The Darwinian foundation of communism

CMI ^ | Jerry Bergman, Ph.D.

[GodGunsGuts]

The Darwinian foundation of communism

by Jerry Bergman

Summary

A review of the writings of the founders of communism shows that the theory of evolution, especially as taught by Darwin, was critically important in the development of modern communism. Many of the central architects of communism, including Stalin, Lenin, Marx and Engels, accepted the worldview portrayed in the book of Genesis until they were introduced to Darwin and other contemporary thinkers, which ultimately resulted in their abandoning that worldview. Furthermore, Darwinism was critically important in their conversion to communism and to a worldview that led them to a philosophy based on atheism. In addition, the communist core idea that violent revolution, in which the strong overthrow the weak, was a natural, inevitable part of the unfolding of history from Darwinistic concepts and conclusions...

[mnehring]

Well, I do float.. :->

[freespirited]

So far, there is no historical record of Darwin advocating the systemic annihilation of tens of thousands as was done in the name of the church

There is a historical record of Darwin's opposition to eugenics. (And while we're at it, to slavery.)

Personally I interpret a number of his comments as opposition to abortion.

[mnehring]

Just for my own personal notes, do you have those you can quote? I would love to have those..

[GodGunsGuts]

Learn how to read, dreamer. The article is talking about Stalin’s formative period, at which time he was a FULL-ON Darwiniac. True, he later abandoned Darwinism in favor of Lysenko. But then again, he did so at a time when the entire world of Evos were abandoning Darwood in favor of other godless evolutionary theories (indeed, it got so bad for Derwood that Huxley referred to that time period as the “Eclipse of Darwin”).

[allmendream]

Yet the article by its omission of the ACTUAL historic record of the USSR and evolution is implicitly promoting lies to the ignorant.

When Stalin ruled the USSR, and for decades after, learning or teaching the theory of evolution through natural selection would get you arrested, sent to Siberia or shot.

The Communists recognized that Darwin's theory was antithetical to their political philosophy.

Lysenko and his Lamarkism was not ascendent anywhere but the USSR, and there it was purely for political/ philosophical reasons, not because of any scientific findings.

[mgstarr]

[GourmetDan]

"It’s not a serious argument. It is a logical fallacy and has no bearing on the scientific validity of the modern synthesis of evolutionary theory."

I assume this means that you have scientific validation of the modern synthesis of evolutionary theory that does not rely on logical fallacy? I'm interested. What is it?

"The only way to disprove evolutionary theory is through science."

Let's see your scientifically valid proof of evolution that does not rely on logical fallacy.

[GodGunsGuts]

==Lysenko and his Lamarkism was not ascendent anywhere but the USSR, and there it was purely for political/ philosophical reasons, not because of any scientific findings.

Of course not, but Darwood’s atheist creation myth was being pummeled by his fellow Evos throughout the West. And thus, the Evos began their search for a new God-denying theory that would establish the “fact” of evolution. Lysenko, crackpot Commie-Evo that he was, was part of this search.

The following review of Peter Bowler’s book, The Eclipse of Darwinism, does a good job summing up the abandonment of Darwin by the Evos of the time:

We tend to think of the monolithic triumph of Darwinism in the wake of the publication of _Origin_, but as Bowler shows the theory of Darwin was under assault by the end of the nineteenth century, before the rise of the neo-Darwinian synthesis. In fact, the acceptance of the fact of evolution—and the rapid conversion of most scientists—was not matched by a similar assent to natural selection. Further, the absence of a genetic argument and the treatment of inheritance in terms of blending was a major problem. By the time of the sixth edition Darwin’s claims bordered on incoherence, as a strain of Lamarckianism reentered Darwin’s thinking. This was only the beginning, and by the beginning of the twentieth century claims for theistic evolution, orthogenesis, Lamarckianism flourished even as the rediscovery of Mendel produced genetics and the mutation theory. It would be some time before the real triumph of Darwinism occurred, by the middle of the twentieth century, and yet one wonders if a similar cycle must greet the harderning of the paradigm that we now see.

http://www.amazon.com/Eclipse-Darwinism-Anti-Darwinian-Evolution-Theories/dp/080184391X

[tumblindice]

‘evolutionists in an awkward position’

Man does that bring back memories! I dated this gymnist once and she could ....
Hey, am I on the right thread?

[mrmeangenes]

Yeah, them Darwin rascals done ruint my love life !
They said ‘twas wrong to marry kin - for some kinda “genetic” folderol : bad jeans gettin’ passed along.

What’s wrong with havin’ a patch or two - or three on hand-me-down jeans ? Shoot ! Long as they halfway fit, and don’t ride up in the...well. You get what I mean.

Dang Darwin ! Cousin Louise was some kinda ...shapely.
Had all her own teeth,too.

[Diplomat]

Next time post some of the 19th century Christian arguments in favor of slavery and segregation.

Christian Abolitionists formed the Republican party specifically to end slavery. Where were the atheists?

[mnehring]

I guess someone also needs to point out that The Communist Manifesto was published in 1848 and The Origin of the Species was first published in 1859.

[GodGunsGuts]

Sorry, God forbade such marriages thousands of years before Darwood:

	Forbidden Marriages		Passage
	Between mother and son. (Note that sexual relations between father and daughter are prohibited by Lev. 18:6 and 21:2-3)		Leviticus 18:7-8
	With stepchildren.		Leviticus 18:8, 17
	With an aunt.		Leviticus 18:12-14
	With sister or half-sister.		Leviticus 18:9; Deut. 27:22
	With half-sister and stepsisters.		Leviticus 18:11
	With daughter-in-law.		Leviticus 18:15
	With your sister-in-law.		Leviticus 18:16
	With your granddaughter.		Leviticus 18:10
	With your step-granddaughter.		Leviticus 18:17

[GodGunsGuts]

Woops...last reply was meant for you.

[steve-b]

Perhaps the bible was inspired upon the subject of human slavery. Is there, in the civilized world, to-day, a clergyman who believes in the divinity of slavery? Docs the bible teach man to enslave his brother? If it does, is it not blasphemous to say that it is inspired of God? If you find the institution of slavery upheld in a book said to have been written by God, what would you expect to find in a book inspired by the devil? Would you expect to find that book in favor of liberty? Modern christians, ashamed of the God of the Old Testament, endeavor now to show that slavery was neither commanded nor opposed by Jehovah. Nothing can be plainer than the following passages from the twenty-fifth chapter of Leviticus. "Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession, they shall be your bond-men forever. Both thy bond-men, and thy bond-maids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bond-men, and bond-maids."
--Robert Ingersoll, Some Mistakes of Moses

[steve-b]

learning or teaching the theory of evolution through natural selection would get you arrested, sent to Siberia or shot

Careful -- you're going to get GGG all hot and bothered with that kind of talk....

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Especially since Darwin wasn't even born yet.

In the early 19th cent. ardent opponents of industrial society created a wide variety of protest theories. Already what is generally known as utopian communism had been well launched by the comte de Saint-Simon. In this era a number of advocates gathered followers, founded small cults, and attempted to launch communistic settlements, particularly in the United States. Most notable among such men were Robert Owen, Étienne Cabet, and Charles Fourier.

Maybe Darwin was influenced by H.G. Wells and traveled in time, since Wells wasn't born yet either.

[GodGunsGuts]

Charles Darwin, in his book “The Descent of Man”:

“At some future period not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes...will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest Allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilised state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as the baboon, instead of as now between the Negro or Australian and the gorilla” (1874, p. 178).

Great guy, that Darwin.

More at Apol. Press, “Was Darwin a Racist?”

http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/12

[goodusername]

“A review of the writings of the founders of communism shows that the theory of evolution, especially as taught by Darwin, was critically important in the development of modern communism. Many of the central architects of communism, including Stalin, Lenin, Marx and Engels, accepted the worldview portrayed in the book of Genesis until they were introduced to Darwin and other contemporary thinkers”

—That’s a neat trick, considering that most of Marx and Engels’ Communist work was published before Darwin published anything on Darwinism.

“His denial of God, and his knowledge of Darwin, inspired Marx to develop his new godless worldview now known as communism.”

—Origin of Species was published in 1859. The Communist Manifesto was published in 1848.

The article continues to fall apart from there.

[goodusername]

Well, Darwin, one of the atheists, wrote countless heartfelt letters in opposition to slavery and contributed money to organizations to fight slavery during the past few decades of his life. While on his way to America aboard the Beagle, he was nearly thrown off the ship when he protested the pro-slavery arguments by the Creationist captain. And while in America he even jumped between a slave-master and a slave to stop a beating. So, that’s where Darwin was.