Explaining The Left: Leftism As Secular Religion

[jerryskids 5,199]

I recently read an op ed written by Dennis Prager four years ago.  IMO this exactly captures the essence of Leftism.  I welcome our board centrists to comment and/or refute any of the assertions.

Quote

Explaining The Left: Leftism As Secular Religion -- Dennis Prager

Investor's Business Daily

5–7 minutes

---

One of the most important books of the 20th century — it remains a best-seller 59 years after it was first published — is "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl.

Marx saw man's primary drive as economic, and Freud saw it as sex. But Frankl believed — correctly, in my opinion — that the greatest drive of man is meaning.

One can be poor and chaste and still be happy. But one cannot be bereft of meaning and be happy — no matter how rich or how sexually fulfilled one may be.

The greatest provider of meaning for the vast majority of human beings has been religion. In the West, Christianity (and on a smaller scale, Judaism) provided nearly all people with the Bible, a divine or divinely inspired text to guide their lives; a religious community; answers to life's fundamental questions; and, above all, meaning: A good God governs the universe; death does not end everything; and human beings were purposefully created. In addition, Christianity gave Christians a project: spread the Good News, and bring the world to Christ. And Judaism gave Jews a project: Live by God's laws of ethics and holiness and be "a light unto the nations."

All this has disappeared for most Westerners. The Bible is regarded as myth, silly at best, malicious at worst — there is no God, certainly not the morality-giving and judging God of the Bible; there is no afterlife; human beings are a purposeless coincidence with no more intrinsic purpose than anything else in the universe. In short: This Is All There Is.

So, if the need for meaning is the greatest of all human needs and that which supplied meaning no longer does, what are millions of Westerners supposed to do?

The answer is obvious: Find meaning elsewhere. But where? Church won't provide it. Nor will marriage and family — increasingly, secular individuals in the West eschew marriage, and even more do not have children. It turns out, to the surprise of many, that marriage and children are religious values, not human instincts. In the West today, love and marriage (and children) go together like a horse and a carriage for faithful Catholics, Orthodox Jews, religious Mormons and evangelical Protestants — not for the secular. I know many religious families with more than four children; I do not know one secular family with more than four children (and the odds are you don't either).

The answer to the great dearth of meaning left by the death of biblical religion in the West is secular religion. The first two great secular substitutes were communism and Nazism. The first provided hundreds of millions of people with meaning; the latter provided most Germans and Austrians with meaning.

In particular, both ideologies provided the intellectual class with meaning. No groups believed in communism and Nazism more than intellectuals. Like everyone else, secular intellectuals need meaning, and when this need was combined with intellectuals' love of ideas (especially new ideas — "new" is almost erotic in the power of its appeal to secular intellectuals), communism and Nazism became potent ideologies.

With the fall of communism and the awareness of the extent of the communist mass murder (about 100 million noncombatants) and mass enslavement (virtually all individuals in communist countries — except for Communist Party leaders — are essentially enslaved), communism, or at least the word "communism," fell into disrepute.

So, what were secular intellectuals to do once communism became "the god that failed"?

The answer was to create other another left-wing secular religion. And that is what leftism is: a secular meaning-giver to supplant Christianity. Left-wing religious expressions include Marxism, communism, socialism, feminism and environmentalism.

Dogma Of Secular Religion

Leftism's guiding principles — notwithstanding the principles of those Christians and Jews who claim to be religious yet hold leftist views — are the antitheses of Judaism and Christianity's guiding principles.

Judaism and Christianity hold that people are not basically good. Leftism holds that people are basically good. Therefore, Judaism and Christianity believe evil comes from human nature, and leftism believes evil comes from capitalism, religion, the nation-state (i.e. nationalism), corporations, the patriarchy and virtually every other traditional value.

Judaism and Christianity hold that utopia on Earth is impossible — it will only come in God's good time as a Messianic age or in the afterlife. Leftism holds that utopia is to be created here on Earth — and as soon as possible. That is why leftists find America so contemptible. They do not compare it to other nations but to a utopian ideal — a society with no inequality, no racism, no differences between the sexes (indeed, no sexes) and no greed in which everything important is obtained free.

Judaism and Christianity believe God and the Bible are to instruct us on how to live a good life and how the heart is the last place to look for moral guidance. Leftists have contempt for anyone who is guided by the Bible and its God, and substitute the heart and feelings for divine instruction.

There may be a clash of civilizations between the West and Islam, but the biggest clash of civilizations is between the West and the left.

https://www.investors.com/politics/columnists/leftism-secular-religion-dennis-prager/

A few of my own comments:

- I read "Man's Search for Meaning" this past summer: it is outstanding and I highly recommend it for people of all political beliefs.

- He lists "environmentalism" as a meaning-giver to supplant Christianity -- I have long called climate alarmists a cult, more interest in flagellating the human race than solving the problem.  I believe that if he wrote this today, he'd include anti-racism and LGBTQ+ to the list.

- His assertion that Leftism calls for the creation of utopia on earth is consistent with what I mentioned a few minutes ago regarding progressives never being happy enough.

 

Anyway, thoughts?   

[weepaws 2,459]

Turn to the Lord, read the Bible and learn the truth, and stop reading crap that makes you think God isn’t in charge, God is the creator of all things.   

Thanks. 

[Hawkeye21 1,853]

1 minute ago, weepaws said:

Turn to the Lord, read the Bible and learn the truth, and stop reading crap that makes you think God isn’t in charge, God is the creator of all things.   

Thanks. 

It bothers me when people post comments like this on social media.  Instead of answering a question they comment with something like this that adds nothing.

[Bert 1,091]

10 minutes ago, weepaws said:

Turn to the Lord, read the Bible and learn the truth, and stop reading crap that makes you think God isn’t in charge, God is the creator of all things.   

Thanks. 

For four easy payments of $24.99 you too can be washed in the blood of the lamb and saved.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,636]

8 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

It bothers me when people post comments like this on social media.  Instead of answering a question they comment with something like this that adds nothing.

This post added a lot. 

[Hawkeye21 1,853]

1 minute ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

This post added a lot. 

Pot meet kettle, and now my posts makes another worthless comment that takes away from the original post.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,636]

Just now, Hawkeye21 said:

Pot meet kettle, and now my posts makes another worthless comment that takes away from the original post.

Well the OP was about what people believe in. So weepaws post was in the parameters of the discussion.  Yours was just more of the same. 

[weepaws 2,459]

14 minutes ago, Bert said:

For four easy payments of $24.99 you too can be washed in the blood of the lamb and saved.

No it cost nothing, your sin has been paid for , thank Jesus for it.  

Thanks.  

[weepaws 2,459]

16 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

It bothers me when people post comments like this on social media.  Instead of answering a question they comment with something like this that adds nothing.

Of course it bothers you, any time anyone doesn’t agree with you that bothers you.  

You need to get over yourself and move on.  

Thanks. 

[Hawkeye21 1,853]

1 minute ago, weepaws said:

Of course it bothers you, any time anyone doesn’t agree with you that bothers you.  

You need to get over yourself and move on.  

Thanks. 

I think you have me confused with someone else.

Haven't seen you post here for a while.  Where ya been?

[Bert 1,091]

1 minute ago, weepaws said:

No it cost nothing, your sin has been paid for , thank Jesus for it.  

Thanks.  

Since its paid for tell your god to stop giving children cancer.

[weepaws 2,459]

6 minutes ago, Bert said:

Since its paid for tell your god to stop giving children cancer.

Why children get to go to Heaven, how about you? 

7 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I think you have me confused with someone else.

Haven't seen you post here for a while.  Where ya been?

FF.  

[RLLD 3,455]

I have been saying this for years now.  When Trump was elected it "broke" Liberals.

They way they declare anyone who fails to conform as being evil, and then uses excommunication as a tactic....it elicits memories of the worst elements of religion from history.

Liberalism is now more of a cult than anything else, and that is actually rather dangerous. In every situation where we have seen in this in the past it has not ended well. 

[jerryskids 5,199]

Well, I didn't see this... weepaws apparently lurks here looking for threads to turn into a revival meeting.  I was hoping to discuss the behavior of the Left, oh well.  

[Hawkeye21 1,853]

1 minute ago, jerryskids said:

Well, I didn't see this... weepaws apparently lurks here looking for threads to turn into a revival meeting.  I was hoping to discuss the behavior of the Left, oh well.  

I use to think the left just wanted everyone to be treated equally and wanted people to be able to live the lifestyles they wanted to.  They grow more and more extreme as the years go by though.

[Voltaire 4,558]

I've been pretty much an atheist for a few decades because I don't need religion to find meaning or purpose in life. But with each passing year, I've developed a whole lot more respect for organized religion than ever and the important role it plays in society. I better appreciate how it ties us together as a people with a common set of values. I can't help but notice the moral wreckage, the lack of values and dignity and self worth at at the personal level, coupled with the disrespect towards the country and culture at the community level, that's been brought about by secular leftism. 

Closing the door to traditional religious faith and values has opened the door to a bunch of nauseating spiritual junk food trash. The left are amoral self-absorbed zombies bereft of purpose or meaning in life, they're societal/cultural cancer, and I don't want any part of it.

A good fifteen years ago in this forum, I wrote much about keeping creationism or "intelligent design" out of the classroom. Boy, was I taking aim at the wrong target! What a tiny mole hill. I apologize for everything I said. Bring back the fundie teachers! These CRT and LGBTQ activists are exponentially worse. 

[Bert 1,091]

12 minutes ago, weepaws said:

Why children get to go to Heaven, how about you? 

So your god likes to give children cancer so they can go to heaven?  Sounds like a kid with an ant farm.

I'm good.  Me and my god are solid.

[Bert 1,091]

52 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

I recently read an op ed written by Dennis Prager four years ago.  IMO this exactly captures the essence of Leftism.  I welcome our board centrists to comment and/or refute any of the assertions.

https://www.investors.com/politics/columnists/leftism-secular-religion-dennis-prager/

A few of my own comments:

- I read "Man's Search for Meaning" this past summer: it is outstanding and I highly recommend it for people of all political beliefs.

- He lists "environmentalism" as a meaning-giver to supplant Christianity -- I have long called climate alarmists a cult, more interest in flagellating the human race than solving the problem.  I believe that if he wrote this today, he'd include anti-racism and LGBTQ+ to the list.

- His assertion that Leftism calls for the creation of utopia on earth is consistent with what I mentioned a few minutes ago regarding progressives never being happy enough.

 

Anyway, thoughts?   

Thanks for posting.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,636]

“All arts, science and religions are branches of the same tree” - Albert Einstein. 

[MDC 5,890]

1 hour ago, jerryskids said:

I welcome our board centrists to comment and/or refute any of the assertions.

I think it’s a pile of crap.

[craftsman 1,045]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye21 said:

It bothers me when people post comments like this on social media.  Instead of answering a question they comment with something like this that adds nothing.

Like what you just posted?

[jerryskids 5,199]

11 minutes ago, MDC said:

I think it’s a pile of crap.

I suppose that technically this qualifies as a "comment."  Care to expand on this opus?

[Hawkeye21 1,853]

1 hour ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

This post added a lot. 

 

1 minute ago, craftsman said:

Like what you just posted?

Are you the same person?

[craftsman 1,045]

2 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

 

Are you the same person?

When are you going to add something you accused someone else of not adding?

[Hawkeye21 1,853]

1 minute ago, craftsman said:

When are you going to add something you accused someone else of not adding?

You're literally doing the same thing right now and so am I by responding to you.

[craftsman 1,045]

1 minute ago, Hawkeye21 said:

You're literally doing the same thing right now and so am I by responding to you.

I don't care about it. You obviously do. 

[MDC 5,890]

Just now, jerryskids said:

I suppose that technically this qualifies as a "comment."  Care to expand on this opus?

Sure.

My big takeaway is that this article is part of a cottage industry of political claptrap that flatters the reader and traffics in the laziest stereotypes of the other side. I’ve seen plenty of this type of article written from the left too. 

There are so many things wrong with the article that it barely seems worth cataloguing all of them. But for starters, the assumption that all left leaning people are atheist. If you drive through most black neighborhoods of North Philly you can barely go a block without passing a church. 

According to this article those people are conservative. In any other GC discussion though all urban black people are obviously libs. Especially if something bad happens in a city. And when kids get diddled by priests those are liberal priests. 

I appreciate the Hitler reference too. That’s how you know you’re reading the thoughts of a true intellectual. If he references the Holocaust. Lol

[jerryskids 5,199]

39 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I use to think the left just wanted everyone to be treated equally and wanted people to be able to live the lifestyles they wanted to.  They grow more and more extreme as the years go by though.

Good point.  And I will say, not everything Prager wrote about Leftism is necessarily bad -- it's not inherently "bad" to want to pursue perfection on earth IMO.  It's is more of a model upon which to evaluate the behaviors we see.

I would argue that your point is more towards liberals than Leftists, which is why I try to use that distinction.  But as you imply, it's gone too far.  Equal treatment has become equity, color blindness has become anti-racism, gender confusion has become mandated acceptance, helping the earth has become punishing humankind.

And as I said in another thread recently, exploring new ideas must come from a solid foundation of existing, heretofore successful ideas, for a society to grow.  These latter items are increasingly vilified.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,636]

Stephen A Smith says black church people live conservatively but vote democrat. I have observed that as well. 

[jerryskids 5,199]

3 minutes ago, MDC said:

Sure.

My big takeaway is that this article is part of a cottage industry of political claptrap that flatters the reader and traffics in the laziest stereotypes of the other side. I’ve seen plenty of this type of article written from the left too. 

There are so many things wrong with the article that it barely seems worth cataloguing all of them. But for starters, the assumption that all left leaning people are atheist. If you drive through most black neighborhoods of North Philly you can barely go a block without passing a church. 

According to this article those people are conservative. In any other GC discussion though all urban black people are obviously libs. Especially if something bad happens in a city. And when kids get diddled by priests those are liberal priests. 

I appreciate the Hitler reference too. That’s how you know you’re reading the thoughts of a true intellectual. If he references the Holocaust. Lol

Thanks.  I didn't read it as a definition of anyone who espouses any liberal views; in fact I just differentiated between liberalism and leftism above.  I would put "left leaning" in more of the liberal camp.  

And I would argue that the inner city blacks going to that church are not leftists by this definition.

But I see your point; it could have done a better point of differentiating/defining.   

[MDC 5,890]

5 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

Thanks.  I didn't read it as a definition of anyone who espouses any liberal views; in fact I just differentiated between liberalism and leftism above.  I would put "left leaning" in more of the liberal camp.  

And I would argue that the inner city blacks going to that church are not leftists by this definition.

But I see your point; it could have done a better point of differentiating/defining.   

Plenty of Democrats and left leaning people are religious. And many religious people are feminist, environmentalist etc. and not just in progressive churches. This is a lazy hit piece designed to flatter the reader. I see left wing versions of this all the time fwiw.

[Hawkeye21 1,853]

3 minutes ago, MDC said:

Plenty of Democrats and left leaning people are religious.

I live in a very Catholic town and know plenty of very liberal people. 

[RaiderHaters Revenge 3,583]

MDC, this is about leftism, not liberal, I think you are liberal not a leftist

leftism is a cult, liberal is something you are when you have no brain

 

[iam90sbaby 2,125]

1 hour ago, Voltaire said:

I've been pretty much an atheist for a few decades because I don't need religion to find meaning or purpose in life. But with each passing year, I've developed a whole lot more respect for organized religion than ever and the important role it plays in society. I better appreciate how it ties us together as a people with a common set of values. I can't help but notice the moral wreckage, the lack of values and dignity and self worth at at the personal level, coupled with the disrespect towards the country and culture at the community level, that's been brought about by secular leftism. 

Closing the door to traditional religious faith and values has opened the door to a bunch of nauseating spiritual junk food trash. The left are amoral self-absorbed zombies bereft of purpose or meaning in life, they're societal/cultural cancer, and I don't want any part of it.

A good fifteen years ago in this forum, I wrote much about keeping creationism or "intelligent design" out of the classroom. Boy, was I taking aim at the wrong target! What a tiny mole hill. I apologize for everything I said. Bring back the fundie teachers! These CRT and LGBTQ activists are exponentially worse. 

This is the same relationship I have with religion. Good post.

[RaiderHaters Revenge 3,583]

1 hour ago, Voltaire said:

I've been pretty much an atheist for a few decades because I don't need religion to find meaning or purpose in life. But with each passing year, I've developed a whole lot more respect for organized religion than ever and the important role it plays in society. I better appreciate how it ties us together as a people with a common set of values. I can't help but notice the moral wreckage, the lack of values and dignity and self worth at at the personal level, coupled with the disrespect towards the country and culture at the community level, that's been brought about by secular leftism. 

Closing the door to traditional religious faith and values has opened the door to a bunch of nauseating spiritual junk food trash. The left are amoral self-absorbed zombies bereft of purpose or meaning in life, they're societal/cultural cancer, and I don't want any part of it.

A good fifteen years ago in this forum, I wrote much about keeping creationism or "intelligent design" out of the classroom. Boy, was I taking aim at the wrong target! What a tiny mole hill. I apologize for everything I said. Bring back the fundie teachers! These CRT and LGBTQ activists are exponentially worse. 

nailed it

[shadrap 117]

1 hour ago, Voltaire said:

I've been pretty much an atheist for a few decades because I don't need religion to find meaning or purpose in life. But with each passing year, I've developed a whole lot more respect for organized religion than ever and the important role it plays in society. I better appreciate how it ties us together as a people with a common set of values. I can't help but notice the moral wreckage, the lack of values and dignity and self worth at at the personal level, coupled with the disrespect towards the country and culture at the community level, that's been brought about by secular leftism. 

Closing the door to traditional religious faith and values has opened the door to a bunch of nauseating spiritual junk food trash. The left are amoral self-absorbed zombies bereft of purpose or meaning in life, they're societal/cultural cancer, and I don't want any part of it.

A good fifteen years ago in this forum, I wrote much about keeping creationism or "intelligent design" out of the classroom. Boy, was I taking aim at the wrong target! What a tiny mole hill. I apologize for everything I said. Bring back the fundie teachers! These CRT and LGBTQ activists are exponentially worse. 

really good post.

[Bert 1,091]

30 minutes ago, MDC said:

This is a lazy hit piece designed to flatter the reader. I see left wing versions of this all the time fwiw.

So it is CNN, MSNBC, the Atlantic, Foxnews, Brietbart, etc

[kozmiq 70]

1 hour ago, Voltaire said:

I've been pretty much an atheist for a few decades because I don't need religion to find meaning or purpose in life. 

* Me either.  AND I don't need it to be a good person.  And with it or without it, I'm the same person.

But for those who need it, I'm fine with that. 

[iam90sbaby 2,125]

27 minutes ago, kozmiq said:

* Me either.  AND I don't need it to be a good person.  And with it or without it, I'm the same person.

But for those who need it, I'm fine with that. 

You need it

[kozmiq 70]

1 hour ago, iam90sbaby said:

You need it

Judge not, lest ye be judged.