Opinion of Walter Rauschenbusch

[Deus Naturae]

I tend to take a negative view of anyone who believes that collectivism is inherently good. HP.

[Deus Naturae]

I tend to take a negative view of anyone who believes that collectivism is inherently good. HP.

So you have a negative view of Jesus? 

More seriously, Rauschenbusch promoted the Social Gospel, not the Socialist Gospel, tho unfortunately some libertarians seem to think that anything done to help people in general is socialist.

I'd need to read some of his work to reach a final conclusion, but judging by the Wikipedia article, he seems like a mixed bag.  Certainly he came along at a time when social responsibility needed to be revitalized, but the way the article is written it sounds he overdid it, to the point of marginalizing the need for individual responsibility and the need for an individual connection to the Divine.

I'm not too knowledgable about him so it's possible I'm not understanding the context, but his wikipedia page stated that he believed socialism to be an "institutional embodiment of good."

Anyway, I've got nothing against helping people, it's the idea that the people should be required to help others that bothers me.

[Deus Naturae]

I tend to take a negative view of anyone who believes that collectivism is inherently good. HP.

So you have a negative view of Jesus? 

More seriously, Rauschenbusch promoted the Social Gospel, not the Socialist Gospel, tho unfortunately some libertarians seem to think that anything done to help people in general is socialist.

I'd need to read some of his work to reach a final conclusion, but judging by the Wikipedia article, he seems like a mixed bag.  Certainly he came along at a time when social responsibility needed to be revitalized, but the way the article is written it sounds he overdid it, to the point of marginalizing the need for individual responsibility and the need for an individual connection to the Divine.

I'm not too knowledgable about him so it's possible I'm not understanding the context, but his wikipedia page stated that he believed socialism to be an "institutional embodiment of good."

Anyway, I've got nothing against helping people, it's the idea that the people should be required to help others that bothers me.

Then you have a problem with a lot more Christian moral theology than just the Social Gospel movement. Jesus' teachings and strictures and commandments can be interpreted as individual, collective, or both without much violence to the Biblical text, but interpreting them as non-binding recommendations is a stretcher. Unless, of course, what you're saying is that you find it objectionable when specific types of earthly institutions--I imagine you're thinking of governments, in this case--require people to help others, but don't find it objectionable on general principle, which I think is a more defensible position.

Yes, I was referring to state policies, I should've been more clear. Not that I don't have issues with Christian moral theology.