Author: Ryan Lindsey

Founder of WAL Reader | Christian Anarchism, Star Wars, and Pizza Enthusiast | Southwest Missourian, Book Lover, Writer
Philosophy

The Problem of Using the USSR to Condemn Socialism

Unfortunately, I believe that at the time of the Russian Revolution, there were (and still are) very few ideologies that didn’t see violence as an acceptable means to an end. That includes most of the 18/1900s socialist revolutionaries. I think there were a lot of those socialists who viewed violence as an acceptable means of revolution (unlike thinkers such as Tolstoy and Orwell) but who did not see intentional, ongoing systemic violence to maintain said revolution as a good thing (unlike statists such as Lenin, Stalin, et al.). Continue reading The Problem of Using the USSR to Condemn Socialism

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Culture

Thank You, George – Lessons from Star Wars

Today is the 76th birthday of American filmmaker and storyteller, George Lucas. Yes, the George Lucas. The creator of Star Wars. The perfecter of Sci-Fi. The apostle of space opera. As you may have gathered, I am a Star Wars fan. No, who am I kidding – I’m an obsessive Star Wars fanatic. I love the story, I love the characters, I love the worlds. But I won’t bore you with an outpouring of obscure Skywalker trivia or reflections on the Battle of Crait. For Lucas’s birthday though, I want to briefly go over 5 reasons why I love the franchise – and why you should too. Continue reading Thank You, George – Lessons from Star Wars

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Jubilee

The Case for Jubilee Economics | pt. 3

Look back through history. Often times it easy to focus on the bad – the wars, the disasters, the plagues, the genocides, etc. But for now, let’s focus on the overlap of the good and the political. Think of one positive political change, preferably one that has happened during your lifetime. Once you have that change in mind, expand on it: think about all the individuals, groups, events, and processes that were involved in making that change go from a dream to a reality. I’m almost one-hundred percent certain that you’re list will be long and never fully complete. Continue reading The Case for Jubilee Economics | pt. 3

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Culture

Make No Mistake, this Pandemic is Apocalyptic

Earlier this month, while millions of Jews and Christians around the world recounted the Passover story from Exodus, the Mosaic account of the ten plagues on Egypt likely no longer seems just like some distant, ancient world mythological story. Our modern plague of COVID-19 is almost certainly not as deadly as those, but it’s nothing to underestimate. Over the past couple of months, we’ve all be subjected to now-familiar stories of exhausted nurses, inadequate supplies, and daily deaths. We’re all well aware of the devastation and fear that this virus has spread through urban areas, prisons, and poorer areas/countries that lack healthcare resources and infrastructure comparable to many “first-world” nations. Continue reading Make No Mistake, this Pandemic is Apocalyptic

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Jubilee

The Case for Jubilee Economics | pt. 2

Not all debts are financial, but all debts are moral issues complete with ethical (and religious/spiritual) implications and considerations. To view the very idea of debt as something that can be solely isolated to the physical realm is wrong, because debt (of any type and any amount) creates and sustains a power dynamic between moral agents. Just as it is dangerous to over-spiritualize the idea of Jubilee, it’s equally dangerous to over-materialize the concept of debt. Continue reading The Case for Jubilee Economics | pt. 2

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Jubilee

The Case for Jubilee Economics | pt. 1

The ministry of Jesus as recorded in the Christian Gospels was full-to-the-brim with Jesus challenging the presumed authorities of those with power in His society. Jesus was not afraid to confront and disregard the authority of everyone from the orthodox religious leaders, to the elite financial figures of Palestine, or even the whole Roman Empire itself. Continue reading The Case for Jubilee Economics | pt. 1

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