More Fire for the People
13th January 2008, 20:09
I found this little treasure while digging through the Collected Works of Marx & Engels, Volume III:
Is not religious sentiment the source of Christian statesmanship? Is it not true that a doctrine which possesses a universal panacea in the good intentions of Christian hearts is founded on religious sentiments? Is it true that the expression of religious feelings ceases to be the expression of religious feelings ceases to be the expression of religious feelings if it is sober? I would go even further! I would maintain that any religious feelings that contest the ability of "the state and the authorities" to "remedy great evils" while they themselves seek a cure in the "union of Christian hearts" must be conceited and drunk in the extreme. Only very drunk religious feelings could locate the course of the evil – as does our "Prussian" – in the absence of the Christian spirit. Such feelings alone could suggest that the authorities should resort to "exhortation" as the only means whereby the Christian spirit might be fortified. According to the "Prussian" Christian sentiment is the sole end aim of the Order in Council. Religious sentiment, when it is drunk, of course, not when it is sober, considers itself to be the only good. Whenever it comes across evil it attributes it to its own absence, for, if it is the only good, then it alone can create the good. Therefore, an Order in Council, dictated by religious feelings, logically enough itself decrees religious feelings. A politician with sober religious feelings would not attempt to find a "cure" for his own "perplexity" in the "exhortations of the pious Preacher to cultivate Christian sentiments." (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/08/07.htm)
Is not religious sentiment the source of Christian statesmanship? Is it not true that a doctrine which possesses a universal panacea in the good intentions of Christian hearts is founded on religious sentiments? Is it true that the expression of religious feelings ceases to be the expression of religious feelings ceases to be the expression of religious feelings if it is sober? I would go even further! I would maintain that any religious feelings that contest the ability of "the state and the authorities" to "remedy great evils" while they themselves seek a cure in the "union of Christian hearts" must be conceited and drunk in the extreme. Only very drunk religious feelings could locate the course of the evil – as does our "Prussian" – in the absence of the Christian spirit. Such feelings alone could suggest that the authorities should resort to "exhortation" as the only means whereby the Christian spirit might be fortified. According to the "Prussian" Christian sentiment is the sole end aim of the Order in Council. Religious sentiment, when it is drunk, of course, not when it is sober, considers itself to be the only good. Whenever it comes across evil it attributes it to its own absence, for, if it is the only good, then it alone can create the good. Therefore, an Order in Council, dictated by religious feelings, logically enough itself decrees religious feelings. A politician with sober religious feelings would not attempt to find a "cure" for his own "perplexity" in the "exhortations of the pious Preacher to cultivate Christian sentiments." (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/08/07.htm)