Date: Sun, 26 Nov 1995 15:26:43 -0800 (PST)
From: Robert Peter Burns <rburns-AT-scf.usc.edu>
Subject: LibTheol, Blake, and communism


Liberation Theology: I often wonder what would have been the history and
fate of socialism to date if, right from the beginning all marxian
socialists had reached out to Christian and <some> other religious
believers in the following way: 

"Hey you religious folks!  We do not share your religious faith, and have
a different world-view.  But we respect your consciences, and will leave
you to practice your faith in peace as you see fit.  But look to your own
scriptures and moral ideals!  Do you not see that though your churches as
social institutions and many of their leaders are reactionary and servile
to capitalist interests, your own fundamental sources of belief and
motivation proclaim and teach against every form of oppression and
exploitation? Do you not see that those same sources explicitly and
implicitly call for the multiple liberation of working people and the
poor? Come then, and join us in building a better, socialist world! For
though we differ over our understanding of the cosmos, we share a common
vision of how we on this earth should live--as servants of our common
humanity!" 

Would this tactical course have brought with it superior, nay momentous
results for the socialist cause? 

William Blake: My best friend in the Jesuits, Michael Kirwan SJ, studied
English at Oxford and is a huge fan of William Blake.  It's a funny old
world, isn't it? 

Communism: According to Marx, the defining norm of distribution under
communism will be, "From each according to his ability, to each according
to his need".  There are 23,000 Jesuits around the world.  They operate
precisely according to this principle within and between all their
communities and provinces.  All contribute what they earn to the common
pool, and all are provided for from the same common pool.  The better off
communities subsidize the worse off communities, and the better off
provinces subsidize the worse off provinces.  <In this we are not by any
means unique>. Of course, like everyone else, we are deeply embedded in
the capitalist system.  Communities keep interest-bearing savings
accounts, etc. and we rely on such funds to some extent to finance the
education of our younger members and the care of our elderly, etc.  But
it's an interesting fact that Jesuits and other like-minded religious
types have been one of the few groups to make a serious and viable attempt
to practice communism in the modern era.  Now, if only we get everyone
else to do the same!  That's the hard part, as most of you realize. 

Peter
rburns-AT-scf.usc.edu



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