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Jacobin pretty regularly has religion and christian friendly articles. I have been a subscriber for many years and have catalogued many of them. I would also note that at one point Hart also claimed to be a member of DSA, don't know if he still is. Anyways, nice to find you on hear. I remember hearing you at a socialist event probably 20 years ago now when you were close to FRSO. I came out of a different tradition, but always interesting to see other's journeys. As an Anglican 'socialism' is less of a bogey word for us.

Hauerwas, has a keen sense of the limitations of historical Christendom, a sense that descends from the anabaptist tradition that has so deeply influenced him (even though he is affiliated with an Anglican church). It should be noted though that that anabaptist criticism originates as imminent critique. For a thousand years there was a Christian civilization. There was much that was wrong, even awful about it. But it was not totally unaware of its moral failings and it was guided by a set of ethical ideals, an ethical tradition that still has a claim on moderns even though they have forgotten it. The collapse of Christendom meant the gradual collapse of those ideals as applied to public life and morality and thus enabled the rise of capitalism as Tawney described. In modernity a left, or something like it, is inevitable as an expression of all that Christians and the church have disavowed since the collapse of a Christian social order and the rise of a social order based around Mammon.

In any case the immediate issue for the church seems pretty clearly not be an influx of 'Constantinian' socialists but the rise of a neo-fascist authoritarian politics of blood that is corrupting the gospel everywhere you turn.

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Stanley H is a friend, and even gave me a nice blurb for Borderline. I agree that right constantinianism is the greater threat now (esp in the US); but my thesis (if there was such a haughty thing) was more to do with instrumental 'religion' . . . for which I take the integralists to task among my own fellow Caths. I appreciate your engagement, and take all your points. (I was for a time a DSA person, too, when it appeared the millennial left resurgence was real.) Yep, I was FRSO for a good while, the soft faction. Please stay around. I can always use a critical eye and a friendly discussion. (What is your name?)

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Apr 8Liked by Stan Goff

Great and very timely work! The careful development of some of the ways in which the pitfalls and snares along the true path can sometimes appear beneficial is very instructive. Thank you.

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