From: info <info-AT-j12.org> Subject: AUT: Marxism a religion Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 08:50:34 +0100 Sharon wrote: I think that there is an intriguing parallel between Marxism and religion precisely at this point. The universalist claims of religion are conditioned on humanity 'seeing the light' and 'accepting the truth'. Marxism is also awaiting for humanity to 'see reality' and see the underlying causes of history, and social relations, and come out from behind the lens of the camera obscura. Neither accepts reality or the status quo or people's consciousness as it is, both struggle to achieve a state of what ought to be, both reject this world as it exists today, and often for the same reason (crass materialism, alienation etc). Some religions want us to give up this world and put all our hopes on the next world, various Marxist theories demand that we not buy into this world, that we sacrifice our position in it and possibly our lives for a better world to come, true, not up in heavan, but here on earth. This would put Marxism closer to Judaism than Christianity, in that Judaism also sees the Messianic Age as happening on earth and not extraterrestrially. The marxism you describe clearly has nothing to do with communism, but rather some relapse into obscurantism. Communism is not concerned with the realisation of some doctrine whether that of Dr Marx or any of his colleagues. Communism recognises that people's consciousness arises from their material conditions - including that of communists, who do not constitute some sort of intellectual elite who would be, as you correctly imply, merely another priesthood oppressing humanity. Communism is not about sacrificing our position in this world, but arises because so many people are aware that the pursuit of riches in a war of all against all is not the best way to live. As for a 'messianic age' I feel that this holds many dangers in its attempt to find some trancsendant moment rather than looking for what is immanent within ourselves and the society in which we live. Fabian --- from list aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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