Ignoring the elephant in the Room: Popular Revolution as a Minority?

By: Jhon

In my experience as a Christian anarchist I feel that most Christians who have become anarchists do so by following their theology to its logical real world conclusions, that is to say they come to realize that Jesus teachings imply some sort of anarchism. But because they are Christians who have become anarchists they often focus on their personal theology and how they as Christians should practice this theology. I think this is great, but as an anarchist who became a Christian I feel I have acquired another perspective.

All my friends are anarchists and I spend my time with them, not with any church. In spending all my time around secular anarchists I have noticed I am in a rather strange position. In being alone in this position I have noticed a huge problem. This problem seems to go rather unnoticed by everyone within these two separate worlds. The problem is simple: these two worlds are separate.

As anarchists we want to end capitalism. As capitalism involves few people ruling over many and implementing economic policies that serve the few and not the many, capitalists need to keep the many convinced that their polices are in the public's best interest. So then, If we want to topple capitalism we need to inform the public that these polices and system are not in their best interest. In other words to have a successful revolution we need the public’s popular support of anarchism or a libertarian socialist economic model.

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But, this begs the question . . . How in the world will anarchism, which is predominately aggressively secular,
ever be the most popular idea if the majority of the population of most countries are religious? I have found this problem to be entirely overlooked by secular anarchists.

I can understand the anarchist slogan of No gods No masters, but secular anarchists could really be shooting themselves in the foot here. If the plan is to first wage a campaign to end religion so that the newly atheist population will then be ripe for anarchism to become the dominate idea, or promote atheism along with anarchism
as a kind of package deal then the possibilities of anarchism ever seriously gaining popular support diminish infinitely.

Comprehensive research has shown that in 2010 84% of the global population identify with a religious group. I am not advocating anarchist’s associate with any oppressive religious institution. On the contrary I am merely pointing out that libertarian socialism, for example is totally compatible with Christianity. If anarchists are serious about
revolution we must at least acknowledge this elephant in the room.

The reality is that during a revolution anarchists may find themselves fighting against Christian fascists or co-operating with ultra-left Christians. The difference between a revolution being popular or not could depend on the political/ theological ideas of the people where it is being advocated. So which is it going to be?

If there is no conversation between secular anarchists and religious folks, then how will anarchist ideas ever be accessible to the majority of the public? I feel as Christian anarchists we are in a position to start this conversation.

Think of what could have happened during the Spanish civil war if liberation Theology or Christian anarchist or communist theology was the prevailing theology rather than fascist Catholicism!
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Jhon is christian anarchist who is usually located in Ireland. He is involved in various anti-capitalist direct action campaigns and groups

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