The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-07-17
Socialism and Christianity

TO the Editor OF The Washington Times:
see 1t is claimed by some socialists.
that socialism is but a revival Of the
religion taught BIZ Christ This is a
misleading statement. Taken as they
undoubtedly intended to state il. that
IS. that 20 religion lie taught would
establish justice. equity. etc. on its ma
terial side. there is no doubt much truth
in it. as society with an ethical basis
I would certainly be q very different
thing from what prevails. Society and
governments. rs -o5av constituted. are
. atheisti1 and materiaIistic- The doctrine
or the survival OF the EttestT is the
ole pracuced. not the survival Of drtest
morally or rsliEiOUslv. but the fttest
brute. the fittest hog.
The history o. the early church. the
writings OF the early '-fatEers.'' the
communal 5rotheraoods IN the church.
some remaining with rs today all 1eS-
tifF to the spirit Of dltTUism and broth
. crlc-d. but the conditions IN society
then and row are like another world.
The doctrines o. socialism would not
have applied to society ss il was con-
stl-atea IN the time Of Christ That the
ethics of the teachings OF Christ. apart
trou lids RELIGIONS teachings. that Is.
{ mans relation 10 his fellows and 10 so
cig-v. as apart from his relations 10 God.
would mean q system OF society upon
E the same lines as those proclaimed 1y
. socialism. there can be no question.
When Christ said 10 the lawyer O the
good Samaritan. Go thou and do like
WISE He said Do He did not So be
q hereto like the Samaritan but ON
. weuG=d mis- deed Socialism Is a y stem
+ OF economies. and i that system VIII
give better social conditions. more
! righteous relations. and aDate the ma
I Cerialls-ic and arEeiStlc material con-
+ CltlDs that seem 20 be- ETaSplnS our
Q Government and overriding all moral
I and ethical standards surely no one can
y object
The tendencies OF modern gree and
Z monopoly do not hold out hIl2t pic
! ture FOR the future AS % the matter 0f
& name that is OF little Importance. Con-
{ dltiCES Iu society have been TFQIdiy
I changing Ia the last nifty years, ana u
the laws are not adopted 20 meet LheSe
1 changes Il wGGld seem that there are
/ breakers ahead
statistics certainly 81 ow that the in
/ creased production of labor with the
: Inventions and IaBUT-saviuE machinery
{ OF today should sive abundance for all
/ instead Of the Dcrlerla-1 or misery an.
+ starvation 90 the IabDTer. and auton0-
{ Hiles. yachts auL palaces Co those who
| produce no VaIr-es OF do any labor eN-
/ Cert 90 devise new methods 20 destroy
I and waste values Surely the present
1 condition of great wealth ana great pow
Z e~t-- Of rich palaces and slums, cannot
( De said 10 De a Christian system II u
I IS so claimed and defended. as an
I painfully aware that many q the Chr1s-
I rfau clergy DO so claim and defend Il
( then it IS not in accord with the religion
{ raC-hr-fy Christ, and the brand oi
/ C--r5stfa-itv Of the mentioned gentle
I man IS auri-,lrisL-
The -leGo-a-l1u Of social conditions
{ and the reform Of abuses and wrongs
1 IS an ethical movement and Il religion
/ and ethics are related. on religion and
reform are related Am religion that Is
( divorced from ethics falls TO the level Of
REV- GEORGE d COLEMAN