Before continuing to read about anarchism in Christianity, also known as Christian anarchism, it is advisable for you to read what anarchism is if you have no idea about the philosophy or naively think that it is always related to violent acts, bombs and torches.
A Christian anarchist believes that the authorities of God is embodied within Jesus, whose main cores of teachings are love, freedom, equality and justice. With this, Christian anarchists, therefore, embraces the idea of non-violence revolt and do not condone brute force in facing the repressive enforcement from the state and the government.
Christian anarchists also believe that Jesus himself is an anarchist. Jesus, through his teachings, advocated the true equality among human beings, regardless of sex, beliefs, race, and cultural backgrounds.
Jesus had been the opponent towards the Roman empire from his birth and he was a passionate fighter towards the religious authorities' elitism. Jesus taught the only pure authority is the Kingdom of God and that the Kingdom of God was within each and every single one's own heart.
One of the clearest message of Jesus' anti-state and anti-government sentiments is depicted in Luke 22:25, in which he said: "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over the people; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves ‘Benefactors.’ But you are not to be like that".
Tolstoy believed that a true follower of Jesus, who taught about unconditional love, even to the enemies, would never ever believe in the use of violence, whether as an offensive or a defensive measure.
Tolstoy, therefore, believed that true Jesus disciples would never approved any act of violent conducted by any form of authorities, including religious establishments, the states, and the government. In doing so, Tolstoy therefore became an anarchist who held the true teachings of Jesus to its very core, or in other words, a Christian-anarchist.
Before Tolstoy, however, there were other prominent Christian-anarchists, who actually influenced the Russian philosopher's thinking and views in the first place.
Tolstoy was heavily influenced Henry David Thoreau, an American writer, who was kidnapped in 1846 by the American authority for his refusal to pay taxes, which was aimed to fund the war between the United States and Mexico.
Thoreau was also an opponent for the institutionalized slavery conducted by the American government during that time.
Catholicism also contributes to the great minds of Christian-anarchism, and one of them was Thomas J. Hagerty. Hagerty was known as very radical in his anti-military and anti-imperialism views.
Hagerty tirelessly fought for the economic justice for the poor and the working class. He established the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and during its first conference Hagerty said that: “the Ballot Box is simply a capitalist concession. Dropping pieces into a hole in a box never did achieve emancipation of the working class, and in my opinion it never will”.
Hagerty took his Christian-anarchistic inspiration from Jesus, who was also known as a passionate advocate for the marginalized poor working class members, who tended to be the Samaritans in the Bible.
The Catholic Church also produced aChristian-anarchist named Philip Berrigan.
Berrigan, died in 2002, was once listed as one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives for his opposition on the Vietnam war. Berrigan, like Thoreau before him, also rejected the United States' government policy to extort their own people via taxes to fund the brutal and blood-shedding war.
Berrigan quit his pastoral services in 1973, left the Catholic church institution, and got married. He had three children, who all became radical anti-war activists.
The pacifism and non-violence ideals taught by Jesus did not only influence Christians, but also non-Christians as well.
Tolstoy's influence of pacifism was apparent in Gandhi's persistence in practicing non-violence revolt against the British imperialist in India. Gandhi's utmost respect towards Jesus, as a philosopher and messenger of love, but his bitterness towards Christian nations' imperialist policies was evident in one of his famous quotes, which said: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ".
The influence of Jesus' teachings on Christian anarchism remains at large today in Christian anarchist movement groups such as the Catholic Worker Movement and the Jesus Radicals. These organizations often stand in the front-line to oppose wars, to promote economic justice, to advocate equality among men, and to protect the rights of the working class poor.
Anarchism in Christianity does exist. A peaceful and love-based anarchism that is. The Christian anarchist ideals for promoting non-violence revolt, liberty, and equality are better in contributing to the Christian society, and the world as a whole, than the ideals of authoritarianism, and elitism executed by the church authorities.
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