RE: The meaning the Guardian attached to the word "mutilation"

[Ian Kluge]

Dear JS,   You write   “What is the link between Hegel, Marx and communism/Marxism.  Why is communism one of the 3 evils?  Is there something wrong with the philosophy or does it have to do with the way it was carried out?  Or is it because it rejects God?”   Ian:   Hegel,Marx and Communism �in 60 seconds - !   Hegel provided Marx with an ontological vision of the structure of being (that includes the famous dialectic) and a comprehensive theory of history including a proto-typical theory of progressive revelation. While Hegel was an Idealist, Marx materialized H’s theories: if I may put it like this, Hegel believes in the primacy of the Absolute (which emanated reality) and consciousness, Marx believes in the primacy of matter and that material factors (relation to the means of production) completely determine the cultural superstructures such as art and religion.   With communism things get a bit more complex, because what we call communism is not just Marx and Engels, but also Lenin’s interpretation of Marx and Engels. (Even Stalin’s interpretation of Lenin can play a role here.)   Some aspects of the Faith are quite compatible with Marxism, as, for example, the concern for “industrial justice” – though the methods of remedy differ dramatically, spiritual evolution vs. (prescribed) revolutionary violence. Another similarity is the need to balance the rights of the individual with the good of the community. Something else they share: the belief that either the Communist Party, or, in our case, the Bahai Revelation represents the vanguard of human evolution.   I always used to tell my students that Marx was like a doctor who wrote up a pretty good diagnosis – but prescribed a lousy cure.   Vis-�-vis Marxism and Communism, there is – from a Bahai perspective - something wrong with both the theory and the way it was carried out.   What’s wrong with the theory per se is its (a) philosophical materialism and its many implications; (b) its programmatic atheism; (c) the necessity of revolutionary violence (Marx: “Violence is the midwife of history”; also “violence is the midwife of every old society pregnant with a new one.") and the use of physical force to affect social change; (d) the moral relativism; (e) the elitism (Lenin’s contribution.)   To see what’s wrong with the practice, one need simply look at the history of communist revolutions in Russia, Eastern Europe and China. Violent repression (like Tienanmen Square) is an integral part of the system – and, besides, Marx’s prescribed economics don’t work (which is not to say capitalist economics are perfect.).   Best wishes,   Ian Kluge       ��   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of JS Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 10:15 AM To: Baha'i Studies Subject: RE: The meaning the Guardian attached to the word "mutilation"   Ian or Mark,   What is the link between Hegel, Marx and communism/Marxism.  Why is communism one of the 3 evils?  Is there something wrong with the philosophy or does it have to do with the way it was carried out?  Or is it because it rejects God? Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu