Keir Hardie, the Bible, and Christian Socialism

The Miner's Prophet

Professor Daniel L. Smith-Christopher (Loyola Marymount University, USA)

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Hardback

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English

T.& T.Clark Ltd
11 July 2024

Religion & politics; Christianity; Sacred texts; Socialism & left-of-centre democratic ideologies

Series: Scriptural Traces

Daniel L. Smith-Christopher focuses on the life and efforts of Keir Hardie, one of the founders of the UK Labour Party and one of the foremost figureheads of trade unionism. Drawing upon the work of two contemporary and significant American theorists—Herbert Gutman’s classic essay on “Working-Class Religion” and Michael Gold's call for “Proletarian Literature”—Smith-Christopher marries British and American historical and theoretical debates to argue that Hardie's work is surely the quintessential example of a “proletarian exegesis” of the Bible.

Beginning with a summary of the major events in Hardie's life, Smith-Christopher draws both upon existing biographies and more recent historical discussions that question assumption of British social history. He then reviews previous debates upon the influence of Hardie's own Christian faith upon his journalistic output, and assesses three Christian Socialists whose work was advertised and reviewed by Hardie himself: Dennis Hird, John Morrison Davidson, and Caroline Martyn. Smith-Christopher proceeds to Hardie's copious writings, both for The Labour Leader and separately published lectures, pamphlets, and somewhat longer works of autobiography and comment. Highlighting

Hardie’s tendency to cite favorite texts (heavily from the Gospels and James, but also some notable Old Testament discussions), Smith-Christopher proves Hardie's serious discussion of these texts beyond mere political rhetoric; concluding by comparing a selection of

Hardie’s favorite Biblical arguments with contemporary research in Biblical Studies about these same passages, evaluating the problems and possibilities of proposing a “Proletarian Exegesis”.

By: Professor Daniel L. Smith-Christopher (Loyola Marymount University USA)
Imprint: T.& T.Clark Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9780567707604
ISBN 10: 0567707601
Series: Scriptural Traces
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 11 July 2024
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Daniel L. Smith-Christopher has taught Old Testament and Cross-Cultural Interpretation of the Bible at Loyola Marymount University, USA for over 32 years. A member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), he is also Director of LMU’s study programs in Aotearoa/New Zealand.