IS COMMUNISM CHRISTIAN?

Evening Star, Issue 22449, 21 September 1936, Page 11

IS COMMUNISM CHRISTIAN?

TO TOT EDITOR. Sir —“ Anti-Communist]s ” letter would be amusing were it not apt to be misleading to those who only read scare headlines. The Communists are not out for blood, they are out for justice. Who precipitated the present war against the constitutionally elected Spanish Communists, etc.? But, of course, that was done in the name or the Lord. Any war in the name of the Lord, it seems, is preferable to one in the name of Communism, though to me it savours of taking His name in vain and making it a scapegoat for our sms. Also, it seems to me that class hatred is less evil than the Christian class distinctions which breed it, and that it avails little to call a man brother if you don’t treat him like one. It is not likely that Marx is perfect—only.. One could be that—but the honest Christian must admit that true Christianity and true Communism are one. Unfortunately he likes to compromise in practice by promising the other man his share of the good things in the next world, and feels annoyed at the Communist who insists on having it now. If the Christian does not want Marxian Communism he should be honest in his religion, get down to tin tacks, call his fellow-Christians together, and seek out the best way of redistribution and sharing. He should take heed of the oftdiscussed advice to the rich man, of the parables of the penny a day and of the man who sent out to the byways because his friends would not attend his feast. This is to-day’s challenge to the Christian; will be accept it?— I am, etc., Presbyterian. September 21.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —All men are not born free and equal. Some are born slaves to their passions, some to their appetites, ,and some to their lusts. So much for freedom. As to equality, some are born strong, some weakly, some with beauty, some with deformity, some with brains, some without, some 1 with skill, others with none, while some are born managers and some are born muddlers, and some would be wealthy with what to others would be beggary. What are our Communists going to do about it? Another thing calls for mention. Communism stands for taking from the few and dividing among the many. Art unions, So common, reverse this and take from the many to give to the few. Things will never be right while money obtained in this way has as much purchasing power as money earned by honest work. —I am, etc., A.B.C. September 21. TO THB EDITOR. Sir, —The violence and bloodshed which have accompanied most great social changes in the past can be averted in the future only as a result of free discussion such as is taking place through your columns just now. In a country such as ours, where the educational standard of the people is high, any'violence will be caused by the actions of a minority whose personal material interests have made them most conservative and robbed them of their capacity and will to learn. In these people prejudice excludes understanding. They are anti-progressive and therefore anti-social. ‘‘ Anti-Commu-nist ” has, like all people who condemn Communism, confined his remarks to a slander of it. None of his type ever attempt to put up a reasoned argument against the theories of the Communists. To do this would require an understanding of those theories, and it is clear that “ Watchful,” “ Anti-Communist,” and others have not, at least as yet, gained that understanding. Many people believe, and are encouraged in believing, that Communism is some scheme or plan worked out by Karl Marx to bo imposed upbn society by a group of individuals who are somehow separated or detached from the rest of society. This is a most misleading idea, and is quite untrue. The fact is, and no one knows it better than the Communist, that social changes take place only when a change is necessary and when the people as a whole desire a change. Karl Marx achieved fame which will be immortal because he was the first man to study sociology as a_ science. He spent a great deal of his time in the British Museum, where he 'studied the history of the human race—not the lists of dates of wars and lives of kings which arc too often miscalled history, but the real story of the

social development of man from as far back as it could be traced. He believed that there must be some natural fundamental law which governs the activities of man in his relations with the rest of Nature. The materialist conception of history is that man has always been, and still is, engaged in an endless struggle against nature, and that it is from this struggle that all his social activities and relationships arise. It is oily when nature starts to get the upper hand that man is driven by sheer necessity out of the rut of his natural conservatism and forced to make slow steps upward. This process is still going on. To go back would mean inevitable extinction, and though anti-social forces may retard progress temporarily, they cannot stop it permanently. Man has used several different methods or systems in his upward march. Marx called the system at present in use in most countries Capitalism, because of its peculiar nature, and just as long as it can accommodate society with the materials necessary for social growth it will last. When it is no- longer able to do this, necessity will again drive man from th© rut and it will be cast aside MT join its predecessors in history. Naturally, some people require less driving than others, and some feel the pinch of necessity before their fellows, and it is mainly from among these that nature thrusts forward those who are known to us as Communists and radicals of all kinds. Anyone who really understands Marxism knows all this, and the slanderings of such as “ Anti-Communist ” are recognised as similar to the treatment meted out to all the first advocates of change throughout history, including the early Christians. Nothing could be more unjust and slanderous than the accusation that Communists preach class war'. The class war existed long before Marx was ever thought of, and his teachings show that in the great change ahead all struggle between people will disappear with its cause. Regarding Christianity—Why is it that thou-jm Christianity has been taught for 2,000 years, it has never yet cured the social evils and human injustices which were responsible for its birth? It is because the necessary economic basis for its practical application has been lacking. What is the use of telling a poor man “ Thou shalt not covet,” when he sees in abundance things of which he is in need ? _ No! The practical teachings of Christianity will be applied only when Communism has provided the foundations upon .which a real brotherhood of man will be established. —I am, etc., Social Scientist. September 21.

TO TER EDITOR. Sir, —I have to thank “ Presbyterian ’’ and “ Insiki ” for the support they have given me in my effort to promote wholesome thought along the line of communal living in preference to selfishness. “Anti-Communist” and also “Anti-Communist League” have, in their statements, revealed their own outlook and also the source of their information regarding Communism. The Communism I advocate was born at Penticost, and in my opinion can only be practised by those whose very nature has been transformed by contact with spiritual forces —i.e., who have given up self and commenced to live for their fellows. As the average human is sol fish _ Communism ig too much for us, for it forbids selfishness, Christ also set this ideal for His followers, but so perverse is our nature that the ideal has been toned down until to-day the Christian church appears to favour the system which demands that the masses shall be kept poor in order that a few can accumulate riches. Comniunists do not hate Christ ; they hate cant and humbug, and oppression and poverty and slavery, and, if I read Scripture right, Christ also hates these things. The world in general! and the British Empire in particular cannot longer afford to foster such destructive elements as those I have just named, • and the Church of God should lead the way to a new era rather than cling to pagan customs and perish with thorn. The voice of tho people cries out against poverty in a land weighted with wealth. There is an abundance for all; and the genuine Christians, whatever their particular creed, should rally to tho banner of Christ and declare themselves on the side of the oppressed. There can be no greater safeguard against antiChrist Communism than the introduction of Christian Communism. A revolution in the soul and mind and outlook of all professing Christians would solve tho problem and abolish poverty together with “charity,” for when everyone has his rights charity’s crumbs will not bo needed.—T am, etc.. G. A. Herring. September 21,