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iammyownrushmore  ·  3603 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Did Christianity Create Liberalism? [book review]

One thing I do think is interesting is that some strains of liberal values have been found in many Christian Anarchist movements, though under the banner of a particular religious practice in opposition to a state-sponsored variation of Christian political organizations, which is what I believe you are citing. Anabaptists and Quakers have often been defined by their adherence to a separation of the church from the state, the freedom of religious practice, an opposition to war and strict non-violence by refuting individual mandates by the state (this totally does not include individual property rights, but the rejection of individual property was in response to the the same conditions liberal values rebelled against). This didn't end well for the Anabaptists at the time, but movements subverting the church as a political entity and placing value on the individual's will have also come from within it's own ranks.

None of these movements are direct forbears to liberalism, but categorically implying that the only political manifestation of Christianity is a strict theocratic monarchy isn't always the case.

Also, Tolstoy directly references pacifist Quaker movements in opposition to conscription by the Russian govt. in The Kingdom of God is Within You, which was what Ghandi cited as a central influence on his nonviolent resistance campaign, who then influenced MLK. That's a pretty badass lineage.