Jesus and the Abolitionists: How Anarchist Christianity Empowers the People

by Terry Stokes

Isn't anarchy just chaos? How could it possibly relate to Christianity? Countless people, including (and sometimes especially) those from religious backgrounds, are exploring radical ideas. The pandemic, the Black liberation movement, climate disaster--all these concerns are leading us to ask, "Does our system actually work ? Is capitalism ethical? Is this the only way to build a society?" Questions like these led author and pastor Terry Stokes to the political philosophy of anarchy. Now, we all have a scary picture in our minds about that it calls for chaos, violence, and disorder. But anarchy actually calls for the end of rulership , not violence in the streets. Anarchy seeks to empower small communities of people to take care of their own needs at the local level, thereby making the state obsolete. It's all about constructing societies in which people are placed above profit and systems are built on ethics of justice and equality. To Stokes, that sounded a whole lot like the building blocks of Christian faith. In Jesus and the Abolitionist , Stokes introduces readers to the ancient practice of anarchy and how it intersects with Christian beliefs and values. We see how beliefs about God, humanity, divine-human interaction, the Bible, and more can be illuminated and faithfully reformulated through an anarchist lens. This view, which Stokes calls anarchist Christianity, seeks to abolish tyrannical systems that do not recognize the changing values of our times and that disempower the people. Stokes's vision of an anarchist Christian future charts a caring theology and practice of living, one based in our voluntary cooperation, the goodness of all people, and faith in God. We can build an ethical world--one built on structures of care--and anarchy might just be the unlikely key.

Genres: Theology, Politics, Philosophy, Justice

173 pages, Hardcover

Published May 28, 2024

Reviews

[Jillian B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seeks to illustrate how anarchy and Christianity can enrich one another, and it largely succeeds. I loved the author’s witty voice. There were jokes sprinkled throughout that made me laugh out loud and kept it from feeling like a heavy theological tome. I didn’t agree with all of the author’s conclusions, and I probably won’t be embracing full anarchy as a political ideology any time soon, but I do like the emphasis on ideas like mutual aid. This book has inspired me to add a little more anarchy to my life and my faith.

[tteise · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ll keep creating hell while God keeps creating heaven!!!!! Is this anything?????

[Jackson Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Idk, there might be something in the water at PTS because I came out of there with so many of the same conclusions as Terry. Although Terry has maintained a much more genuine, optimistic, and constructive relationship with Christianity than myself.

Stokes does a great job defining terms, clearing up baggage, talking about his personal journey to coming to his conclusions, giving anecdotes that provide excellent support to his writing, and keeping things moving. An abolitionist & anarchist Christianity might be the only viable option going forward, but as Stokes points out, this is a line of thought deeply rooted in the political life of early church (also see Edgar Montero’s “All Things in Common”). I don’t think this book is going to convince everyone that reads it that anarchism and abolitionism are necessary stances for the Christian life committed to things like justice, equality, and freedom, but Stokes does a marvelous job making his case accessible. This book is necessary for revitalizing a politically active tradition of Christian thought, and demonstrating the “common sense” and viable/hospitable/communal/peaceful/generative/nurturing order of anarchism and its resonances with the political life of Jesus.

There is obviously always going to be variation in the interpretations of Christ, his actions, his words, his symbolic significance, and I’m not here to defend the interpretations that provide the foreground for an anarchist/abolitionist Christianity in this review, and I don’t think it’s valuable point to talk about this as the “faithful”, or “most true” version of Christianity, but it certainly is a way that has historical precedence, and immediate necessary practical import in world that is seeing the rise of Christian religious nationalism and its effects around the world.

This book does have a systematic shape to it, but not in the traditionally boring, rigid, and overly analytical philosophical ways that many western systematic theologies have been prone to. It is a comprehensive case for living the Christian faith through a particular (anarchist/abolitionist) way of life.

Stokes is re-putting anarchist/abolitionist Christianity on the map, and I’m here for it. At a minimum, it’s conversation that any Christian who is interested in seriously grappling with the relationship between their faith life and their political life must engage directly.

[Starrunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was raised Protestant, and as both a once-militant snobby atheist teenager as well as Queer, I had a miserable relationship with Christianity and God. It wasn’t until in my later years I would read Tolstoy’s “The Kingdom of God is Within You” and John Brown that I had a revelation about the actually liberatory aspects of Christianity, which emphasized a deep affinity with people and resistance against militarization / state violence, which was not the terrible, queerphobic and sweeping Christianity preached to me in my community.

As an anarchist, I follow a bunch of different niche online circles of anarchist thought branches, which brought me to this book where I saw a release event, made me curious, and I used a mooched Audible credit to read it.

I don’t think I was in the right target audience. A lot more understanding of scripture is required for this analysis that I thought, (which is cool, it just made me had to go back and read some of it.) Much of the book to me felt like a separate abolitionist anarchist analysis and scripture that didn’t always actually pair up, and I felt that some of the analyses were a stretch.

Then again, Stokes is quite clear about “you can take anything you want to find from scripture, and it might as well be good things,” basically. He situates himself and his background in the work. There were some really valuable pieces in here I’m going to hold — although I’m agnostic, being more familiar with the anarchic spirit of Christianity and scripture has been helpful in conversations with very conservative Christian family.

Stokes does a good job at getting Christians to question the heart of the Christian religion as a force for anarchic praxis, rather successfully, although I do fear some of the specific millennial jokes (ie referencing Kimmy Schmidt) is going to date this hard in a few years.

If you’re a Christian and are more curious about non-state solutions to scripture interpretation, pick it up. However if you are a non-Christian anarchist and are more curious about Christianity’s intersection with anarchism, you might not get as much here.

I wanted to hear more about your interpretation of Sermon on the Mount, Stokes!

Either way, I’m always very keen to see more radical blends of anarchism with different religions and worldviews.

As Jackson says in his review, what is most important about this book is that it places and reconfigures a radical anarchist Christianity for the 21st Century, putting it back on the map and generating (or perhaps, resurrecting) an interesting discourse. Proof of this is informed by looking at the reading habits of other reviewers here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Maileen Hamto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry J. Stokes, a lay theologian, presents a radical message of love and mutual thriving in his book, "Jesus and the Abolitionists." He offers a systematic Christian theology that centers on anarchy, a political structure based on “anti-rulership.” Stokes challenges the popular notion of anarchy as chaos, offering a fresh perspective. The nation-state is a system of dominance rooted in violence and coercion, which contrasts with anarchy's emphasis on personal autonomy and mutual benefit.

Stokes' manifesto is not just a recounting of his family and personal history but a deep dive into the dichotomy of opposing views of true liberation. His work is a refresher on Biblical scripture that centers on anti-establishment themes, with the potential to inspire a fresh perspective on the intersection of theology, social justice, and political theory.

In the midst of the current divides in public discourse, this book offers a unique perspective that could resonate with a wide range of readers. It is likely to attract those who possess a curiosity and openness to exploring new and unconventional ideas. It may particularly appeal to Christians looking for a different way to engage in political work and to anarchists seeking to ground the movement in a unifying spiritual system.

[Dash T · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main point of "Jesus and the Abolitionists" is that you absolutely do *not* need to be christian to be an anarchist, but christianity demands anarchy.

The Rev. Terry J Stokes starts by talking about their own relationship to anarchism, christianity, and christian theology. He then asks a bunch of extremely compelling questions: what aspects of christianity support anarchism? Where can we find evidence of that in the bible? How do we understand the parts of the bible which seem to support hierarchy, domination, and coercion?

The tone of the book is casual and conversational, but the political, ethical, and theological ideas are serious and carefully thought out. The author ends with concrere suggestions for how to put those ideas into practice — not necessarily to get involved in anarchist groups (although they encourage people to do that), but how to "anarchize" the community work that readers may already be doing.

[Matthew Harvill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry defined anarchy as a philosophy against ‘ruling’ - not chaos or anything else we might have learned. The book wove together love, Jesus, and anarchy very clearly. I also loved Terry’s layman’s style approach. Great book!

[mall0rie666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

[Dave Hallahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook. Soo good.

[hauntedandholierthanthou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not everything I would have hoped for theologically, but certainly a great pop theology book and very practical!

[Lea Ware · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read if you’re just looking for musings on Jesus and Anarchism, more of a discussion than a concrete argument. I enjoyed this quick read!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

One the best systematic theologies I’ve ever read. This book is a treasure of knowledge that all theologians & leftist should read.