Letter to the Editors from the September 1957 issue of the Socialist Standard
Socialism versus Religion
To the Editorial Committee.
In the August issue Mr. John Wyatt, in answer to the criticism of the report of the debate on "Socialism versus Religion,” as reported in the June issue, writes: "If the New Testament is read right, one can find very much to support Socialism.” In so far as our understanding of Socialism is concerned, it arises out of capitalism through the class struggle. There is no "turn the other cheek” about it. Many of the teachings of Christ were devoted to telling the people (the slaves) to put up with the conditions in which they lived for treasure to come in heaven. We are determined to wage a struggle against labourites and alleged Socialists as well as avowedly capitalists—so different from the pacifism of the New Testament.
Mr, R. Smith writes—quoting the report of the debate above: “The existence of religion presupposes a belief in the existence of God.” Then he takes me to task because I asked my opponent for proof of the existence of God. What's wrong with this? Nobody will doubt that religious people believe in God, but because they believe in God this does not prove that He exists. Socialists believe in Socialism, but that does not prove that Socialism exists.
H. Jarvis.
1 comment:
The letter in the original Standard was untitled.
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