On Government and God; Why Every Form of Socialism Mirrors Religion.

I was inspired recently by Joseph Schumpeter's magnum opus, “Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy,” the first chapter titled “Marx the Prophet.” Many who read the book misunderstand Schumpeter's goal, as it seems as though he's writing of Marx in a positive manner. Yet his real intent is to convey that Communism bares a strange similarity to religious doctrines. In fact, all forms of socialism do and it's not just a matter of doctrine; They appear structurally identical as well.

The similarity between every form of socialism be it Communism, Fascism (National Socialism - Nazism), Social Democracy (Democratic Socialism,) is an underlying moral doctrine. Each version of Socialism we've seen throughout history has always promoted a specific moral ideology that carried with it the promise of a terrestrial paradise that will follow, if the doctrine is adhered to. “Don't sin, and you'll find heaven.” “Follow these rules, and we'll achieve prosperity.” It's the same basic premise as a religion that sets forth a series of rules that define a morality, and if followed will lead the believer to paradise.

Capitalism does not possess a moral doctrine. While it has often been taught that it is “immoral” (though a necessary evil) Capitalism is in fact amoral. That privative “a” (as in A-theist) indicating that Capitalism does not possess any intrinsic moral doctrine. Which means it is neither moral, nor immoral.

The second element is the structure. Every form of Socialism is administered (and must be administered, like religion) by a ruling body that organizes itself in a similar way to major religions. Take the Vatican, for example; The ruling body of the Catholic Church. The Cardinals (Electoral College) elects a Pope (the president.) The church itself is comprised of Diocese overseen by a Bishop. The Dioceses are divided into smaller communities called Parishes that are overseen by a Priest. Is this starting to look like a Government administering law? It is. And was. Organizations like this need a specific body to administer the moral doctrine – again, the advocacy of a specific moral ideology is the similar facet of religion and socialism.

I'm a big advocate of the Renaissance perspective. The notion that individual people can make their own decisions, take care of themselves and even find morality without some organized guiding policy found in either religion or socialism. I often find it hard to swallow that the so-called modern Progressives who believe that expanding the function of Government to achieve a moral goal is somehow a new idea, when it's the same thing that society has been peddling since Hammurabi. While it may be more ideologically liberal than the world was in the Dark Ages under the Vatican, it certainly isn't much different in it's application or goal – To impose a moral code on all of society, whether they want it or not.