Saturday, April 16, 2011

Defining Adversaries

In the coming weeks I will be talking about various religious and political philosophies and their effect(s) on our country, society, economy and families. What I have come to realize is that many of you may not be familiar with the names or the basic tenants of some of these philosophies. This article will define each of these, according to Webster's dictionary, and in the case of several; according to their own literature. This is not meant as a exhaustive explanation; but merely a rudimentary definition so that you may see the similarities and even some differences between them.  Look at this as a "guide" or "reference" as we muddle through the secular forces that are trying to shape our world.

Marxism

Marx·ism 
Pronunciation: \ˈmärk-ˌsi-zəm\

Function: noun
Date: 1887
: the political, economic, and social principles and policies advocated by Marx; especially : a theory and practice of socialism including the labor theory of value, dialectical materialism, the class struggle, and dictatorship of the proletariat until the establishment of a classless society
— Marx·ist  \-sist\ noun or adjective

Marx·ism–Le·nin·ism Pronunciation: \ˈmärk-ˌsi-zəm-ˈle-nə-ˌni-zəm\



Function: noun
Date: 1929
: a theory and practice of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Marx
— Marx·ist–Len·in·ist  \ˈmärk-sist-ˈle-nə-nist\ noun or adjective

Communism


com·mu·nism 
Pronunciation: \ˈkäm-yə-ˌni-zəm, -yü-\
Function: noun
Etymology: French communisme, from commun common
Date: 1840
1 a : a theory advocating elimination of private property b : a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed
2 capitalized a : a doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics b : a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production c : a final stage of society in Marxist theory in which the state has withered away and economic goods are distributed equitably d : communist systems collectively

Socialism

 so·cial·ism 
Pronunciation: \ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1837
1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

guild socialism
Function: noun
Date: 1912
: an early 20th century English socialistic theory advocating state ownership of industry with control and management by guilds of workers 

national socialism
Function: noun
Usage: often capitalized N&S
Date: 1931
— national socialist adjective often capitalized N&S     

Pronunciation: \ˈnät-ˌsi-zəm, ˈnat-\Variant(s): also Na·zi·ism  \-sē-ˌi-zəm\
Function: noun
Etymology: Nazi + -ism
Date: 1934
: the body of political and economic doctrines held and put into effect by the Nazis in Germany from 1933 to 1945 including the totalitarian principle ofgovernment, predominance of especially Germanic groups assumed to be racially superior, and supremacy of the führer

state socialism
Function: noun
Date: 1879
: an economic system with limited socialist characteristics that is effected by gradual state action and typically includes public ownership of major industries and remedial measures to benefit the working class

utopian socialism
Function: noun
Date: circa 1923
: socialism based on a belief that social ownership of the means of production can be achieved by voluntary and peaceful surrender of their holdings by propertied groups
— utopian socialist noun

Collectivism

col·lec·tiv·ism 
Pronunciation: \kə-ˈlek-ti-ˌvi-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1857
1 : a political or economic theory advocating collective control especially over production and distributionalso : a system marked by such control
2 : emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity
— col·lec·tiv·ist  \-vist\ adjective or noun
— col·lec·tiv·is·tic  \-ˌlek-ti-ˈvis-tik\ adjective
— col·lec·tiv·is·ti·cal·ly  \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Statism

stat·ism 
Pronunciation: \ˈstā-ˌti-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1919
: concentration of economic controls and planning in the hands of a highly centralized government often extending to government ownership of industry

Progressivism

pro·gres·siv·ism 
Pronunciation: \prə-ˈgre-si-ˌvi-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1892
1 : the principles, beliefs, or practices of progressives
2 capitalized : the political and economic doctrines advocated by the Progressives
3 : the theories of progressive education
— pro·gres·siv·ist  \-vist\ noun or adjective
— pro·gres·siv·is·tic  \-ˌgre-si-ˈvis-tik\ adjective


1pro-gre-ssive 
Pronunciation: \prə-ˈgre-sive
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1612
1 a : of, relating to, or characterized by progress b : making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities c : of, relating to, or constituting aneducational theory marked by emphasis on the individual child, informality of classroom procedure, and encouragement of self-expression
2 : of, relating to, or characterized by progression
3 : moving forward or onward : advancing
4 a : increasing in extent or severity disease> b : increasing in rate as the base increases 
5 often capitalized : of or relating to political Progressives6 : of, relating to, or constituting a verb form that expresses action or state in 
progress at the time of speaking or a time spoken of
7 : of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths
8 : or, relating to, or using a method of video scanning (as for television or a computer monitor) in which the horizontal lines of each frame are drawn successively from top to bottom — compare interlaced

2pro-gre-ssive
Function: noun
Date: 1846
1 a : one that is progressive b : one believing in moderate political change and especially social improvement by governmental action
2 capitalized : a member of any of various United States political parties: as a : a member of a predominantly agrarian minor party that around 1912 split off from the Republicans; specifically : bull moose b : a follower of Robert M. La Follette in the presidential campaign of 1924 c : a follower of Henry A. Wallace in the presidential campaign of 1948

Progressive Conservative
Function: adjective
Date: 1944
: of or relating to a major political party in Canada traditionally advocating economic nationalism and close ties with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations

Fascism

fas·cism 
Pronunciation: \ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm also ˈfa-ˌsi-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
Date: 1921
1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control 
— fas·cist  \-shist also -sist\ noun or adjective often capitalized
— fas·cis·tic  \fa-ˈshis-tik also -ˈsis-\ adjective often capitalized
— fas·cis·ti·cal·ly  \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb often capitalized

Totalitarianism

to·tal·i·tar·i·an·ism 
Pronunciation: \(ˌ)tō-ˌta-lə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1926
1 : centralized control by an autocratic authority
2 : the political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority

Tyranny

tyr·an·ny 
Pronunciation: \ˈtir-ə-nē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural tyr·an·nies
Etymology: Middle English tyrannie, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, from Latin tyrannus tyrant
Date: 14th century
1 : oppressive power especially : oppressive power exerted by government 
2 a : a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler; especially : one characteristic of an ancient Greek city-state b : the office, authority, and administration of a tyrant
3 : a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force 
4 : a tyrannical act tyrannies>

Liberation Theology

liberation theology
Function: noun
Date: 1972
: a religious movement especially among Roman Catholic clergy in Latin America that combines political philosophy usually of a Marxist orientation with a theology of salvation as liberation from injustice
— liberation theologian noun



Humanism

hu·man·ism 
Pronunciation: \ˈhyü-mə-ˌni-zəm, ˈyü-\
Function: noun
Date: 1832
1 a : devotion to the humanities : literary culture b : the revival of classical letters, individualistic and critical spirit, and emphasis on secular concerns characteristic of the Renaissance
3 : a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values; especially : a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason
— hu·man·ist  \-nist\ noun or adjective
— hu·man·is·tic  \ˌhyü-mə-ˈnis-tik, ˌyü-\ adjective
— hu·man·is·ti·cal·ly  \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb



secular humanism
Function: noun
Date: 1933
: humanism 3; especially : humanistic philosophy viewed as a nontheistic religion antagonistic to traditional religion
— secular humanist noun or adjective

Secularism

sec·u·lar·ism 
Pronunciation: \ˈse-kyə-lə-ˌri-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1851
: indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations
— sec·u·lar·ist  \-rist\ noun
 secularist also sec·u·lar·is·tic  \ˌse-kyə-lə-ˈris-tik\ adjective

Paganism

 pa·gan·ism 
Pronunciation: \ˈpā-gə-ˌni-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 a : pagan beliefs or practices b : a pagan religion
2 : the quality or state of being a pagan

 neo–pa·gan 
Pronunciation: \-ˈpā-gən\
Function: noun
Date: 1869
: a person who practices a contemporary form of paganism (as Wicca)
— neo–pagan adjective
— neo–pa·gan·ism  \-ˈpā-gə-ˌni-zəm\ noun

Environmentalism

en·vi·ron·men·tal·ism 
Pronunciation: \-ˌvī-rə(n)-ˈmen-tə-ˌli-zəm, -ˌvī(-ə)r(n)-\
Function: noun
Date: circa 1922
1 : a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group
2 : advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environmentespecially : the movement to control pollution

en·vi·ron·men·tal·ist 
Pronunciation: \-tə-ləst\
Function: noun
Date: 1916
1 : an advocate of environmentalism
2 : one concerned about environmental quality especially of the human environment with respect to the control of pollution




Read these definitions and become familiar with them. I will be offering insight in the coming weeks, on how you might recognize these philosophies in your politicians, teachers, clergy, government, education and churches. Many of these philosophies are insidious and on the surface appear harmless. Accepting these at any level puts all of institutions at risk. In fact, we have already been co-opted at almost every level. It is time to expose and root them out because they offer no liberty or salvation; only oppression and slavery of the worst kind.

No comments:

Post a Comment