COMMUNISM AND CHRISTIANITY
Sir,-I would like to comment on your editorial, "Democracy and Dissent" and an article on "Christianity and Communism," in which Dr. John Coleman stated he did not think Christianity and Communism were so completely incompatible as they appear and implied that a Christian could be a Communist. In my opinion the objective of the Communist philosophy is common ownership, and common ownership means common responsibility, and here comes the difficulty, for s6me people do not want others to have responsibility, .and many do not want responsibility though they may long for the amenities that ownership appears to give. So some seek tc dictate and compel others to give either of their labour or their goods. Communism is concerned solely with materia! things, Christianity is concerned with the spiritual, that is, the spirit which motivates us in the things we do; in our attitude to, or the way we treat, our fellow beings. Comminism teaches fear, hatred, resentment, envy; Christianity teaches love, friendliness, respect, and consideration. So
how can a professing Christian claim allegiance to Communism? In your editorial you say that in the British communities Democracy’s problem is not one of survival but of survival in a reasonably pure form. I contend that if we want Democracy to live, then we must allow all who live within its bounds the right to form their own opinions whether they be Communist or Capitalist, Jew or Gentile, Christian, Agnostic or Atheist, Rationalist, or anything else. We must give them the freedom to express. their opinions publicly when and wherever they may feel the urge to do so, so long as their actions do not deprive anyone of their basic social needs. f If a part of human society would faithfully accept the principles of the doctrine of Christ, it would be a challenge to Capitalism, whose system makes money, possessions, property more important than human needs, and is therefore entirely opposed to Christianity. It would .be such a challenge that those who believe and extol its virtues and seek to make Communism a bogy-man would recede to a minor position of importance, taking the threat of Communism with them.
F. H.
ENGELBRECHT
(Oxford).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19480625.2.14.4
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 470, 25 June 1948, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
364COMMUNISM AND CHRISTIANITY New Zealand Listener, Volume 19, Issue 470, 25 June 1948, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in