Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 14:10:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Shawn P. Wilbur" <swilbur-AT-wcnet.org>
Subject: Re: christian anarchists 


Erik asks: 

> Simple put : why do people need to call themselves xtian anarchist or
> some other xxx anarchist ? 

"Need" is probably the wrong word. For some of us, "christian anarchist"
just marks the road along which we developed libertarian principles. Maybe
neither label - "christian" or "anarchist" is *necessary.* But they are
useful for establishing connections to others concerned with what concerns
us - sometimes oppositional connections, as are many of mine with most
"christians" (and more than a few "anarchists" ;) - and they also mark
particular disciplines, particular ways of working through questions about
how to live, what our relationship to law, responsibility, one another,
etc might be, or ought to be. 

If that's not clear to you, so what? Does it need to be? I have, at
various times, said a lot more in explanation of what i mean by
"libertarian christianity," nearly always in response to the missionaries
of atheism who insist on trying to uncovert the believers. That's an
amusing enough pastime among friends and comrades, and it's always
interesting to put one's beliefs into a more propositional form. But
arguing about belief isn't likely to advance the cause much.

These periodic outbreaks of incredulity about "christian anarchists" - and
we can just about map the seasons by them by now, eh? - seem very similar
in their dynamics to the periodic social/lifestylist panics. I suppose
labels are easier to deal with than individuals, assuming you don't want
to build a movement, but, among ourselves and in our saner moments, most
of us probably know better. The proof, finally, is in the pudding, in our
social practices. By our works...and all that. 

I don't really care if folks mix their anarchism with christianity,
atheism, zen, veganism, syndicalism, free love, (really) free markets or
belgian bananas, as long as they're working toward a society based in
liberty, voluntary association and mutual aid. 

-shawn

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