ANGLO-SAXON SOCIALISM: RELIGION OF WORKS;
SINGLE-HANDEDLY DELAYED BY TYNDALE’S FAITH

Our post, Ubermensch Reborn in BLM, briefly explored German philosophy that elevated Man’s Reason, coupled with epic ethnic mythology, over faith in Christ. But the German philosophers were simply apologists for French philosophers who prized Man’s Reason above any moral restraint of religion as discussed in, French Revolution: Birth Pangs of Socialism. Several French philosophers were influenced by English philosophers which begs the question, “Why did England not aspire toward scientismic socialism as their French and later Germanic compatriots?” It would be correct to say, Reformation, but it would be imprecise. The more correct answer is condensed into one Reformed man: William Tyndale, Prince of Translators.

MARTIN LUTHER SPARKED THE REFORMATION;
HE ALSO DOOMED THE REFORMATION TO STATISM

Martin Luther was not the prime mover of the Reformation; he was the spark that revealed general unrest with Roman Catholicism’s (RCC) self-serving doctrinal tyranny. Luther did not refute much of RCC practices and doctrines though he began the movement away from works-based salvation. The cause was taken up by Calvin, Zwingli, Huss, Wycliffeand many others whose names are known only to Christ. These men generally sought to return Christianity to the people as depicted in the New Testament; especially in the Gospels and Acts. This required translations of the Bible into the vernacular language of each language group. But, translation is not simply changing languages but requires understanding and interpreting into coherent grammar and idioms of the target language. Within three hundred years or less, each of the major Reformation church groups became associated with newly formed nation-states to become little copies of RCC. These persecuted faiths became persecutors themselves. France did not embrace the Reformation and actively murdered Huguenots, as Reformers were called there. Thus, RCC tightened its control and coupled with central economic failure crumbled to secular Reason. The German path was later and somewhat different but nonetheless a socialist movement devoid of Christian restraint. England was on the same path.

The religious wars in England were not as violent nor as sweeping because of its isolation as an island nation and sparse craggy highlands. Wycliffe believed each believer should own a readable Bible which under RCC was only in Latin which many village priests could not read. As Christ preached to individuals, he believed that each person should read and be responsible for God’s truth in their life; or lack thereof. This ebbed and flowed until Wm Tyndale came on the scene. He literally spent his life translating the Bible until he was executed. But, England was flooded with his translations and eventually England repudiated RCC but established its own nation-state church devoid of true doctrine.

{Continue to Anglo-Saxon Socialism: Religion of Works B