Do you think there is any philosophical relationship between Christianity and Communism?

Question

I have read that some thinkers see communism as the bastard child of Christianity. What do you think?

Answer 1

There is certainly a commonality between all fanatical forms of anything.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm

Atheism, as the denial of this unreality, has no longer any meaning, for atheism is a negation of God, and postulates the existence of man through this negation; but socialism as socialism no longer stands in any need of such a mediation. It proceeds from the theoretically and practically sensuous consciousness of man and of nature as the essence. Socialism is man’s positive self-consciousness, no longer mediated through the abolition of religion, just as real life is man’s positive reality, no longer mediated through the abolition of private property, through communism.

Communism is the position as the negation of the negation, and is hence the actual phase necessary for the next stage of historical development in the process of human emancipation and rehabilitation. Communism is the necessary form and the dynamic principle of the immediate future, but communism as such is not the goal of human development, the form of human society. [34]

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1894/early-christianity/index.htm

Works of Frederick Engels 1894

On the History of Early Christianity

'The history of early Christianity has notable points of resemblance with the modern working-class movement. Like the latter, Christianity was originally a movement of oppressed people: it first appeared as the religion of slaves and emancipated slaves, of poor people deprived of all rights, of peoples subjugated or dispersed by Rome. Both Christianity and the workers' socialism preach forthcoming salvation from bondage and misery; Christianity places this salvation in a life beyond, after death, in heaven; socialism places it in this world, in a transformation of society. Both are persecuted and baited, their adherents are despised and made the objects of exclusive laws, the former as enemies of the human race, the latter as enemies of the state, enemies of religion, the family, social order.'

Answer 2

I think that there's a relationship between Christianity and the kind of selfless and caring nature that communism promotes and is also in line with the totalitarian aspect to some degree because neither promotes much freedom but Christianity is a religion and Communism is an economic system so I think those are the only big similarities.

Answer 3

i dare say that some write could find evidence of the
opposite too.

As for me,some idea appeared,
Trying to study and figure-out kurt Godel's startling proof
(in arithmetic), i realised that both communist and christian
educators must teach this;that is, they both recognise the
importance of Godel's (1931-2) unique proof(and which to my knowledge no christian or communist has dispelled).
So.... anyone who can find(-and-show)fault with this proof,
that something goes haywire in Arithmetic eventually,must
or might get the praise of both the communists and of the
christians.In fewer words,both ideologies recognise a "neutral" math-arithmetic,and if a new fundamental theory
could be accepted by both then the "relationship" could be
then shown to be like the relationship between brothers; or
more likely between sisters(!)

Answer 4

The Book of Acts talks of the disciple living communally.

Remember, it is an economic system. The fact that Marx had a hate on for God really has nothing to do with it.

Answer 5

Russia was an Atheist state it collapsed.
Christianity has mothing absolutely nothing to do with it.

Answer 6

Communism promotes atheism. (Russia before their decline...) So where's the relation?

Answer 7

if they are part of the same world and people dont count the similarities then ther emust be one