Egoism or Communism: Christians Must Choose

[TheChristianEgoist]

This is a post from my blog for Christians who are pro-Capitalism, but don't understand the necessity of rejecting Altruism in order to be consistent.

http://thechristianegoist.wordpress.com ... st-choose/

Egoism of Communism: Christians Must Choose

Internal War

There is a very good upsurge of ‘Liberty-minded’ thinking going on today – particularly in traditionally ‘Christian conservative’ circles. But even with power-house movements like the Tea Party, the liberty-leaning masses haven’t been able to catch significant footing in the culture. Why? Because the majority of them (the ‘Moral Majority’ …aka Christians) are at war with themselves ideologically. Consider the following quote very carefully, and ask yourself if you do not already see this playing out:

“Since both parties (Democrat and Republican) hold altruism as their basic moral principle, both advocate a welfare state or mixed economy as their ultimate goal … It is precisely [the altruism-collectivism-statism] ends that ought to be rejected. But if neither party chooses to do it, the logic of the events created by their common basic principles will keep dragging them both further and further to the left. If and when the “conservatives� are kicked out of the game altogether, the same conflict will continue between the “liberals� and the avowed “socialists�; when the socialists win, the conflict will continue between the socialists and the communists; when the communists win, the ultimate goal of altruism will be achieved: universal immolation. There is no way to stop or change that process except at the root: by a change of basic principles.“ -Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal p.146, emphasis added.

Addressing the Root

Christians can talk all the game they want about Capitalism, Free-Markets, the Rule of Law, and Liberty, but as long as they’ve got altruism as their root — as their basic moral principle, they will inevitably be advocating for Communism, Collectivism, and Statism – no matter how loudly they may protest otherwise. Christians, more than anyone, should understand the importance of the root — of basic moral principles (see all of Jesus’ references to trees and plants and leaven). Principles have trajectories. And trajectories cannot be changed mid-air — they must be changed at the root.

The Ends of Altruism

Altruism — the moral ideal of sacrificing one’s own values for the sake of the other — can only ever lead to Communism and Collectivism, if followed consistently. Incidentally, that is all the liberals are doing: they are consistently following the inept moral advice Christians have promoted in their unthinking and anti-intellectual slumber through Modernity. Now the chickens are coming home to roost, and Christians are getting a frightening (and long overdue!) wake-up call with the spectacle of rampant wealth-transfer, social planning, and economic regulation. What did you expect? You condemn self-interest and personal profit as evil, insisting that everyone should ‘deny himself’ in every way possible, considering the good of ‘others’ as paramount — and then when the masses take you seriously and begin to enact your advice on a cultural and political level, you stare in astonishment that they actually took you seriously. Do not say that you only meant it individually — that you never expected your morality to be carried out on a political level. To think ‘individually’ is a sin (according to your altruistic morality) – we should not think of ourselves individually, but of everyone corporately; i.e. collectively. There is no escaping it. Altruism (other-ism) is the destruction of the individual for the sake of the collective; it is the destruction of profit for the sake of poverty; the destruction of freedom for the sake of chains; the destruction of man for the sake of ‘men’. Therefore, if Christians truly wish to oppose the evils of Communism and Collectivism (and the political corollary of Statism), they must renounce Altruism with swift and exhaustive repudiation.

The Only Alternative

It is not enough to simply dismiss Altruism, though. If it is not replaced with the proper moral root, that weed will grow back and continue its destruction. The only moral alternative to Altruism is Egoism — rational self interest. It is rational self interest which allows man to see himself as an individual – apart from the collectivist herd. It is rational self interest which allows him to have values – according to which he uses his faculties to shape the material of the world into valuable assets (i.e. ‘Capital’). It is rational self interest which drives man to value (and therefore to protect) his life, his freedom, and his property. This rational self interest – this egoism – is the only moral root for Capitalism, Individualism and Liberty. Apart from this root, there will be no genuine prosperity, but with it, the possibilities are endless.

Those are the alternatives laid before the American Christian:

Egoism with its social corollaries:

Capitalism, Individualism and Liberty

OR

Altruism with its social corollaries:

Communism, Collectivism and Statism.

One or the other. You cannot have both.

[/center]

[A Troubled Man]

Altruism is not as much a moral principle as it is an evolved trait in humans and animals, just like compassion.

To fight or take flight often has variables that usually include fear and courage, other traits that have evolved in humans and animals.

[TheChristianEgoist]

Altruism is not as much a moral principle as it is an evolved trait in humans and animals, just like compassion.

To fight or take flight often has variables that usually include fear and courage, other traits that have evolved in humans and animals.

Um, it sounds like there are a bunch of loaded assumptions behind that.

And, what is your point?

[A Troubled Man]

Altruism is not as much a moral principle as it is an evolved trait in humans and animals, just like compassion.

To fight or take flight often has variables that usually include fear and courage, other traits that have evolved in humans and animals.

Um, it sounds like there are a bunch of loaded assumptions behind that.

Such as?

And, what is your point?

You have opined that altruism leads to Communism and Collectivism as if humans created the concept of altruism as some sort of moral principle. Yet, we are all endowed with altruism but have not been led down any such paths as you suggest as a means to an ends. You have failed at connecting them in any way.

[dianaiad]

Those are the alternatives laid before the American Christian:

Egoism with its social corollaries:

Capitalism, Individualism and Liberty

OR

Altruism with its social corollaries:

Communism, Collectivism and Statism.

One or the other. You cannot have both.

[/center]

Baloney.

Christ taught Christians that they should be altruistic INDIVIDUALLY. He was rather clear that one's personal and religious beliefs were apart from governmental ones.

Communism, Collectivism and 'statism' are systems of government forced upon the people involved; morality imposed from outside.

What Christ taught was an internal moral choice: if you have two coats, give one of 'em to someone who hasn't got one. That's pretty direct. He did NOT say 'make everybody else give their money and goods to 'the poor' whether they want to or not."

He told the rich man to give away his money and follow Him. He did NOT tell the government to take that money away from him.

Communism can work...but only in the context of a larger, capitalist or other society. Communism only works if each and every member of the commune volunteers to be there, and to live according to the rules...and can leave if they want to do so. Otherwise it's dictatorship. There's no 'altruism' involved. Altruism, after all, is being generous with one's own funds...not with everybody else's.

[Philbert]

Nice one dianaiad! Very well said.

[A Troubled Man]

Christ taught Christians that they should be altruistic INDIVIDUALLY.

But, doesn't the religious altruist do everything for the sake of Jesus? In fact, they don't even do things for the sake of others, they only do it for Jesus.

Jesus demands that he be placed first and foremost over everyone else, which the Christian accepts and reiterates all the time.

In fact, by not choosing Jesus, one is slated for an eternal fire, therefore there is no altruism in Christianity.

[Darias]

[Replying to post 1 by TheChristianEgoist]

I view altruistic tendencies as ultimately self-interested, as they sate a base need for many people, which is why such behavior can be fulfilling.

I don't think altruism necessitates communism or statism because altruism is moral when it is voluntary. Anarcho-communism, as inefficient as it is, cannot be condemned on a moral basis so long as the persons involved choose to live that way and accept whatever personal risks to happiness or well-being that come with such a lifestyle. However, the state is not a voluntary system, and is always imposed. Taxation is theft, not natural, voluntary (self-interested or altruistic) behavior. For that reason it is strange to think of taxation as "imposed altruism." The state is inherently immoral because it is but one incarnation of the initiation of force.

Altruism isn't the problem -- the state is. One cannot claim to support free markets and also support the state that controls the money supply, etc. The state is an anathema to liberty, of both the market and civil variety. The only moral choice anyone has, whether you are a Christian or not, is voluntaryism.

[otseng]

Nice one dianaiad! Very well said.

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[East of Eden]

"Every major horror of history was committed in the name of an altruistic motive. Has any act of selfishness ever equaled the carnage perpetuated by disciples of altruism?"

Ayn Rand