About Us
We're building a coalition of religious people with socialist values and defeating Christian nationalism.
To do so, we have created a pluralistic, welcoming, safe, and inclusive space for people of faith in the socialist movement as we strive to organize nationally within our own faith communities and as faith-based groups within DSA.
We're building a coalition of religious people with socialist values and defeating Christian nationalism.
To do so, we have created a pluralistic, welcoming, safe, and inclusive space for people of faith in the socialist movement as we strive to organize nationally within our own faith communities and as faith-based groups within DSA.
How we do it
- Community Building
We need strong communities to sustain us in the long fight against Christian nationalism.
More → - Conferences
Bringing together the greatest minds in our movement to discuss our issues.
More → - Education
We aim to show the nation that religion and socialism go together.
More → - Organizing
We’re stronger together! Let’s build our movement.
More →
Our People
Religious socialists come from all walks of life.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Our History
Spirituality and social movements have always been intertwined .
We are lorem ipsum. We are dolor sit amet proin gravida.
The Story of Sukkot
Sukkot envisions a humanity that is united but not homogenized. Its utopia is predicated on a recognition of our equal needs and our equal rights to the world’s bounty.
Robert Owen, George Ripley, and the Spiritual Roots of the Cooperative Movement
Two early cooperative experiments in United States history failed because of interpersonal conflict and external economic factors, but they left indelible marks on the trajectory of social movements and cooperative endeavors
Remembering Eugene Debs
Listen to our podcast on Eugene Debs—one of the most crucial figures in the history of socialism in the United States, and someone who entwined his religious faith and his socialist fervor as few others have since.
The Invention of “Catholic Radicalism” and “Pious Apostasy”: Dorothy Day and Michael Harrington
Michael Harrington, founder of DSA, joined the Catholic Worker in 1951 before leaving the Church the next year. Nevertheless, Dorothy Day had a profound influence on him, in effect giving this dutiful son of a prosperous and pious Midwestern family permission to follow his instincts leftward.
The Religious Socialist Roots of the March on Washington
The chief organizers of one of the most important human rights actions in U.S. history were religious socialists. “If the Church, white or black, is to express the true philosophy of Jesus Christ, Himself a worker, it will not lend itself to the creed of oppressive capitalism which would deny to the servant his just hire.”
The Poor People’s Campaign and the Revival of the Religious Left
The Poor People’s Campaign provides us with an overwhelming opportunity meet the poor and working class where they are—to hear their voices and provide comfort and help. Let's challenge the capitalists’ age-old attack that we are a “godless ideology.” In truth, we are more righteous than they are.
Common Questions
The DSA’s Religion and Socialism Working Group is organized by and for DSA members whose religious faith, of whatever sort, is formative both to their spiritual identity and their commitment to democratic socialism. There is a long tradition of religious socialism in the United States that has been ignored or forgotten; in forming this group, the DSA refuses to cede the ground of faith to the religious right.
Many in faith-based communities hesitate to join a socialist movement because of what they perceive as an anti-religious bias among leftists. The Religion and Socialism Working Group presents itself as a bridge group, to work both with and within faith communities as allies and coalition partners. Examples of such work include the efforts on behalf of housing, immigrant rights, sanctuary cities, religion and labor coalitions, reproductive justice, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
The Democratic Socialists of America is the largest socialist organization in the United States, with more than 100,000 members and chapters in all 50 states. It was formed in 1982 from the merger of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, which included many veterans of the “Old Left,” and the New American Movement, which included many people from what was called the New Left. Subsequently, other groups joined as did many individuals who had never been exposed to democratic socialist ideas. DSA believes that working people should run both the economy and society democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few. DSA is a political and activist organization, not a political party. It has chapters on college campuses and in local communities. From study groups to legislative lobbying to working for political candidates to direct actions, DSA members fight for reforms that empower working people and have an impact on systems.
Representatives from every major religious organization, movement, association, or perspective in the United States has, at one point or another, contributed to Religious Socialism. All forms of Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Restorationist Christianity; all forms of Judaism; all forms of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Confucianism, Daoism, Yoruba, and much more are welcome to share their beliefs as they relate to democratic socialism and use their faith to strengthen the solidarity that democratic socialists feel for one another. Religious Socialism also provides a space for seekers without any formal religious beliefs who wish to articulate and investigate how faith might contribute to their understanding of democratic socialist principles.
Read, share, and contribute to the discussions taking place on the Religious Socialism website! Get involved in local organizations—religious or otherwise—that are engaged in the fight for justice, inclusion, equality, and community in your neighborhood, town, city, or state! And, most important, join the DSA! Write to religioussocialism@dsacommittees.org