Wilhelm Reich in Hell

[analfissurs]

I'm not sure if many of you have read the works of Wilhelm Reich - he's pretty far out there - but, Wilhelm Reich in his book the Mass Psychology of Fascism, attempted to answer what exactly is it that attracts people to fascism. His answer was sexual repression - which I find to be an entirely unsatisfactory answer (so Freudian), which leaves me completely disappointed, because it is perhaps the most significant question you can ask yourself: what is it exactly that attracts people to fascism (or, in the United States, neoconservatism)?

This is a question I have been struggling with for a couple of days. I was beginning to agree more and more with Nietzsche, that it is the nihilism of religion that attracts people to fascism - with Christianity preaching the absolute submission to a God (hell, even the most evil person according to Christianity is the one who rebels!). But, what attracts people to Christianity?

But, what do you all think? What exactly is the appeal of fascism? In other words, what makes people want to be a slave??? This is the most perplexing and frustrating and yet important question one could ask!

If it is the psychology of people that leads them to go to fascism, then should we conclude, along with Wilhelm Reich, that a revolution is not possible in this lifetime? That a revolution can only happen once people attend some intense psychotherapy? I live here in America and witnessing this idiotic Tea Party movement and even watching Bill O'Reilly on tv makes me agree with this idea...but it is such a horrible idea, means that there is no hope...

[The Fighting_Crusnik]

What attracts people including myself to Christianity is not the submission to God, but the promises and the real life evidence that is presented through simply following commandments like love your neighbor and help the poor. Tbh, these things should be the things that people like you see when you look at Christianity, but it isn't because of human nature and because of how entwined capitalism has become in western Christianity. Also, it is the love: be it the love of God or the love that we are taught to have for all of humanity that attracts us. But again, fundamentalism has ruined this image by creating hate towards certain groups when we (Christians) should be tolerant of those whom we don't agree with... it really is sad, but it was promised to us that it would be this way... Another thing, if you want to see Christianity in its true form, look to the individual rather than the group. Reason being is that there are more individuals who have it figured out than there are groups...

[¿Que?]

I think it was Adorno who argued that people drawn to fascism and racism tend to come from families with a strong authoritative structure or hierarchy. Not too many people buy into this theory, these days, tho.

My belief is that fascism becomes appealing when there are economic problems and a group to scapegoat.

[Nachie]

Wilhelm Reich is amazing; the missing link between the revolutionary movement and the spiritual awakening it needs to go through if we're ever going to get anywhere with our lives.

[bots]

Fear and ignorance. Also probably a desire to wear sharp uniforms.

I'd say the easiest way to discredit fascism would be making LSD experimentation mandatory. LSD use should be mandatory in junior high school when the developing mind is just starting to understand the full implications of freedom and personal responsibility. Fascism would just seem silly after this.

[samofshs]

I'm not sure if many of you have read the works of Wilhelm Reich - he's pretty far out there - but, Wilhelm Reich in his book the Mass Psychology of Fascism, attempted to answer what exactly is it that attracts people to fascism. His answer was sexual repression - which I find to be an entirely unsatisfactory answer (so Freudian), which leaves me completely disappointed, because it is perhaps the most significant question you can ask yourself: what is it exactly that attracts people to fascism (or, in the United States, neoconservatism)?

This is a question I have been struggling with for a couple of days. I was beginning to agree more and more with Nietzsche, that it is the nihilism of religion that attracts people to fascism - with Christianity preaching the absolute submission to a God (hell, even the most evil person according to Christianity is the one who rebels!). But, what attracts people to Christianity?

But, what do you all think? What exactly is the appeal of fascism? In other words, what makes people want to be a slave??? This is the most perplexing and frustrating and yet important question one could ask!

If it is the psychology of people that leads them to go to fascism, then should we conclude, along with Wilhelm Reich, that a revolution is not possible in this lifetime? That a revolution can only happen once people attend some intense psychotherapy? I live here in America and witnessing this idiotic Tea Party movement and even watching Bill O'Reilly on tv makes me agree with this idea...but it is such a horrible idea, means that there is no hope...

be careful what you associate with religion. and you might not want to say that christianity as a whole believes one thing. we all have different beliefs on different subjects and i just so happen to run a group of christian leftists on this website.

[analfissurs]

be careful what you associate with religion. and you might not want to say that christianity as a whole believes one thing. we all have different beliefs on different subjects and i just so happen to run a group of christian leftists on this website.

What attracts people including myself to Christianity is not the submission to God, but the promises and the real life evidence that is presented through simply following commandments like love your neighbor and help the poor. Tbh, these things should be the things that people like you see when you look at Christianity, but it isn't because of human nature and because of how entwined capitalism has become in western Christianity. Also, it is the love: be it the love of God or the love that we are taught to have for all of humanity that attracts us. But again, fundamentalism has ruined this image by creating hate towards certain groups when we (Christians) should be tolerant of those whom we don't agree with... it really is sad, but it was promised to us that it would be this way... Another thing, if you want to see Christianity in its true form, look to the individual rather than the group. Reason being is that there are more individuals who have it figured out than there are groups...

ffs - seriously this was about the psychology of fascism not about discussing christianity. i'm sorry if i offended all you christians out there for briefly stating my opinion in a minor part of the question. seriously wtf.

[Slav92]

But, what do you all think? What exactly is the appeal of fascism? In other words, what makes people want to be a slave??? This is the most perplexing and frustrating and yet important question one could ask!

Social solidarity. You'll never meet a nazi with a roaring social life, with tonnes of friends who goes to parties every week etc etc, almost every single one of them is a social introvert. Thus, the strong ties between members in a fascist organisation can seem very appealing.

I think it was Adorno who argued that people drawn to fascism and racism tend to come from families with a strong authoritative structure or hierarchy. Not too many people buy into this theory, these days, tho.

If anything, I'd argue the opposite. In my experience, a lot of fascists never had a father or mother figure, no one to sit them down and tell them right from wrong, or they resent these figures based on whatever life experiences they've had. Even if you're born into a strongly BNP family or whatever, that simply means you're more open to left wing ideals at school, teenage rebellion and all that.