What does the rise of antichristianism mean for freedom? – GIS reports

0


[ad_1]

Marxism has led to more murders than any other ideology in the history of mankind. Including famines caused by planned famine in the Soviet Union (Ukraine in particular) and China (as part of the “Great Leap Forward”), the number of politically motivated murders easily exceeds 100 million. The purges ordered by Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong were horrific, but by no means the only such cases. In other communist countries a tragic amount of blood has been spilled in the name of Marxism. One thinks of the barbaric regime of Pol Pot in Cambodia, which massacred nearly a quarter of the country’s population.

Communism and National Socialism are both inhumane ideologies. Besides all the deaths they have caused and their use of the term “socialist” to describe their views, they share something else in common: a hatred of Christianity, especially of the Catholic Church.

One would have hoped that the West would realize that Marxism was a total failure

Here it should be noted that although the Catholic Church had official relations with Nazi Germany, it remained firmly opposed to its policies, especially on race and ethnicity. Many Catholic priests were imprisoned in concentration camps. The official position of the party and its leadership was fiercely anti-Catholic. The only reason the Nazis did not persecute Catholics more than they did was because they feared it would weaken the war effort.

Fortunately, it is generally accepted that National Socialism was a horrible aberration. Likewise, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, one would have hoped that most Westerners would realize that Marxism was not only a murderous and cruel ideology, but also a total economic and social failure. Yet it now appears that such hopes would have been misplaced.

Marxism is on the rise

Today, the bureaucracy increasingly restricts personal freedom and property rights. Inflated government programs, rising taxes and lax monetary policy lead to a “soft” system of expropriation and redistribution. Some aspects of political correctness become dogmas, stifling free and open debate. In some universities, this dogmatic mindset takes precedence over hard evidence.

Curiously, Marxism is more and more accepted. Few of the media and politicians see a problem with people who espouse Marxist views taking leadership positions. Of course, everyone has the right to believe in Marxist theories as long as they do not impose them on others. But the momentum of that sentiment has reached staggering proportions. Just two years ago, Jean-Claude Juncker, then President of the European Commission, participated in the unveiling of a monument to Karl Marx and praised his philosophical views.

Mr Juncker paid no political price for this blunder and offered no apology. Yet Marxism, in its essence, is incompatible with freedom and democracy.

Christianity under fire

In contrast, antagonism towards Christianity in general, and the Catholic Church in particular, is on the rise in Europe. Unfortunately, wrongdoing has been committed in the name of the Church, and by some of its officials, who bear the responsibility. The Church is now addressing these issues.

Christianity made it possible for a liberal and secular society to flourish

However, being a Christian does not harm democracy or a free society. Quite the contrary. Christianity, with its notions of personal choice and freedom of conscience, is one of the foundations that allowed a liberal and secular society to flourish.

Nonetheless, there is a sort of witch-hunt going on in European politics. This became clear in 2004, when the Italian government proposed to European Affairs Minister Rocco Buttiglioni to take over the Justice and Home Affairs portfolio at the European Commission. The President of the Commission at the time, José Manuel Barroso, accepted the nomination. The European Parliament, however, rejected his candidacy because of his Catholic views.

There is more striking evidence of this trend, and we can even see it today. In the German election campaign, the Social Democrats attempt to defame Christian Democrat candidate Armin Laschet as being under the “dangerous” influence of the Catholic Church.

The growing popularity of the idea that Catholicism could be a threat to society is of concern. It is all the more worrying that Marxism appears to be perceived as a lesser danger. The anti-Catholic movement is part of a growing wave of dogmatic propaganda against religion in general. Such slanders are carcinogenic to a free society and an alarming new political dynamic.

[ad_2]

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.