Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Socialists believed  in visions of imaginary (often unrealistic) ideal societies, from thinkers who drew up elaborated designs and concepts for creating what they considered a more equal society, along collectivist lines or abolished [[private property]]. The [[French Revolution]]’s principles of “liberty, fraternity and equality,” were important, as were “early[[Robert Owen| Owenite]] socialism” and [[John Wesley]]'s [[Methodist]] emphasis "on helping the poor”.<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”. ‘’Anvil,’’ Vol. 14, No 11997.</ref>.The primary ideas came from Jewish, British, and French thinkers like [[Karl Marx]], [[Henri de Saint-Simon|Saint-Simon]], [[Charles Fourier]], Louis Blanc, preceded by [[Thomas More]], Tommaso Campanella, and Jean Meslier. Other important early influences were "radicals such as [[William Cobbett]] (1736-1835), [[Tom Paine]] (1737-1809) and [[Francis Place]] (1771-1854) whose writings and campaigning produced a seedbed of democracy".<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”.</ref>  

Socialists believed  in visions of imaginary (often unrealistic) ideal societies, from thinkers who drew up elaborated designs and concepts for creating what they considered a more equal society, along collectivist lines or abolished [[private property]]. The [[French Revolution]]’s principles of “liberty, fraternity and equality,” were important, as were “early[[Robert Owen| Owenite]] socialism” and [[John Wesley]]'s [[Methodist]] emphasis "on helping the poor”.<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”. ‘’Anvil,’’ Vol. 14, No 11997.</ref>.The primary ideas came from Jewish, British, and French thinkers like [[Karl Marx]], [[Henri de Saint-Simon|Saint-Simon]], [[Charles Fourier]], Louis Blanc, preceded by [[Thomas More]], Tommaso Campanella, and Jean Meslier. Other important early influences were "radicals such as [[William Cobbett]] (1736-1835), [[Tom Paine]] (1737-1809) and [[Francis Place]] (1771-1854) whose writings and campaigning produced a seedbed of democracy".<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”. ''ANVIL'' Volume 14 No 11997</ref>

 

The rise of [[Marxist]] socialism in the late 19th century in the [[Social Democratic Federation]] (SDF) (1881-1911) did not create a militantly atheistic and anti-religious force. From its beginnings, circa 1881, the SDF contained [[Christian socialists]], non-Christians, and anti-Christians. These groups generally coexisted in a state of compromise. Though Labour was not an openly religious organization “it was nevertheless permeated by religion both in its origin and in its subsequent development”.The membership of the SDF was generally secularist and freethinking. For all parties in the SDF, the central issue was commitment to socialism.<ref> Nigel Scotland, “Methodism and the English Labour Movement 1800-1906”.</ref>  

===As a political theory===

===As a political theory===