109 The Church and, Socialism is to assign to each individual his task and to determine his wage. Every citizen is to be actually a government employee. I t is evident that Socialism is to be distinguished from Communism with which it is often confused. The latter advo cates a collective ownership of all wealth. Socialism does not deny the right of private property, but of private capital. In a Socialistic state one might own a house, but he could not rent it to increase his income. He might own a yacht, but he could not use it to carry passengers for pay. Under Com munism there would be no private ownership, but it would be literally true that “no man could call aught that he possessed his own.” Socialism is still more easily distinguished from Anarchism. The latter seeks the abolition of all government; but Socialism advocates the extension of the functions of government to regulate the life and labor of every individual and even in the most minute details. Anarchy means no government; Social ism proposes more government than any nation has ever known. Quite as obviously Socialism should never be confused with that extreme form of Anarchy known as Nihilism. The latter advocates the violent abolition of all existing institutions, social and political. It is true that Socialists often propose revolution and violence; but an ever increasing number be lieve their ends will be attained by a gradual process of social evolution moving toward the goal of a collective ownership of capital. I t is not right therefore to identify Socialism with assassination, lawlessness and outrage. Most important of all is the distinction between Socialism and Christianity. This might seem to be self-evident. Chris tianity is a religion; Socialism an economic theory, or a polit ical proposal, and with such theories and proposals Chris tianity and the Church have nothing to do. At the present time, however, there is a strong endeavor and an evident tendency to identify Socialism and the Christian Church.
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