I remember when I began learning about Marxism, it was in the 12th grade. I was not a stranger to the term however the gravity of this worldview impacted my state of mind moving forward. The foundation seemed inclined to support the lower class while creating an equal system for all to thrive. Being an adolescent with a mind becoming open to deeper concepts in forming my identity, the philosophy of Karl Marx among others seemed more attractive. Once I entered my years in university I was (somewhat) agnostic. Over time I realized that by committing to these theories and concepts I would have to reassess the foundation of my spiritual belief.
Though my household was not governed by Christian parents, I was still raised following the scriptures. With this in mind, it took time for me to deconstruct my spiritual beliefs. One of the phrases that were common among those exposed to Marxism is “Religion is the opium of the people”. In essence, religion was labeled as being a method of control that numbs the pain of the weaker class while making them susceptible to the whims of the elite. The end goal before society can be placed in a state of “balance” or equality would be for a societal upheaval when the current structure is turned on its head. The basic element of Marx stems from one of his favorite quotations from the character Mephistopheles which states: Everything that exists deserves to perish. As dreaded as this sounds this small saying is enough to shed even a speck of light into the hollow nature of Marxism.
Who was Karl Marx? (Days Before the Manifesto)
There is a phrase that I have begun using to further understand the world around me, and it is Not too far from the tree. The concept is really simple, whatever school of thought you find interest in should be assessed beyond the many branches but also down to the roots. It is from there that we can determine a tree that bears good fruit and that which bears bad fruit (not fit for consumption). Therefore by applying this concept, the personal life of Karl Marx will have to be investigated to establish the true roots of the movement.
Karl Marx was born on May 5, 1818, to a Jewish Barrister (Lawyer). Though his father Heinrich Marx was Jewish they later converted to Christianity before his birth. His father, much like his son, was a man of enlightenment who was engaged in the philosophical & political debates of the day. Most of Marx’s earlier years of education were handled by his father until he began education at the Trier High School. At the age of 16, he expressed his desire to study Philosophy & Literature but his father insisted that he pursue a legal profession. In 1836 he became exposed to the ideas of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, which were popular points of discussion at the time. It is from him the term Hegelian Dialectic drives.
In reference to Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel some of his more controversial thoughts have been his reverence towards Christianity as being the ultimate religion. He referred to Christianity in this manner: the essential spirit of Christianity is one of love, in which the realms of justice and injustice, the din of competing virtues and absolutes, are transcended in a harmonious unity. In essence, religion is not seen as an oppressive force but rather a foundation on which the expression of truth can stand firm. Though impacting Europe with his philosophies many such as Marx found room for criticism. Marx in 1837 while at university Marx joined a group known as the Young Hegel who were radical thinkers. The group would take the philosophy of Hegel and use it as a basis of criticism for the rest of society.
Karl the Creator
During his years at the University Marx along with his frequent collaborator Frederick Engine began writing works of Fiction & Non-Fiction (poetry). One of the more popular written works is a play called Oulanem. The name is an anagram of the name Emmanual (God with us) and is also the name of the main character in the story. This play has been likened to that of another popular play at the time called Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The basis of Faust follows the main character of the same name, who is a magician who forms a pact with Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles is seen as a familiar spirit of the devil (operating under a servant role). The character Faust would have the familiar work for him in living and in the afterlife he would serve the devil.
In the story of Oulanem (loosely inspired by Faust) the hero delivers a remarkable soliloquy, pouring out sustained invective, a hatred of the world and of mankind, a hatred of creation, and a threat and vision of total world destruction.
“I shall howl gigantic curses on mankind:
Ha! Eternity! She is an eternal grief …
Ourselves being clockwork, blindly mechanical,
Made to be the foul-calendars of Time and Space,
Having no purpose save to happen, to be ruined,
So that there shall be something to ruin …
If there is a something which devours,
I’ll leap within it, though I bring the world to ruins-
The world which bulks between me and the Abyss
I will smash to pieces with my enduring curses.
I’ll throw my arms around its harsh reality:
Embracing me, the world will dumbly pass away,
And then sink down to utter nothingness,
Perished, with no existence — that would be really living!”
And then there is this:-
“the leaden world holds us fast,
And we are chained, shattered, empty, frightened,
Eternally chained to this marble block of Being …
and we — We are the apes of a cold God”
Throughout most of young Marx’s creative endeavors, there have been cases where the idea of God has been to be destroyed or rebel against. In essence, these creative writings only espoused the point of the destruction of the world for a new one to rise out of the ashes on a foundation of “equity”. However, most infrastructures are created with an image or idea in mind. If the Marxist concept is placed at the forefront without analyzing the life of the creator of the philosophy, how far will the concept truly extend.
The hands of the devil lurk in ways we do not initially understand. -unknown
Another poem that is well known amongst his followers entitled “The Pale Maiden” has a few shocking lines:
“Thus Heaven I’ve forfeited,
I know it full well.
My soul, once true to God,
Is chosen for Hell”-Karl Marx
Though his supporters can trump it up to mere poetic license, in many cases most poetry of a spiritual nature tends also to indicate a clash with reality. His inspiration from Mephesto highlights that he sees himself in the capacity of the rebel. The one to bring the light of the gods down to earth, while recreating it in a humanist perspective whereby the ideals of God will not see the light.
Unfortunately and slightly expected many have closely associated the creative thoughts of Marxism to that of Modern Satanism. What do I mean? His frequent reference to characters with Lucifarian archetypes along with the self-being exalted to the level of God has been used as point of reference. The idea of modern sataism basically focuses on the self or individuality as a primary by-product. Ironically making the devil, Mephesto, Lucifer the sun in their ever changing lives, basically unstable.
Once The Communist Manifesto broke onto the scene it brought with it a spirit of anarchy unimaged throughout the world’s history.
Marx… I see dead people
In the modern context one can see the element of Marxist as being like the devil (not the modern ideological perspective of satanism). The main role of the devil as described in the scriptures is to steal, kill and as Marx would put it, destroy. With Marxism there is a trail of blood that runs on along the pavement wherever this resides. How many horror stories should we read and watch regarding leaders that live by his philosophy? How many had to die or hide in worshiping the Most High? How many died in the true pursuit of freedom and something trapped in the darkness.
