What spiritual properties do you find in Anarchism?

Question

I can reference two writers, Simone Weil, and especially Louise Michel, who point up the spiritual aspects of Anarchism.

To note, in theory, Anarchism is inimical to the idea of deity, but these two writers found spirituality in man, the freedom of his soul expressed, as it were. The sprituality of which they wrote was not tied to the idea of an overlord deity, but rather the community of man. Weil converted to Christianity before her death from anorexia, but Michel was a committed anarchist to the end, and held to her ideals of a spiritual anarchism.

What do you think? Does Anarchism have spiritual properties? Does man necessarily need a spiritual master in order to be spiritual?

Answer 1

I wish I were skilled in articulating what I think about this stuff. You've encouraged me to read Simone Weil before, and I haven't had the time to date.... but I hope to eventually....

Anyway - I've had quite a journey to get where I am in my faith, and I'm still being worked on for sure. That being said, I believe firmly that man is a spiritual being. Whatever the track or path. We seek it out. So far as I know, there has yet to be any person who simply "exists" in and of themselves without some question forming.
So yes, I think Anarchism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Religion in any form and existance in it's most basic doniminator - is and has spiritual properties.
For the second part of your questions - this is very interesting to me. Because on the one hand, my faith exhorts me, draws me to my master - God.
On the other - many people claim there is no need for a master.... yet what of order from chaos? Where does it come from? A paradox of thought ensues.....


(((((jackie))))))

Answer 2

My researched answer would be to reference Jiriki (Japanese) which means 'own-power' and refers to the approach whereby one relies on ones own efforts to gain spiritual advancement rather than on external forces - Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, for example.

My personal answer would be that the sea is made up of drops of water - the infinitude of the ocean does not remove the waterness of the drops. Without each drop, the rain is not the rain, without the rain the river is not the river, without the river the oceans are not fed. As for anarchy, we can define ourselves by society, or we can define society by ourselves.

To leave tact behind, we can be sycophants, or synchronicity.

Answer 3

Spiritual master? - no, unless you need one.
Of course, everything has spiritual properties.
If you are self sufficient and happy then be what you are or do the following: (this is not a joke)
Right click on the item, go to Properties, then see what it says: 'If something is True for you - then it is True'.
If you don't like what is says, then go to Options, settings and customise your Values to most optimal happiness for the user - which would be you.

Answer 4

Man, you have to post here more often. The answers you are getting are better (or at least more serious sounding) than the usual crap we get around here.

To answer your question (since it is open to all opinions and views), I think I'll give you mine (no pun intended).
First: I was not aware that Anarchy was against the idea of God (I actually had to look "inimical" up, that's why I already love you, man: you're already making me learn). I always thought that Christianity in its basest form was a form of Anarchy (since it preaches freedom, and all that... for ex.: Jesus broke many Jewish laws just to show his disciples that God does not care if you follow the rules or not, as long as you do the right thing). Now, "doing the right thing" may sound a bit too much like a rule for most people, but if you think about it, every time you make a decision you do have to consider the consequences- anarchist or not- so if we define "doing the right thing" as "doing what is most convenient to me at the time, considering both short term and long term consequences"- and this is not against what Christ teaches- then doing the right thing is actually being free.
So, at least, I do not consider Anarchy to be against the idea of God (not to demean the writings of famous thinkers on the subject, as I said: this is only my opinion).
Now, does Anarchy itself have spiritual characteristics?
Regardless of what I expressed before (Anarchy with or without God), the thinkers you mention definitely hit an important nail when they point out the spirituality implied in the concepts "human" and "community" (taking your word for it, since I have not read from these thinkers, I'll have to look them up).
I am a Christian, a believer; but even if God did not exist (and maybe he doesn't), I would still believe adamantly in the transcendental nature of humanity and the effects its actions have upon the Universe. And I believe that one of the biggest manifestations of this spirituality of humans is freedom. Nothing makes you wonder about your final purpose in life like knowing that you can choose to do, to be anything...
I also sometimes consider myself to be somewhat of a "pragmatic anarchist", or at least a rational one (I like the pragmatic point of view, but it is kinda hard to act on it, if you get my drift). I believe that we are "condemned" to be free. No matter how dependent we try to be, how many rules we follow, how many bullies we let "take control" of our lives; in the end it was because we chose it. The only rules for us humans, the only laws we cannot escape are change, and choice. We always have to face both, even when we think we choose not to. Every action we take is the direct result of our decisions. This then takes away practically all (if not all) the power from the so called "authorities". Their power is based on consequences they add to our actions, but our actions would still have consequences- that we have to consider in order to choose- even if there were no authorities. Authorities, in the end are just more individuals (as persons or communities) that are just as free to react to our actions as we are free to react to the actions of others.

And those are my views on the subject.
Hope to see more questions, or answers by you around here!

Answer 5

Anarchism recognizes the interdependence of all, and by extension, of all things. That's the highest spiritual property, in my judgement - but few are capable of it, particularly if imbued with sectarian religious ideas and belief in "special creation". We don't need masters - we need to master ourselves. It's not hard when you realise what goes around comes around.

Answer 6

In a way, that could describe paganism, Jacky.. we don't have any rulers over us.. we have our own individual codes of honor and ways of living.. it's a type of spiritual anarchy.. there's a freedom that unless you've experienced it, can't be described.. It's amazing and wonderful and comes with a great responsibility as well.

Answer 7

That's way I love you, mate. Seems you can find order in chaos without imposing a new world order. Such is the life of a poet.

Answer 8

Jebus Criste!
You're far too intelligent for this forum. It's filled with bible-thumpers and smart-arsed atheists (like me).
It sounds like your second paragraph is spot on. It's probably impossible to be an anarachist and any organized religion, because Anarchy is 100% anti-organization. But not impossible to be spiritual, or even Deist. As long as you believe that the Deity gave you no rules, then there are, no rules!

Answer 9

I forget who said it, but I quote it and agree.

"Anarchism is the biggest evil on earth"!

Sorry friend. I know you hate to hear that.

Anarchism is the ultimate rebuff to God and man, taking history into your own hands, as if you were GOD...which you are not.

God does not Lord over human history as maliciously as anarchist do.

God loves us enough to allow us to choose our own fate, even if it is hell...but anarchists snatch away our self-determination, as some wish God would do.

Anarchism uses graphiti to damage beautiful pulic murals, and murder Ilike the one that started WWI, and even hijacking commercial flights and flying them into buildings. THAT is the ugly side of anarchism!

I know there are nice ones, like you, but I fear the excesses of self-righteous anarchism, in the hands of crazy or evil men!

We beed to cooperate within our community for the whole group's best interests. We need to pray to our Father, as Jesus taught. "THY WILL be done!"

We must cooperate and adapt to keep this "leaky lifeboat" EARTH going, for the sake of our beloved children.

We have no other alternative. I see the greedy thoughtlessness of corporations as anarchism too! They think "What is best for GM, is best for the USA", even if it has colateral damage like cancer causing pollution, etc.

That is God's will! He said "love others as much as yourself".

That seems o be beyond us, as humans, until we choose to lay down our lives for others.

Who will choose, as Jesus chose, to die for our family, our nation, or even a stranger who will be run down by a truck unless we push them to safety at the cost of our own life? There is no greater love.

On the other hand, I see anarchism as self absorbed...the very oposite!

If an anarchist does a murder suicide, and has the God-like power to wipe out all life on the planet, he may think he acts like his own god, but he serves the Devil.

Answer 10

If we chose Anarchy, who would enforce it?
That is really not as dumb as it sounds!