Comment by djokkataja | Hacker News Reader

Comment by djokkataja | Hacker News Reader

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There are lots of different flavors of anarchy, and anarchists can't agree on them. Or--and I think this might be quoting or paraphrasing someone: there are as many different kinds of anarchy as there are anarchists. And sometimes their reactions to each other are very strongly negative, like "That's not really anarchy, that's just preserving capitalism via a last-ditch attempt!"

Also I think in the US at least, religion plays into it. God over humanity is conceptually the ultimate hierarchy model that Christians buy into. So it seems like Christians often don't have as much issue with embracing the idea of one person being over another person as a reflection of that model. This seems a little bit funny given how anarchic Jesus was, but he never said, "Yo, check it out, I am literally an anarchist and you should be too," and so they seem to have missed that.

Matthew 28:18-20 'Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”'

Doesn't sound anarchist to me.

Why do you say Jesus was anarchic?

> Why do you say Jesus was anarchic?

At a guess, I'd say it's because Jesus spends a lot of time casting the religious authorities as villains, so this viewpoint is extended to a general belief in antiauthority and consequently pro-anarchy. Except this also misses all the times where he turns around saying "follow the law" and other events where he criticizes antiauthoritism (e.g., his rebuke of Simon Peter during his arrest).

You have to understand Jesus historically as an apocalyptic Jew, concerned with the coming Kingdom of God replacing the corrupt world order. But it was also a restoration of the Kingdom of Israel with a descendant of David as king. That was the meaning of the Jewish messiah. Which is why Pilate had him crucified, and there was a sign saying "King of the Jews".

> This seems a little bit funny given how anarchic Jesus was

Jesus was actually pretty hierarchical. There were the masses, then the 72, then the 12, then Peter, James, and John, and then Peter.

In the capable of the talents, he has the talent taken away from the guy with 1 talent and given to the guy with 10.

Yes, you are to use your place in the hierarchy to serve those below you, but there is a hierarchy.

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