Marxism: The New Secular Religion of the Left....

The Iconoclast ^ | December 21, 2002 | Murray Soupcoff (The Iconoclast)

[Apolitical]

big>ICONOCLAST DAILY NOTEBOOK....

Marxism: The New Secular Religion of the Left....



December 21, 2002: There seems to be a consensus among sociologists that religion is on the wane among educated young people in affluent Western nations, especially in Europe and Canada (but somewhat less so in the United States where organized religion still flourishes). However, what these so-called social experts choose to ignore is the growth of new forms of secular "religion" -- rigid, ideological-based social movements such as environmentalism, anti-globalism and of course the opiate of contemporary intellectuals in America and on the continent -- Marxism.

Just as Karl Marx might point out, if he were somehow reincarnated as a conservative critic of these great contemporary secular "faiths," these progressive ideological "isms" all bear the earmarks of what the original revolutionary Karl might have considered illusionary beliefs -- rigid orthodoxies, rote catechisms based on myth, allegory and wishful thinking, and the need for an irrational leap of faith on the part of true believers in order to ignore the belief's many internal contradictions, corruption of logic, and divorce from historical reality.

With these thoughts in mind we recommend a new Economist essay, Marx After Communism , an examination of the surprising extended shelf life of this long-discredited socio-economic theory and ideology, even though its "past due" date expired when the Soviet Union spectacularly imploded near the end of the past century.

Basically, here's what the Economist editorialists have to say regarding contemporary Marxism:

But the fact remains that on everything that mattered most to Marx himself, he was wrong. The real power he claimed for his system was predictive, and his main predictions are hopeless failures....

Anti-globalism has been aptly described as a secular religion. So is Marxism: a creed complete with prophet, sacred texts and the promise of a heaven shrouded in mystery. Marx was not a scientist, as he claimed. He founded a faith. The economic and political systems he inspired are dead or dying. But his religion is a broad church, and lives on.

In fact, Marxism -- just as it functioned in the early 20th century in Europe and America -- has become a soul-destroying, quasi-religious cult for contemporary Western intellectuals -- a conformist exercise in irrational group think that supplies its true believers with pre-manufactured belief and robs them of their ability to think or act independently. It boasts its charismatic gurus (aka intellectual fruitcakes) such as the likes of Noam Chomsky and Jacques Derrida, its martyred false prophets such as Franz Fanon and Che Guevara, and its biblical texts such as Das Kapital, Wretched of the Earth, Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies and most recently, Empire.

The unfortunately reality, however, is that the most fervid practitioners of this secular faith dominate our institutions of higher learning. And so increasingly, the great American centers of independent thought -- including Harvard, Yale and Stanford -- have morphed into Scientology-like brainwashing centers for the young and impressionable. And their most lethal product is the armies of brainwashed young automatons whom they churn out with machine-like predictability -- "useful idiots" cluelessly spewing the hate-America cant of anti-imperialism, anti-globalism and radical environmentalism.........................

[Apolitical]

Marxism -- secular B.S.

[f.Christian]

Where marxism/liberalism came from...

That's the case with the Darwinists in the United States. The majority of the people are skeptical of the theory. And if the theory starts to waver a bit, it could all collapse, as Napoleon's army did in a rout."

"They have... lost(link)---a big one."

"They're like Napoleon's army in Moscow. They have occupied a lot of territory, and they think they've won the war. And yet they are very exposed in a hostile climate with a population that's very much unfriendly."

[G.Mason]

"Marxism: The New Secular Religion of the Left...."

B S !

Nothing "new" about it.

[concerned about politics]

rote catechisms based on myth, allegory and wishful thinking, and the need for an irrational leap of faith on the part of true believers in order to ignore the belief's many internal contradictions, corruption of logic, and divorce from historical reality.

Yep. That's the left alright - to a T !!!!

[concerned about politics]

The unfortunately reality, however, is that the most fervid practitioners of this secular faith dominate our institutions of higher learning............And their most lethal product is the armies of brainwashed young automatons whom they churn out with machine-like predictability -- "useful idiots" cluelessly spewing the hate-America cant of anti-imperialism, anti-globalism and radical environmentalism.........................

Which is why school choice is so important (thanks for caving, Bush!). We stop it now, or forever hold our peace.

[A_perfect_lady]

I've made this argument before when defending atheism... that Marxism (whose massive body count is usually attributed to atheism on those "What has killed more people, religion or atheism" threads.)

Having said that, however, I don't really like to conflate Marxism with religion because once you do that, you can say that practically any worldview is a religion of sorts. So in strict terms, nowdays, if I have to take a stance, I'd prefer to stipulate that religion must include a belief in the supernatural, which Marxism lacks.

Although some say that Marxism's "ideal man" is god-like (which I think is a modern day Nietzscheanism added to Marxism.... I'm not a philosopher) but I would say no, it's an abstract idea but that's not automatically supernatural.

[A_perfect_lady]

Pardon that first incomplete sentence. "...that Marxism (...) is a religion." I meant.

[machman]

Marxism: The New Secular Religion of the Left....

New????

I have to disagree.

It's not new for the left at all.

[The Real Eddie01]

Like I've always said Marx was a Jackass.

To further round out the dicussion...

Definition of Dysfunctional Groupthink Behaviors:

Illusions of Invulnerability - Members believe that abilities and decisions of the group are without flaw or beyond reproach.

Assumed Unanimity - The group assumes that all members agree to proposed alternatives. This may occur because of a rush to closure or because member agreement is not truly sought.

Self-Righteousness - The group creates an inflated sense of its moral superiority over outside groups. It views its own principles and behavior as ethical or "answerable to a higher authority"

Self-Suppression of Dissent - Dissenting members remain silent to avoid conflict or risk of belonging.

Mind-Guards - Some members play the role of "gatekeeper," making sure that contrary external information does not reach and disrupt the group's activities.

Direct Pressure - The group actively pressures members who challenge the dominant opinion and eventually ostracizes those who do not conform.

Rationalization - Incongruent information or warnings are shown to be weak or flawed and thus are discounted or dismissed.

Ref: Luthans Virtual Org Behavior Groups and Teams - S.M. Sommer

This is why being conservative (of independant mind) is difficult and being liberal (going along to get along) is so easy.

Eddie01 "Liberals Lie About Everything all the Time.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

There is something akin to belief in the supernatural when Marx suggests people can be weaned from their own self-interest.

[BrucefromMtVernon]

I might point out that there are a lot of anti-globalists (anti-world socialism) on this forum. The so-called "new religion", known as humanism, has been around for a long time. It is the second-oldest religion, i.e., the religion of the serpent.

[David Isaac]

The "proselytising" of our college youths would not be an issue if actual History were taught in secondary education, instead of the mind-mush that is and has been taught. It would not be difficult to point out the historical "rewards" of Marxism.

Even when I went to school, in the mid 60's, we were not taught any of the artrocities committed by the Communists, our avowed enemy. Two days worth of lessons would be enough to innoculate most students against the teachings of our leftist professors.

I majored in History and Political Science with the intention of teaching at the secondary level. While substitute teaching recently, I looked at the cover of the U.S. History book, on which were portraits of six or seven (I assume) historical figures. I could only identify three of them. Someone is being or was taught a different History. It was terribly difficult to teach all of American History effectively in one short year. Now teachers are expected to make History classes half "inclusions" (this was laid down by the History professor who taught us how to teach History). I never had the sense to ask him which half of the real History we were to discard.

[Republic of Texas]

However, those on the left follow and practice Marxism as if it were a religion.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

[snip]"taught a different History."

That's history but most subjects are equally watered down and sanitized today. Children don't get a full picture of the world from any of their classes -- the only topic covered completely is "Diversity" which is pounded into their heads constantly -- in different formats. The final product produced by the public school system is a "youth" unable to think and young people who believe they have "all the answers".

[yankeedame]

Assumed Unanimity - The group assumes that all members agree to proposed alternatives. This may occur because of a rush to closure or because member agreement is not truly sought.

=====================

This hits the nail right on the head. The one constant thing you will find in any communist/socialist (style) group is the absolute intolerance of any internal descention-- however mild.

[David Isaac]

Recently I copied a page out of a book in a middle-school Library, a recent look at a small slice of ancient Chinese History. In the book the author pointed out one of the thoughts of the man reputed to be the first sovereign emperor of China (Ch'in Shih Huang Ti - about 2200 years ago). It was his opinion that people were much easier to control if they were kept ignorant. Thomas Jefferson's opinion was that, in order for the "Republic" to function properly, a well-educated public would be required.

I leave it to others to decide which viewpoint seems to predominant in our leaders (educators) of today.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

My wife was an English teacher in Indiana and 3 years ago we moved to California. She was able to teach on a temporary credential for two years.

When she asked about what was required to get permanently certified she found that it would take 54 more semester hours. Many of the classes required were classes that didn't exist when she was in school; Women's Studies, Black Studies and Latino/Gay/Minority studies.

It is clear they don't want you teaching unless you know the party-line.

[HadEnough]

Your wife only needs to learn to speak Spanish and concentrate on Latino Culture.

As far as teaching in California goes, she should start researching Aztlan and the "reconquista" as these subjects are the FUTURE of this "former" member of the United States of America.

My recommendation would be DON'T SEVER YOUR TIES TO INDIANA!

[cornelis]

There is something akin to belief in the supernatural when Marx suggests people can be weaned from their own self-interest.

Being akin to the supernatural (like a better lie is more akin to truth) can also involve the conception of the self as god .

With a glance, we can all see that both the Christian and the Greek tradition (and now even Marx as you say) recognize something amiss in the idea "self-interest" along side of the idea of "supernatural."

Maybe this affinity to the supernatural is normal feature in all of the Western tradition, including Marx. And so it isn't a coincidence the title has the words "secular religion"

. But so far this kinship we are now talking about is left undefined, undifferentiation, indistinguishable. In short, unless we can see this difference, we are bound to confuse ideas and become sloppy in thinking--which I suppose is admirable to some--and think that Christianity is Marxist, or that only the Marxist is what a true Christian ever hoped to be.

As far as Marx is concerned, Tucker explains how . . . the economic interpretation of history and the conception of communism have as their setting a comprehensive scheme of thought this philosophical in character. Its subject is man and the world--self-estranged man in an 'alienated world' as Marx called it. The world revolution is conceived as the act by which estranged man changes himself by changing the world. Instead of being divided against himself as always in the past, man is to be restored to his human nature--and this is what Marx means by 'communism.'
--Robert Tucker in Philosophy and Myth in Karl Marx

What is that kinship then, Eric, if the Marxist conception of mankind denies alienation from the supernatural? What supernatural kinship is there, where there is no supernature except in man?

[cornelis]

Marxism--secular B.S.

Marxism involves the greatest appeal for a secular morality. To talk against it is easy, to think against it involves more than the self.