I think I disagree quite profoundly with Carrol on this. The centre of
most communities in the 'frontier' west of Canada was the local church
and school. The great radical movement in western Canada from the 1st
WW to the depression was the "social gospel" built around the methodist
church which provided the foundation for the CCF and the labour parties
in Canada, indeed even to this day where protestant preachers (and even
the odd Catholic priest) are a disporportionate share of social
democratic legislators. The success of Tommy Douglas, the man last year
voted the greatest Canadian ever by a CBC poll, was a baptist minister
which tied the Christian gospel to his championship of the poor,
farmers, workers and unions.
I would argue that marxism as an analytic framework, is great at
critiquing the present state of affairs, but without an aesthetic and
moral vision, it will attract few converts and promote little activism.
Furthermore, and this I see as the failure of Eastern European
communism, without the moral vision provided and nurtured by religion,
regimes fall into corruption and individualism. Here, I agree with
Sorel, a 'myth' is a necessary carrot to promote activism and
commitment. The Marxist myth -- 'come the revolution' -- no longer has
any appeal except perhaps in the oppressed countries such as Bolivia of
Myanmar. Perhaps we can include Venezuela where Chavez's Bolivarian
revolution provides the 'myth'. And here I see the parallel with
Yoshie's championship of prime-minister of Iran who promotes the 'myth'
of the Islamic revolution which is, at least to some extent, tied to
championship of the poor and the workingclass in Iran. , though perhaps
not to unions and left or feminist-institutions.
Marxists need a utopian vision to inspire and promote dedication.
If it comes in clerical clothes, so be it. Let us welcome it. As
Browning wrote, "Ah, but a man's (sic) reach should exceed his grasp; or
what's a heaven for."
(disclusure: I come from a family of Methodist clergy/missionaries and
my daughter is an Anglical priest. Myself, I am a fallen-away
Unitarian. O:-) )
Paul P
Carrol Cox wrote:
This misstates the issue. _Of course_ we build community on other
grounds than religion. So do builders of religious communities. Religion
never has been, is not, and never will be the "foundation" of any
community, and it is not religion but the actuality of community that
generates a "sense of community." Community emerges not from an "ism,"
religious or socialist or fascist or any other ism but from shared
practice.
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.4/424 - Release Date: 8/21/06
