# The Christian values on applied philosophy ## Political Science: Can we understand politics and society? The unpredictable aspects of living in a fallen world with some people being regenerated by the Holy Spirit make **behavioralism** difficult to implement. - At the same time, **economic formalism** ends up being remarkably consistent about human nature. **Interactionism** has merit, and is arguably how God works. **Social atomism** has limited use due to the changing spiritual nature of each individual at any given point in time. ### The verdict on how much we can understand politics and society Possible (or partial) - Economic formalism - Interactionism Possible (but difficult) - Behavioralism - Social atomism ## Political Science: What's wrong with society? Since the entire *point* of Christianity is that Jesus is a personal and eternal King, **anarchism** (as well as **anarcho-primitivism** and **anarcho-syndicalism**) is difficult to justify. The issue of sin is more prevalent than any issues created from [technology](technology.md), so environmentalism is difficult to harmonize. The male/female dichotomy in Christian doctrine leans heavily toward **complementarianism** and away from **feminism**. Since **Marxism** (and **Communism**, **distributism**, **Neo-Marxism**, and **Socialism**) branches from dialectical materialism, it's inherently against Christianity, and it is *absurdly* difficult to harmonize the two (though its ideals represent a vision that has aspects close to [what Jesus will institute when He comes back](https://theologos.site/millennium/)). **Mohism** contains some truths, but implies that human nature can self-conform to being more loving, which defies Christian defeatism. Christians *do* believe in a type of **reconstructivism**, but is asserted on a much more individual level in this life. ### The verdict on what's wrong with society Possible (and useful) - Complementarianism - Reconstructivism Possible (or partial) - Mohism Possible (but difficult) - Anarchism - Anarcho-primitivism - Anarcho-syndicalism - Environmentalism - Feminism - Marxism - Communism - Distributism - Neo-Marxism - Socialism ## Political Science: Who should have power in society? Since Christianity leans into honoring *whatever* government is in control, many government policies are acceptable to them. - **Communalism** and **individualism** are both acceptable (as well as **communitarianism**), though Christianity leans a little bit toward individualism. - There is a type of **liberalism** present in Christianity, though it doesn't veer into fully permitting evil and leans away from **libertarianism**. - Christians have a specific type of **contractarianism** that presumes God established national laws for the lawless ([1 Timothy 1:9](https://biblehub.com/1_timothy/1-9.htm)). - While the [modern technology trends](https://gainedin.site/machines/) advance **techno-progressivism**, Christians don't really care (with the specific exception of the "mark of the Beast" from [Revelation 13:16-17](https://biblehub.com/revelation/13.htm)). - Christians also range wildly on the matter of **youthism**. While they honor government, Christians *do* lean into some political ideas: - **Egalitarianism** runs strongly, and works somewhat against **mercantilism** and **fascism**. - They typically believe a type of **speciesism** since the Bible asserts that God created mankind different from all other creations. All Christians believe in at least *some* form of **conservatism**, even if it's as simple as preserving Scripture itself. Christians also must believe a degree of **nativism**, especially regarding many traditions and the Bible itself. Given its secular background, Christians *can* believe **social Darwinism** and **critical race**, but it is difficult to justify alongside Scripture. ### The verdict on who should have power in society True - Conservatism - Nativism Possible (and useful) - Contractarianism - Egalitarianism - Speciesism Possible (or partial) - Communalism - Communitarianism - Individualism - Liberalism - Techno-progressivism (except the mark of the Beast) - Youthism Possible (but difficult) - Libertarianism - Mercantilism - Fascism - Social Darwinism - Critical race ## Political Science: How should we pick our leaders? Since Christianity was formed during a polytheistic **theocracy**, there's very little precedent for more modern [political systems](politics-systems.md) (and even less precedent since the [Reformation](history-church.md)). - **Capitalism** conforms well with the moral realities of man's sinful nature, but directs it toward a type of non-self-interested ends, though **anarcho-capitalism** takes the idea too far to easily conform it. - **Democracy** connects well with Christian egalitarianism, though it isn't always a hard connection. - While **political absolutism** (and **enlightened absolutism**) isn't discussed much among Christians, it's acceptable enough (since God will have the final judgment on political leadership). - **Associationalism** serves as a hybrid between political absolutism and democracy, meaning there's no issue. To the extent that Christians can disagree with it, they do *not* like alternate theocratic rule, meaning **Islamism** and **secularism** aren't preferable, though there is theological room to believe one of them is an inevitable reality. ### The verdict on how we should pick our leaders Possible (and useful) - Capitalism - Democracy Possible (or partial) - Associationalism - Political absolutism - Enlightened absolutism - Theocracy Possible (but difficult) - Anarcho-capitalism False - Islamism (generally) - Secularism (generally) ## Political Science: How should we enforce laws? To believe in God's grace and mercy creates a general leaning against raw coercive approaches like **authoritarianism** and **totalitarianism**. There is Christian precedent on *both* sides of some domains: - **Legal formalism** (and **legalism** with **originalism**), since the rules represent the order of God, but loving behavior in a courtroom can mean bending the rules. - **Political individualism**, since the downtrodden and suffering may be an individual, or may be a group. Christians lean into the belief of **natural law** (and some level of **legal realism**), meaning they lean against **positive law** (as well as **legal interpretivism** and **legal naturalism**). ### The verdict on how we should enforce laws Possible (and useful) - Natural law Possible (or partial) - Legal formalism - Political individualism - Legal realism - Legalism - Originalism Possible (but difficult) - Authoritarianism - Totalitarianism - Legal interpretivism - Positive law - Legal naturalism ## Philosophy's Culture Christian philosophical discourse runs closer to their theological circles and applications toward [biblical interpretation](bible-study.md). - **Aristotelianism** (as well as **Neo-Aristotelianism** and **contextualism**) is *very* strong within much of Christian culture. - **Cognitivism** and **truth claims** is frequent in Christian tradition, typically within [apologetic evangelism](evangelism.md). - **Eclecticism** is also frequent among Bible scholars. - **Scholasticism** is not only common among Christian dialogue, it's part of the Bible! - **Thomism** is necessary for any heavily measured Christian exploration, since there is no end to the study ([Ecclesiastes 12:12](https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/12-12.htm)). **Particularism** isn't as common, but can be used without any issues. In some ways, the **Platonic school** leans *against* most Christian thinking. **Ancient sophism** works somewhat against Christianity, since the emphasis is on how to behave and *not* on abstracted virtue alone. ### The verdict on on philosophy's culture True - Scholasticism - Thomism Possible (and useful) - Aristotelianism - Neo-Aristotelianism - Contextualism - Cognitivism - Eclecticism - Truth claim Possible (or partial) - Particularism Possible (but difficult) - Ancient sophism - Platonic school