Raised in a conservative Christian home, I was well versed in Christian bible scriptures from a young age. And there are many lines of such scripture which are about hope and faith. As anarchists, such concepts my have applicability to some, but I personally do not favor adopting such ideologies as they may keep us perpetually in a state of not transforming this world.

Below are a few lines from the Bible (KJV).

  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:17-18)

  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Charity as we know is largely a result of capitalism as when there are haves, they can give to the have nots. If there is no ownership, no rulers of things, then there is nothing to be charitable about, except perhaps if someone were to fall down and scrape their knee and someone else were to help them up, clean the wound and get them a bandage — something many call “mutual aid.” The other topics beyond charity – faith and hope – I was struck with some moments of inspiration about the other day and their application, or abscence thereof toward making and living in an anarchist world. They’re written in verse form, but it is not meant as a poem. There are not authorities in anarchism, but these verses might be artistically envisioned as words to counter-balance the bible verses above:

  There is no room for hope in life.

  Hope leaves one in a mind of anticipation, a place of waiting for others to act, when while we wait others seize our world by force, by fear, and by shame.

  On the lips of many is the phrase, “the audacity of hope” when it is not bold at all. It is weak.

  The more you hope, the more you dwell in hopelessness, for they both lead down the same inevitable road.

  So leave all of your hopes and hopelessness behind. Instead, live in this very moment.

  Whatever your fear, live in its moment. Occupy that fear. Sit quietly in its presence.

  Hope and its companions are a deceptive illusion, but know that it is dying. Know that with every one of your breathes, it is suffocating.

  And with its death is your life.

  With its death is a new day, when we all live without the hope that the sun will rise, without the hope that the lights will come on when we flick the switch, that the seas will change one day, that the seeds planted will indeed grow.

  And when it is gone forever — then, the world transforms.

  Faith and doubt are from the same filthy beast and though one may lead to action, the action itself is grounded in hope too. And so the future is perpetually looked to for salvation, for peace in the mind.

  Without them, when we dream, we dream in the present and only live for this moment. And only then does the universe turn to embrace us and fulfill that very dream in that moment.

  In this clear mind, the universe melts when it senses the empty definitions within your mind. And then, it becomes whatever you wish it to be.

  So leave behind, leave them all behind. And let them die, and new life begin — now.

  Unplug yourself from the weakness which drains you. For it cannot live when you do not feed it with your flesh. It cannot breathe when you do not breathe for it.

  And then do your feet begin to leave the ground. And with your glance, with the blink of your eye.

Essentially, hope and faith are waiting words which find not fulfillment because they are always looking forward. They cannot live, now. And they sap us of so much energy. The Christian bible is clearly written to perpetuate capitalism and authoritarianism and to “strive” for a “better”, more “perfect” world — but it is a sick and perverted perfection.

Feb. 14, 2009