The document discusses the relationship between religion and politics, highlighting how religious traditions can inspire both conservatism and rebellion. It focuses on 'Christian anarchism' and the moral teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing non-violent political subversion. It also addresses the resurgence of religion in politics since the 1970s, countering the expectation of secularization, and mentions historical non-violent struggles as opposed to more visible violent actions.

1. Religion and
Politics
Radical Non-violent
Responses
http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxejtitAPa1qagyvoo1_400.jpg (25 Feb 12)

2. Religion & politics
• Religion often politically
conservative, but has also
inspired rebellion
• Disruptive because relativises
human institutions
• Every religion has long traditions of
reformers and ‘protestants’
http://www.religlaw.org/index.php?contentId=463&linkId=163&pageId=19 (16 Feb 12)

3. Christian ‘anarchism’?
• In a nutshell: political
arrangement implied in
‘Christianity’ = ‘anarchism’
• Main figures: Tolstoy, Ellul,
Day & Catholic Workers,
jesusradicals.com, etc
http://writeforgod.stblogs.com/tag/catholic-worker/; http://pieceofmind.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/ellul11.jpg; http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls1hd1QtUs1qlrn6h.jpg (25 Feb 12); http://apos-archive.blogspot.com/2010/03/christian-anarchism-political.html (10/4/12)

4. Sermon on the Mount
• Clear moral teaching
• Addressed to would-be
followers
• Don’t resist evil, turn other
cheek, go extra mile
• Don’t judge but forgive
(adulteress)
• Don’t swear oaths (be truthful)
• Don’t hate but love enemies (good
Samaritan)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermon_on_the_Mount (10/4/12);

5. Political subversion
• Jesus calls to:
– challenge political,
economic, religious
institutions
– exemplify alternative
political relations
• Arrested & crucified
• Hence: public, political, subversive but not
violent
http://apos-archive.blogspot.com/2011/07/christian-pacifist-and-anarchist.html (10/4/12)

6. ‘Secularisation’ & ‘resurgence’
of religion in politics
• Enlightenment expectation
of ‘secularisation’
(separation of religion &
politics)
• But: ‘resurgence’ of
religion on politics since 1970s
• Why?
– Religion source of basic values & ethics
– Linked with ethnicity & culture
– Apparent failure of secular ideologies
http://acelebrationofwomen.org/?p=54318 (26 Apr 12)

7. Non-violence and violence
• Many past & present non-
violent religious struggles
(Tolstoy, Gandhi,
Ploughshares)
• Violent equivalents more
visible: spectacular hence higher audiences
http://www.charityandsecurity.org/analysis/PATRIOT_Act_Material_Support_Humanitarian_Exemption (19 Dec 10)

8. Concluding quote...
“What a fine place this world
would be if Fundamentalist
Protestants tried to
exemplify
the Sermon on the Mount.”
– Peter Maurin, Easy Essays
http://www.catholicworker.org/roundtable/pmbiography.cfm (26 Apr 12)

9. Dr Alexandre Christoyannopoulos
Loughborough University
http://sites.google.com/site/christoyannopoulos
(links to many openly accessible publications)