Christian radicalism
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| - | '''Fra Dolcino''' (c. 1250 – 1307) was an Italian [[Christian radicalism|radical Christian]] preacher burnt at the stake in 1307, and often described as being a [[heresy|heretic]] inspired by the [[Franciscan]] theories. He became the leader for a group of radical reformers who after him was called [[Dulcinian]]s. | + | '''Christian radicalism''' ('''radical Christianity''' or '''radical discipleship''') encompasses a number of different [[Christian movement|movements]] and actions in [[practical theology]]. It entails a radical re-orientation towards the root truths of [[Disciple (Christianity)|Christian discipleship]] through personal reflection and action. |
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| + | ==Radical re-orientation and reflection== | ||
| + | "Radical" refers to the need for perpetual re-orientation towards the root truths of [[Disciple (Christianity)|Christian discipleship]]. Radical is derived from the Latin word ''radix'' meaning "root." One way Christians achieve this is to revisit the [[Sermon on the Mount]] or the [[Gospel of Mark]], the earliest of the canonical gospels. Alternatively this re-orientation may consist of Christians re-examining their roots or discovering an [[anti-imperialism|anti-imperialist]] heritage within their own traditions, such as Methodists studying [[John Wesley]], Baptists remembering the [[Anabaptist]]s or Catholics finding [[Francis of Assisi]]. Christian radicals, such as Ched Myers, Lee Camp and [[Shane Claiborne]], believe [[mainstream Christianity]] has moved away from its origins, namely the [[Ministry of Jesus|core teachings and practices of Jesus]] such as [[turning the other cheek]] and [[simple living|rejecting materialism]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Personal action== | ||
| + | Radical discipleship calls [[Christian]]s to follow the [[will of God]] through personal action and example. This may encompass theological ideas and actions that are perceived to be [[Subversion|subversive]] or [[extremism|extreme]], and therefore unacceptable to either the [[Christian Church|Church]] or [[State (polity)|State]]. The methods by which radical Christians attempt to transform the [[social order]] can vary widely, from constructive [[activism]] to destructive [[Religious fanaticism|fanaticism]], as Christopher Rowland explains: | ||
| + | |||
| + | :"Christian radicalism has had its roots in the [[Bible]]. Both those committed to violence, and those who resorted to peaceful means to bring about change, have appealed to the Bible, albeit using different [[Biblical hermeneutics|hermeneutical]] strategies. We cannot understand Christian history without recognising the interweaving of destructive fanaticism and constructive activism, and, what is more, the knee-jerk reaction to radicalism, of whatever hue, from the wielders of power, whether secular or ecclesiastical." | ||
| + | |||
| + | Examples of [[nonviolence|nonviolent]] radicalism include [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], [[Toyohiko Kagawa]], [[Leo Tolstoy]], [[Gerrard Winstanley]], [[William Blake]] and [[Gustavo Gutiérrez]], whilst examples of violent radicalism include the [[Münster Rebellion]], [[Thomas Müntzer]] and [[Camilo Torres Restrepo]]. | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | {{Multicol}} | ||
| + | *[[Christian anarchism]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian atheism]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian communism]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian existentialism]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian heresy]] | ||
| + | *[[Christianity and politics]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian left]] | ||
| + | {{Multicol-break}} | ||
| + | *[[Christian libertarianism]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian pacifism]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian primitivism]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian socialism]] | ||
| + | *[[Christian terrorism]] | ||
| + | *[[Creation Spirituality]] | ||
| + | *[[Early Christianity]] | ||
| + | {{Multicol-break}} | ||
| + | *[[Jesuism]] | ||
| + | *[[Liberation theology]] | ||
| + | *[[New Monasticism]] | ||
| + | *[[Postmodern Christianity]] | ||
| + | *''[[Book:Radical Christianity|Radical Christianity (Wikipedia book)]]'' | ||
| + | *[[Radical Orthodoxy]] | ||
| + | *[[Restorationism]] | ||
| + | {{Multicol-end}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Further reading== | ||
| + | ===19th century=== | ||
| + | * William Withington (1836) ''[http://www.archive.org/stream/christianradical00withrich#page/n3/mode/2up Christian Radicalism]'' | ||
| + | * [[Leo Tolstoy]] (1894) ''[[The Kingdom of God Is Within You]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===20th century=== | ||
| + | * [[Dietrich Bonhoeffer]] (1937) ''[[The Cost of Discipleship]]'' | ||
| + | * [[Vernard Eller]] (1968) ''[http://www.hccentral.com/eller2/index.html Kierkegaard and Radical Discipleship: A New Perspective]'' | ||
| + | * [[Arthur Wallis (Bible teacher)|Arthur Wallis]] (1981) ''The Radical Christian'' | ||
| + | * John J. Vincent (1986) ''Radical Jesus: The Way of Jesus Then and Now'' (revised and reprinted in 2004) | ||
| + | * [[Ched Myers]] (1988–94) ''Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus''; ''Who Will Roll Away the Stone?: Discipleship Queries for First World Christians'' | ||
| + | * [[Christopher Rowland (theologian)|Christopher Rowland]] (1988) ''Radical Christianity: A Reading of Recovery'' | ||
| + | * Maurice Barratt (1998) ''Will the Real Christians Please Stand Up?'' (Radical Christianity Series) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===21st century=== | ||
| + | * Dan McKanan (2002) ''Identifying the Image of God: Radical Christians and Nonviolent Power in the Antebellum United States'' | ||
| + | * Andrew Bradstock and Christopher Rowland (2002) ''Radical Christian Writings: A Reader'' | ||
| + | * Wes Howard-Brook and Sharon H. Ringe (2002) ''The New Testament: Introducing the Way of Discipleship'' | ||
| + | * Lee C. Camp (2003) ''Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World'' | ||
| + | * Joerg Rieger and John Vincent (2004) ''Methodist and Radical: Rejuvenating a Tradition'' | ||
| + | * Wes Howard-Brook (2004) ''Becoming Children of God: John's Radical Gospel and Radical Discipleship'' | ||
| + | * Rad Zdero (2004–2011) ''The Global House Church Movement'' ISBN 978-0-87808-374-9; ''NEXUS: The World House Church Movement Reader'' ISBN 978-0-87808-342-8; ''Letters to the House Church Movement: Real Letters, Real People, Real Issues'' ISBN 978-1-61379-022-9 | ||
| + | * [[Shane Claiborne]] (2006) ''[[The Irresistible Revolution|The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical]]'' | ||
| + | * [[David Augsburger]] (2006) ''Dissident Discipleship'' | ||
| + | * [[Obery M. Hendricks, Jr.]] (2006) ''The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted'' | ||
| + | * Daniel M. Keeran (2006–9) ''Radical Christianity: Peace and Justice in the New Testament''; ''Christian Terrorism: lay down your life.... take up your cross'' | ||
| + | * Roland Chia (2006) ''Radical Discipleship: Reflections on the Sermon on the Mount'' | ||
| + | * Andrew W. McThenia Jr. (2007) ''Radical Christian and Exemplary Lawyer: Honoring [[William Stringfellow]]'' | ||
| + | * Robert Rix (2007) ''William Blake and the Cultures of Radical Christianity'' | ||
| + | * Richard A. Horsley (2008) ''In the Shadow of Empire: Reclaiming the Bible as a History of Faithful Resistance'' | ||
| + | * Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw (2008) ''Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals'' | ||
| + | * [[John Stott]] (2010) ''The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling'' | ||
| + | * Z. Holler (2010) ''Jesus' Radical Message: Subversive Sermons for Today's Seekers'' | ||
| + | * David Platt (2010) ''Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream'' | ||
| + | * Jamie Arpin-Ricci (2011) ''The Cost of Community: Jesus, St. Francis & Life in the Kingdom'' | ||
| + | * [[Mark Van Steenwyk ]] (2013) ''The unKingdom of God: Embracing the Subversive Power of Repentance'' | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 16:09, 9 March 2014
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Christian radicalism (radical Christianity or radical discipleship) encompasses a number of different movements and actions in practical theology. It entails a radical re-orientation towards the root truths of Christian discipleship through personal reflection and action.
Contents |
Radical re-orientation and reflection
"Radical" refers to the need for perpetual re-orientation towards the root truths of Christian discipleship. Radical is derived from the Latin word radix meaning "root." One way Christians achieve this is to revisit the Sermon on the Mount or the Gospel of Mark, the earliest of the canonical gospels. Alternatively this re-orientation may consist of Christians re-examining their roots or discovering an anti-imperialist heritage within their own traditions, such as Methodists studying John Wesley, Baptists remembering the Anabaptists or Catholics finding Francis of Assisi. Christian radicals, such as Ched Myers, Lee Camp and Shane Claiborne, believe mainstream Christianity has moved away from its origins, namely the core teachings and practices of Jesus such as turning the other cheek and rejecting materialism.
Personal action
Radical discipleship calls Christians to follow the will of God through personal action and example. This may encompass theological ideas and actions that are perceived to be subversive or extreme, and therefore unacceptable to either the Church or State. The methods by which radical Christians attempt to transform the social order can vary widely, from constructive activism to destructive fanaticism, as Christopher Rowland explains:
- "Christian radicalism has had its roots in the Bible. Both those committed to violence, and those who resorted to peaceful means to bring about change, have appealed to the Bible, albeit using different hermeneutical strategies. We cannot understand Christian history without recognising the interweaving of destructive fanaticism and constructive activism, and, what is more, the knee-jerk reaction to radicalism, of whatever hue, from the wielders of power, whether secular or ecclesiastical."
Examples of nonviolent radicalism include Martin Luther King, Jr., Toyohiko Kagawa, Leo Tolstoy, Gerrard Winstanley, William Blake and Gustavo Gutiérrez, whilst examples of violent radicalism include the Münster Rebellion, Thomas Müntzer and Camilo Torres Restrepo.
See also
- Christian anarchism
- Christian atheism
- Christian communism
- Christian existentialism
- Christian heresy
- Christianity and politics
- Christian left
- Christian libertarianism
- Christian pacifism
- Christian primitivism
- Christian socialism
- Christian terrorism
- Creation Spirituality
- Early Christianity
- Jesuism
- Liberation theology
- New Monasticism
- Postmodern Christianity
- Radical Christianity (Wikipedia book)
- Radical Orthodoxy
- Restorationism
References
Further reading
19th century
- William Withington (1836) Christian Radicalism
- Leo Tolstoy (1894) The Kingdom of God Is Within You
20th century
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1937) The Cost of Discipleship
- Vernard Eller (1968) Kierkegaard and Radical Discipleship: A New Perspective
- Arthur Wallis (1981) The Radical Christian
- John J. Vincent (1986) Radical Jesus: The Way of Jesus Then and Now (revised and reprinted in 2004)
- Ched Myers (1988–94) Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus; Who Will Roll Away the Stone?: Discipleship Queries for First World Christians
- Christopher Rowland (1988) Radical Christianity: A Reading of Recovery
- Maurice Barratt (1998) Will the Real Christians Please Stand Up? (Radical Christianity Series)
21st century
- Dan McKanan (2002) Identifying the Image of God: Radical Christians and Nonviolent Power in the Antebellum United States
- Andrew Bradstock and Christopher Rowland (2002) Radical Christian Writings: A Reader
- Wes Howard-Brook and Sharon H. Ringe (2002) The New Testament: Introducing the Way of Discipleship
- Lee C. Camp (2003) Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World
- Joerg Rieger and John Vincent (2004) Methodist and Radical: Rejuvenating a Tradition
- Wes Howard-Brook (2004) Becoming Children of God: John's Radical Gospel and Radical Discipleship
- Rad Zdero (2004–2011) The Global House Church Movement ISBN 978-0-87808-374-9; NEXUS: The World House Church Movement Reader ISBN 978-0-87808-342-8; Letters to the House Church Movement: Real Letters, Real People, Real Issues ISBN 978-1-61379-022-9
- Shane Claiborne (2006) The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical
- David Augsburger (2006) Dissident Discipleship
- Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. (2006) The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted
- Daniel M. Keeran (2006–9) Radical Christianity: Peace and Justice in the New Testament; Christian Terrorism: lay down your life.... take up your cross
- Roland Chia (2006) Radical Discipleship: Reflections on the Sermon on the Mount
- Andrew W. McThenia Jr. (2007) Radical Christian and Exemplary Lawyer: Honoring William Stringfellow
- Robert Rix (2007) William Blake and the Cultures of Radical Christianity
- Richard A. Horsley (2008) In the Shadow of Empire: Reclaiming the Bible as a History of Faithful Resistance
- Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw (2008) Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals
- John Stott (2010) The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling
- Z. Holler (2010) Jesus' Radical Message: Subversive Sermons for Today's Seekers
- David Platt (2010) Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream
- Jamie Arpin-Ricci (2011) The Cost of Community: Jesus, St. Francis & Life in the Kingdom
- Mark Van Steenwyk (2013) The unKingdom of God: Embracing the Subversive Power of Repentance
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Christian radicalism" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
