Can a Christian be a Communist?

Not David · Sep 9, 2020

Doesn't the Leader of the Communist Party on Russia go to Church often?

Under One King · Sep 9, 2020

ArmyMatt · Sep 9, 2020

I would say no, seeing as how communism affirms atheism.

Not David · Sep 9, 2020

ArmyMatt said:
I would say no, seeing as how communism affirms atheism.

I found this article so that's why I was asking that question
Russia's Communist Party turns to the Orthodox Church

ArmyMatt · Sep 9, 2020

Not David said:
I found this article so that's why I was asking that question
Russia's Communist Party turns to the Orthodox Church

folks can say whatever they want. but trying to combine communism and Orthodox theology will lead to one or the other, or neither, but never both.

IceJad · Sep 9, 2020

Not David said:
I found this article so that's why I was asking that question
Russia's Communist Party turns to the Orthodox Church

That's just the communist changing tactics to win. After decades of trying to wipe out Christianity in Russia and failing they now try to co-opt it. Make it sound like Jesus has always about the collective need than the individual. That couldn't be further than the truth. The Lord cares for each individual in communism only the collective matter which is the state

Luke 15:3 - 7
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Aussie Pete · Sep 9, 2020

Not David said:
Doesn't the Leader of the Communist Party on Russia go to Church often?

The Russian Orthodox Church is the "official church" of Russia. In the past, it has been a means of suppression of dissent while enabling the government to claim religious freedom. I don't know about now. Once the USSR broke up, things changed somewhat.

Communism is at heart an atheist philosophy. It is based on a myth that people are inherently good. If you want insight into communism, read "1984" and "Animal Farm" by George Orwell.

The nearest I've come across to true communism is the Kibbutzim movement in Israel. Other than that, it is an imposed dictatorship that uses violence, intimidation and repression to silence dissent.

Aussie Pete · Sep 9, 2020

IceJad said:
That's just the communist changing tactics to win. After decades of trying to wipe out Christianity in Russia and failing they now try to co-opt it. Make it sound like Jesus has always need about the collective than the individual. That couldn't be further than the truth. To the Lord each individual matters in communism only the collective matter which is the state

Luke 15:3 - 7
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Russian Orthodox Church was the official "church" of the former Soviet Union. It was a pathetic attempt to show that the USSR had religious freedom - which was enshrined in the constitution.

Orthodox_Christian · Sep 9, 2020

A Christian could be a voluntary socialist (by own will, not forced) but not a communist. Communism is atheism. In the Amish communities, they all are voluntary socialists where they share everything that they need. Interesting I thought.

gzt · Sep 9, 2020

Sure.

Pavel Mosko · Sep 9, 2020

OK the OP is as good a reason to post this scene from the TV show "The Americans" as I'm ever going to get...

(The 2 undercover KGB agents living as husband and wife in the US for the last 20 years, finally officially tie the knot, Russian Orthodox style)

Albion · Sep 9, 2020

Orthodox_Christian said:
A Christian could be a voluntary socialist (by own will, not forced) but not a communist. Communism is atheism. In the Amish communities, they all are voluntary socialists where they share everything that they need. Interesting I thought.

The Amish certainly are not socialists.

For one thing, there is no such thing as a 'voluntary socialist' unless you mean someone who has voluntarily abandoned, yielded, his rights to the state and become an adherent of socialist government.

I'm sure everyone knows that this is about as far from the system that the Amish follow as is possible.

Danigt22 · Sep 9, 2020

Albion said:
The Amish certainly are not socialists.

They do mirror an anarcho syndicalism group. They like way more than we do, nothing good comes without hard work.

Orthodox_Christian · Sep 9, 2020

Albion said:
The Amish certainly are not socialists.

For one thing, there is no such thing as a 'voluntary socialist' unless you mean someone who has voluntarily abandoned, yielded, his rights to the state and become an adherent of socialist government.

I'm sure everyone knows that this is about as far from the system that the Amish follow as is possible.

In my Bible, it mentions 'voluntary socialism' word by word. I'm not sure where, but it mentions it in the footnotes for when Jesus said to give. I only compared. The Amish are not socialists, they voluntarily give. I only said voluntary socialism as an example. It's where it states to give to the community.

Albion · Sep 9, 2020

Danigt22 said:
They do mirror an anarcho syndicalism group.

No, because the reason for having the structure of each of these two societies is entirely different. That's important.

However, your suggestion, although entirely theoretical, makes more sense than thinking of a religious community like that of the Amish as socialist.

Under One King · Sep 9, 2020

As Christians, we are to share and give freely. But that is a personal thing we do, it is not something for the government to do. Communism only lessens the ability of the individual to give freely.

Albion · Sep 9, 2020

Orthodox_Christian said:
In my Bible, it mentions 'voluntary socialism' word by word.

No, it doesn't. You can bet the ranch on that one.

I'm not sure where, but it mentions it in the footnotes for when Jesus said to give.

Well, footnotes are not part of the Bible, but I'd love to see such a cockeyed Bible translation as you are describing, if it really does exist.

Halbhh · Sep 9, 2020

Not David said:
Doesn't the Leader of the Communist Party on Russia go to Church often?

The word "Communism" is usually taken to mean the governmental kind, imposed by force--

A Totalitarian Dictatorship. Committing theft and murder, left and right.

But, if you meant instead the original ideal they initially hoped for, before human nature turned it to evil, (it was never something we could really do without God on a scale past family), it could be stated thus:

"Let each give according to their means, and each take according to their needs."
(Kinda what family does, one that is functional)

Which is so very different than what "communism" turned into....

That ideal... was a hoping for something.. like this actuality --

Acts 2:45 Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.

They didn't know that only through Christ Jesus can such love arrive fully.

Danigt22 · Sep 9, 2020

Albion said:
No, because the reason for having the structure of each of these two societies is entirely different. That's important.

However, your suggestion, although entirely theoretical, makes more sense than thinking of a religious community like that of the Amish as socialist.

I mean, if a libertarian left society would exist. The amish would be a benchmark on how that society will look. A lot of work, for having the basic things you can have with less work in our system.

Albion · Sep 9, 2020

Danigt22 said:
I mean, if a libertarian left society would exist.

I know what you meant by an anarcho-syndicalist society.

The amish would be a benchmark on how that society will look.

But despite external appearances, their system would not be any kind of socialist or even anarcho-capitalist society, if that's what you had in mind when mentioning "a libertarian left society."

Can a Christian be a Communist?

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