Christianity is akin to Fascism

Akin having been defined as “"similar or related. ” I will be presenting how they are very similar. Clarification: I am a Christian, I do not intend this comparison to be an insult. Often the word fascist is misused as an insult. (1) Those who take it as such should read my argument in its entirety to see the clarity of my argument. Fascism summary: The following is taken from howstuffworks(2) Principles of Fascism 1:“Absolute power of the State: The Fascist state is a glorious, living entity that is more important than any individual. All individuals are part of the State, but the State is greater than the sum of its parts. All individuals must set aside their own needs and supplicate themselves to the needs of the State. There is no law or other power that can limit the authority of the State. 2: Strict social order: Social classes are strictly maintained in order to avoid "mob rule" or any hint of chaos. Chaos is a threat to the State. The State's absolute power and greatness depends on the maintenance of a class system in which every individual has a specific place, and that place cannot be altered. 3: Authoritarian leadership: To maintain the power and greatness of the State requires a single, charismatic leader with absolute authority. This all-powerful, heroic leader maintains the unity and unquestioning submission required by the Fascist state. The authoritarian leader is often viewed as a symbol of the State. ” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How Christianity compares to the fascist summary: 1: Absolute Power of the State/The Kingdom of God Psalm 145:11 “They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;” Within Christianity, people believe in pursuing the will of the Lord over their own will. The kingdom of God is greater than the individual. There is no “law or other power that can limit the authority of the” kingdom of God. 2: Strict social order: One need hardly look further than the ten commandments to see that Christianity is based on an idea of “strict social order. ” There are several verses of scripture that dictate appropriate/inappropriate behavior. 3: Authoritarian Leadership: God is perceived as above reproach and is a leader with absolute authority. He is all-powerful, heroic and requires submission. God is the symbol of Christianity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below I will present ideas and statements from fascism and Christianity side by side for comparison. I will mostly be using “THE DOCTRINE OF FASCISM” by Benito Mussolini and the Bible (KJV) as sources. A = Fascism doctrine B = Christian doctrine Christianity and Fascism have similar doctrine. Below are examples of this. 1: Both claim to be spiritual ideas that can only be spiritually discerned. A: “ Thus many of the practical expressions of Fascism such as party organization, system of education, and discipline can only be understood when considered in relation to its general attitude toward life. A spiritual attitude. ”(3) B: 1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ” 2: Both acknowledge a higher law(God’s law) and strive to promote the society(kingdom of heaven) over the individual. A: “ The Fascist conception of life is a religious one, in which man is viewed in his immanent relation to a higher law, endowed with an objective will transcending the in­dividual and raising him to conscious membership of a spiritual society. ” (3) “ Anti-individualistic, the Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State,”(3) “The Fascist loves his neighbor”(3) B: Isaiah 55:8 and Mathew6: 25,33 Mathew 10:37-39 Mark 12:31 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. ” 25 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? ” 33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ” “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. ” “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ” 3: Both think that personal wealth can be a problem. A: “It (Fascism) does not believe in the possibility of "happiness" on earth as conceived by the economistic literature”(3) B: 1 Timothy 6:10 Mathew 6: 19-21 Mathew 19:24 “ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ” “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ” “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ” 4: Both sources of education, spiritual life and enforced thru discipline and authority. A: “ Fascism, in short, is not only a law-giver and a founder of institutions, but an educator and a promoter of spiritual life. It aims at refashioning not only the forms of life but their content - man, his character, and his faith. To achieve this propose it enforces discipline and uses authority, entering into the soul and ruling with undisputed sway. Therefore it has chosen as its emblem the Lictor’s rods, the symbol of unity, strength, and justice. ”(3) B: Just changing Fascism to Christianity in the above quote resonates with Christian values… “Christianity in short, is not only a law-giver and a founder of institutions, but an educator and a promoter of spiritual life. It aims at refashioning not only the forms of life but their content - man, his character, and his faith. To achieve this propose it enforces discipline and uses authority, entering into the soul and ruling with undisputed sway. ” I admit it is shocking how well that synergizes. 5: Both apply similar types of authority A: Totalitarian: “of or relating to centralized control by an autocratic leader or hierarchy”(4) B: Belief of God being omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Or in other words an autocratic leader. Summary: Due to the similarities of Christianity and Fascism in regard to their axioms and structure; it is reasonable to conclude that Christianity is akin to Fascism. (1). http://en.wikipedia.org... (2) . http://people.howstuffworks.com... (3). http://www.worldfuturefund.org... (4). http://www.merriam-webster.com...