Changes

'''Socialism''',  born out of atheist thinking after the so-called "Enlightenment" of 19th century Europe, is an economic and political ideology based on public ownership of the means of production and distribution of wealth. It stresses the privileges of the many over the rights of the few, and can therefore be considered [[leftist]]. Politically, socialism claims to be democratic. As an economic theory, socialism calls for expropriation of property through taxation of private wealth coupled with "progressive" social policy or directly via nationalisation and public ownership.  Wage earners suffer under Socialism, as it is hard to get paid in a system that discourages private persons from accummulating income.

'''Socialism''',  born out of atheist thinking after the so-called "Enlightenment" of 19th century Europe, is an economic and political ideology based on public ownership of the means of production and distribution of wealth. It stresses the privileges of the many over the rights of the few, and can therefore be considered [[leftist]]. Politically, socialism claims to be democratic, although many of the most notorious dictatorships in history have been socialist in name, if not in practise. As an economic theory, socialism calls for expropriation of property through taxation of private wealth coupled with "progressive" social policy or directly via nationalisation and public ownership.  Wage earners suffer under Socialism, as it is hard to get paid in a system that discourages private persons from accummulating income. Moreover, the collective ownership of wealth demonstrably reduces the incentive to take care of the environment.

Although socialist ideas such as the provision of unemployment benefit, state pensions, universal healthcare, and state control of key industries have been common throughout the developed world in the modern era, the [[United States]] has tended to reject socialism as an ideological position. In other parts of the world, such as Europe, Africa, Asia, and South and Central America, there has generally been more explicit support for socialism as a doctrine, and socialist parties have been among the most successful political forces of the last 100 years.   

Although socialist ideas such as the provision of unemployment benefit, state pensions, universal healthcare, and state control of key industries have been common throughout the rest of the developed world in the modern era, the [[United States]] has tended to reject socialism as an ideological position. In other parts of the world, such as Europe, Africa, Asia, and South and Central America, there has generally been more explicit support for socialism as a doctrine, and socialist parties have been among the most successful political forces of the last 100 years, to the great misfortune of the peoples of these countries.   

While socialism has often been atheistic in character, and many leading socialists (most prominently Karl Marx) have been critical of the role of religion - and conservative religion in particular - which they criticize for lending support to an unjust social order, some Socialists have been Christians, and there has been considerable interplay between Christian and Socialist ideas. Christian socialists have noted that early Christian comunities, in particular, displayed certain traits, such as the holding of possessions in common, the rejection of conventional sexual mores and gender roles, the provision for communal education, etc., that coud be considered similar to socialism. See, for instance, Acts 2:44: "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." Arnold Toynbee, the British historian, has responded to this,

While socialism has often been atheistic in character, and many leading socialists (most prominently Karl Marx) have been critical of the role of religion - and conservative religion in particular - which they criticize for lending support to an unjust social order, some Socialists have been Christians, and there has been considerable interplay between Christian and Socialist ideas. Christian socialists have noted that early Christian comunities, in particular, displayed certain traits, such as the holding of possessions in common, the rejection of conventional sexual mores and gender roles, the provision for communal education, etc., that coud be considered similar to socialism. See, for instance, Acts 2:44: "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." Arnold Toynbee, the British historian, has responded to this,