What is Marxism?

Recap: In Compass #1, we looked at the definition of a Worldview, and what the minimal requirements are. In Compass #2, we looked at the most basic questions of life that a Worldview should ask. In Compass #3, we looked at the meaning of truth. In Compass #4, we began to look at the issue of morality, and finished up on morality in Compass #5. In Compass #6, we listed ten common Worldviews, recommended a great book on those Worldviews, and looked at the first on the list, Deism. In Compass #7, we looked at Naturalism.

Today we are going to look at an offshoot of Naturalism: Marxism.

The principles of Marxism include: atheism, dialectical materialism, punctuated evolution, proletariat ethics, socialism, and communism.

Marxism is both a social and political theory. As with its parent, Naturalism, it attempts to answer all the worldview questions. It was first publicly formulated in 1848 in the pamphlet “The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

As with the Naturalist, the Marxist believes that reality is material. See Compass #6 for more on that.

Arguably, the most significant form of naturalism in the 21st Century is Marxism. The collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and eastern Europe slowed it, but it is still an influential and growing worldview. Marxism has a humanistic utopian fantasy built into it; “if we could just do it right.” Marxism has failed every single time, but yet its proponents will say it just wasn’t done ‘right.’ It has a deep and Satanic appeal.

There are differing types of Marxism. The range runs from some democratic commitment to full on totalitarianism. So called “democratic socialism” (example: as defined by Bernie Sanders) is watered down and prettied up Marxism.

Marxism in theory is supposed to be good for working people and bring prosperity and economic control to a broader range of people. In practice it never works. The power, and bureaucratic control of life under Marxism leads directly to the opposite of the theoretical desire. Abusive government, economic stagnation, and the loss of personal freedoms quickly follow.

The Theology of Marxism is Atheism. There is no God. Man’s vision or need for God is simply his desire to be his ultimate self.

The Philosophy of Marxism is Dialectical Materialism.

Dialectical Materialism: the Marxist philosophy that combines Naturalism and a distorted version of Hegel’s notion of the Dialectic; the metaphysical belief that materialistic struggles are the mechanism behind social and economic changes (e.g. the current economic clash behind the Proletariat and the Bourgeoisie classes will eventually lead to the end of Capitalism and a revolution of Socialism. - https://www.summit.org/resources/worldview-dictionary/

The Ethics of Marxism is called “Proletariat Morality.”

Proletariat Morality: the Marxist ethical belief that whatever advances the Proletariat and the cause of Communism is morally good and whatever hinders the proletariat or communism is morally evil.

Proletariat: the blue-collar working class generally property-less.

- https://www.summit.org/resources/worldview-dictionary/

Under Marxism you couldn’t own a farm, and eventually not even a cow. What would be good for YOUR family isn’t necessarily best for the ‘majority.’

The Biology/Anthropology of Marxism is Punctuated Equilibrium.

Punctuated Equilibrium: the theory of evolution that proposes that evolutionary changes occur over a relatively quick period of time, followed by periods of little to no evolutionary change. - https://www.summit.org/resources/worldview-dictionary/

The Psychology of Marxism is Materialist Mind/Body Monism. A belief that nothing exists apart from the material world. Monists generally agree that the mind is a material function of the brain. Mental processes are purely physical processes. Human beings are just complicated physiological organisms.

The Sociology of Marxism is a Proletariat Society. The Proletariat, the blue-collar working class, is the heart of society. Everything revolves around their health and welfare, theoretically.

The Law, Government, and Economic system of Marxism is Statism.

Statism: a political system in which the concentration of economic controls and planning is held by a highly centralized government. - https://www.summit.org/resources/worldview-dictionary/

The study of History under Marxism is Historical Materialism.

Historical Materialism: the Marxist historical belief that society has progressed through economic developments and changes (e.g. social classes, political structures, ideologies, etc.). - https://www.summit.org/resources/worldview-dictionary/

Before closing, I think it imperative to mention “Antifa.” Antifa is a growing and dangerous group. Antifa is a Marxist/Communist movement that started ~90 years ago.  Antifa, and allied groups, should be thought of as the violent, paramilitary arms of Marxist movements.

The name Antifa is supposed to mean Anti-Fascism. In reality Antifa is a type of fascism. An article on Antifa is coming next week.

I will leave you with a quote from the final paragraph of the article The Many Problems with Marxism:

Revolutionary rhetoric aside, much of the appeal of Marxism comes from the fact that it offers religious certainty in scientific terms. I recently met up with an old friend, a staunch Marxist, … After hours of discussion, he admitted, “Well, ultimately, it’s a question of faith.” A question of faith? Marxism seeks nothing less than to alter the entire institutional structure of society. One would assume that a project with such momentous aspirations would be based on a more solid foundation. But with Marx, facts and evidence take a backseat to his grand narrative and vision. The resulting fallacies and misconceptions, many central to his theory, explain Marxism’s disastrous track record.

The Many Problems with Marxism
Why Socialism Fails
Communism Killed Over 100 Million
Why Nazism Was Socialism and Why Socialism Is Totalitarian
Leninthink

JW

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” - C.S. Lewis