The Fundamentals - Torrey - LXXIII - Chapter 8 (The church and socialism)

Required reading
The Fundamentals edited by R. A. Torrey (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 8 (The church and socialism).

My summary
This week Erdman teaches about Socialism.

Firstly he defines Socialism as 'an economic theory which proposes the abolition of private capital and the substitution of collective ownership in carrying on the industrial work of the world.'

Secondly Erdman defines popular socialism: 'Popular Socialism, however, is something quite different from a scientific economic theory. It is a social creed, offered as a substitute for religion, promising material benefits to all mankind, and bitterly opposed to Christianity and the Church.'  Erdman then speaks about the areas where socialism criticises the church.

Thirdly Erdman further clarifies that Socialism is: 'something else than a scientific economic theory, or a popular materialistic philosophy; it is a serious protest against the social wrongs arid cruelties of the age, against the defects of the present economic system, against special privilege and entrenched injustice, against prevalent poverty, and hunger, and despair.'

What grabbed me
I appreciated the distinction between socialism and Christianity in regards to their views of the material world: 'Popular Socialism is vitally defective in that it places the physical above the spiritual needs of mankind. It is, as a philosophy, definitely materialistic. It insists that better social conditions will produce better men; Christianity teaches that better men are needed to produce better conditions. Socialism endeavors to elevate individuals by elevating society; Christianity contends that society can be elevated only by the regeneration of individuals. To secure such regeneration is the supreme effort and function of the Church, and its chief message to Socialism is that the "life is more than meat and the body than raiment." To those who are crying for equality and opportunity and improved material conditions and fondly dreaming of a new age of universal plenty and comfort and happiness, the Church repeats the divine message, "Ye must be born again." If Socialism is ever to succeed as an economic theory, it can only be by the aid of the Church; for of all conceivable social systems, none would be more dependent upon high character and exalted principles than a socialistic state; and the production of such character and enforcement of such principles are the proved function of the Christian Church. '

Physical needs are important.  But the spiritual need of regeneration is far more important.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 9 (Millennial dawn: A counterfeit of Christianity).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.