hierarchies but through servants leading by example and followers following voluntarily through a change of heart. From there though we see a steady digression (in Christianity) back to bosses and domination, beginning with Paul and worsening until the papacy claimed absolute rule.
Today we have pastor bosses who run their little kingdoms as they see fit, and all the while claiming that they are called by God to do it as they are. Even as they are all doing it differently.(Now THAT'S anarchy!)
So an ultimate society is envisioned where no laws are needed and no government is needed. Make's sense to me.
I would identify as an anarchist myself. Firstborn, you said that bosses and domination began with Paul. I understand this is a popular position amongst some of the "Jesusist" anarchists who disliked his complicated theologizing (Tolstoy and Hennancy). But I know of no Biblical reason to suspect that Paul ever promoted rulers. Paul taught universal subordination through and through and was finally executed, in opposition to Empire, by Nero (ca. AD 69). Domination infected the Church outside of Paul's influence.