The Ideological Results of Atheism

It makes a difference, what you believe about the Universe, humanity, life, & eternity. Western civilization was built upon principles based on a belief in a Supreme Being, or some kind of Higher Power, over the affairs of men. From that belief, sprang several world & culture changing movements.

1. The Reformation. 'Sola Scriptura' was the cry, as well as the concept of of ALL men being equal, no aristocracy, no divine right of kings, nor a holy priesthood, with special endowments from God. This was humanity's ticket out of the dark ages, & the ideological basis for most of what followed.
2. The Scientific Revolution. Instead of science being a mandate from Religious Professionals, it became a process.. a methodology that was based on the uniformity of nature, & order in the universe. The printing press & a common language in scientific inquiry built a knowledge base, & many added to it. Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, & many others sparked this revolution, which had at its root the concept of an orderly Creator, whose Laws were immutable & consistent.
3. The Age of Reason. This was closely tied with science, & had the same roots. These were the enlightenment philosophers, who promoted the concept of Natural Law, an overriding moral law that was over everyone, & the ruling elite were not exempt. It has been summarized as the right to life, liberty, & property, & was codified as a mission statement for governance in the American declaration of independence.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

These 'movement's were foundational for western civilization, & resulted in an ideology that found its purist expression in the American Experiment in self rule. Natural Law, human equality, and an acknowledgment of a Supreme Being were the foundation upon which America was founded, & were the core beliefs that influenced most of western civilization for over 100 years.

It began in the mid 1500s, when the reformation blew apart the status quo of the religious elite. Concurrently, Copernicus promoted scientific thinking, refuted a geocentric view of the universe, & laid the foundation for further scientific discovery. The ruling elite became fallible, & the illusion of them as 'speaking for God' was shattered. Truth was not a monopoly of the elite, but was a process of discovery. The printing press contributed to this as well, making the knowledge base available to a wider audience, & breaking the monopoly that the elite had over information.

Then, as human minds became free to think, unfettered by superstition & dark ages mandates, the CONSEQUENCES of this scientific enlightenment spread to the philosophical concepts of governance & human freedom. This was the spark that began the abolitionist movement, & from there led to women's suffrage, & even addressed the social evils of intemperate drunkenness.

By the 1800s, aristocracies were ending.. by peaceful or revolutionary means. Slavery was abolished in all of the 'civilized' countries. Women were getting the vote. Morality & human equality were elevated over the decrees of divinely appointed elites. Science was explaining the universe. Technology was building upon the scientific discoveries. Superstition was dying. The former belief in a naturalistic 'cause' for life for centuries, was debunked by Pasteur, as his experiments refuted the notion of 'spontaneous generation'. But at its peak, the winds of ideology began to change. In the late 1800s, 2 major events began a new movement in human ideology. Marx & Darwin represented a new ideological basis for a growing philosophical view:

Naturalistic Atheism
Two major works laid much of the foundation for the growing view of naturalistic atheism:
Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, 1859
Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto, 1848

Darwin laid the foundation for a naturalistic explanation of origins. There was no need for a Creator, as everything happened by some cosmic accident, then evolved to where we are today. Life is constantly evolving, & humans are just advanced animals. Some are more advanced than others, & they should manage & oversee the universe, based on their superior evolved intellect.

Marx had a social elite, and needed an atheistic world view to crush the evils of religious elitism, whom he saw as the opiate of the masses. But he only substituted a different elite, same as the old ones, but with different hats. His was a rule by altruistic elites, who could control the evolution of man, producing a New Man, who would live in harmony in their collective utopia.

So the result of this blend of new ideologies were many fold:

1. Keep the elite. Manifest destiny, eugenics, & a superior ruling class grew from this ideology, based on evolved superiority instead of divine appointment. Human equality can be ignored, as well as Natural Law, for the expediency of 'evolving' a New Man.
2. Science is no longer a process of discovery, or an inquiry into 'what God hath wrought', but became a god itself. The methodology was ignored, & the mandate of elitist superiority took precedence over scientific inquiry. Naturalistic Atheism became a mandated belief, not dispassionate scientific inquiry.
3. Return to dark ages practices of mandates for Truth, instead of open inquiry.

Many movements in the late 19th & early 20th centuries built upon these new foundational ideologies. Russia found itself in a great civil war, & substituted the oppression from the Czars & the ruling aristocracy for oppression from the Bolsheviks & their new ruling aristocracy. Hitler's National Socialism built upon both marxism & darwinism, promoting an elite based on superior evolved strength, intelligence, & state control of everything. American eugenics was foundational in the progressive movement early in the 20th century, & darwinistic beliefs became the monopoly of thought through judicial decree. Other forms of socialism, despotism, & communism, all had at their root a naturalistic atheism basis. It is the foundational belief system for most of the revolutionary movements in the 20th century. Only Islam, with its similar elitist control, provided any competition for an ideological basis for human governance. The American Ideal became corrupted with progressive thought, & seized control of all the institutions in America, distorting the original intent, & slowly morphed the enlightenment principles it was based on, into collectivist elitism, with only an illusion of self rule.

The Great Deception of the 20th century: Naturalism is fact. God is dead.

1. Naturalistic Atheism is a return to the animal ideal, where the stronger rule over the weak, & power is esteemed over morality. 'Might makes right', is the only rule.
2. Its foundations are not built on Scientific Truth, but mandated beliefs, just like the dark ages.
3. It is a move away from the enlightenment principles of human equality, freedom, & Natural Law, & back toward dark ages principles of elitist rule & Truth by Decree.
4. Indoctrination & propaganda, not open inquiry, are the methods used for imposing the ideology upon the people. Lies & beliefs are presented as proven scientific principles, when there is no scientific methodology to support it.
5. Information is controlled & censored. Open inquiry is not allowed, but conformity to the ideology is required.

This is the result of naturalistic atheism, as a controlling worldview. It is not based on enlightenment principles of human equality, freedom, & self autonomy, but the dark ages views of control, elitism, & oppression. This is the root of progressive ideology, as it usurps the American Ideal. This ideology is in control of almost all of the institutions in America, & they dominate every facet of governance, law, & justice.

Dark Ages --->>> Oppression, control, elitism, Truth by decree.

Reformation, Enlightenment, Reason, & Science --->>> Freedom, natural law, open inquiry, self rule & autonomy.

Marxist/Darwinist elitism-->>> Elitism, state control, Truth by decree, oppression --->>> Back to the Dark Ages, & the circle is complete.

Individual vs Collective

One of the main differences between conservatives & progressives is in the concept of individuality. Progressives are collectivists, & believe the 'needs of the many outweigh the needs of the individual'. The conservative believes the individual's rights are paramount, & are the only true safety for society. If individual rights are not secured, then nobody is safe, & we become subject to the whims of despotic rule. Law no longer is the overriding arbiter for society, but utilitarian, relative 'need', decided by an elite ruling class. It is the central distinction between the left & right, & it carries some consequential actions from either ideological camp.

1. Collectivists pretend to be altruistic, & ache with compassion for the downtrodden or unfortunate, but they statistically are the worst at giving to charity. They typically view 'govt' as the Big Charity in the sky, & worship it like a god.
2. Individualists are more charitable, & tend to give of their own substance to those in need. They do not trust Govt to provide, protect, or give meaning to their empty, pathetic lives. They are sometimes hostile to anyone & everyone.
3. Collectivists are good at forming coalitions, & gathering together in groupthink loyalties. They huddle together & rely on Big Govt to protect, provide, & give meaning to their empty, pathetic lives. They are very loyal to each other, & are very hostile to those outside their 'group'.
4. Individualists do not form coalitions well. They mistrust any groupthink loyalty, & tend to be more curmudgeonly & contrary. Organizing individualists is like herding cats.
5. Collectivists must agree with the Status Quo, from the elite controllers. They all nod like bobbleheads at any decrees from the Enlightened Elite, & repeat the talking points with loyal dedication. They typically 'toe the line' with the official party decrees, & do not deviate from it.
6. Individualists suspect anyone or anything who pretend to speak for them. They are not loyal to any group, but tend to save that loyalty to their ideology or belief system, rather than any visible group.

So, when attempting to organize a boycott, among conservatives, there is an inherent difficulty in getting everyone to agree. They do not submit to a 'top down' mandate from any self appointed 'leaders', but question everything, or analyze the action, or find fault with the organizers.

Leftists can call for a protest, and many will show up dutifully as they toe the party line. And, of course, it also helps when they are paid. For many leftists, getting a few bucks will buy them some weed so they can veg out in their mom's basement. But if a conservative calls for a boycott or protest, right away others will question their motives. 'Who made you our leader, that you call for this action?' 'I think we should do it on Wednesday, instead of Tuesday'. 'Our group has a pot luck on that day.' There is a lot more infighting among conservatives, & it is the result of their foundational worldview. They are not subjects, but freemen. They are individualists, & are not easily driven to some point of view. It is not a bad thing, but it makes organizing them more difficult. Hopefully, conservatives will see the need to align together to defeat the collectivist madness, & resist the trend toward socialism & top down control of society. If not, we have only ourselves to blame.

“The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort.” ~Robert A. Heinlein

A Future of Despotism

If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual. [And therefore in need of protection.] ~Frank Herbert

Follow the ideology. None of the anti-American sentiments we see today have occurred in a vacuum, but have a thin red line you can follow, going back as far as you want. We have been trending away from Enlightenment values for decades.. nearly 100 yrs, actually. From the very start of the progressive movement, at the turn of the last century, it picked up steam. A blend of marxism, darwinism, manifest destiny, eugenics, labor movement, & the moralizing from post abolitionism, then into women's suffrage & even temperance. The roots of the progressive left are easy to follow. Not all of them were negatives for the American citizens, but it heralded the picture of the Righteous Moralist.. the Defender of the common man.. the Elite Philanthropist.. the rich liberal moralizer. Their agenda was NOT based on the enlightenment values of equality, individual liberty, right to life, liberty, & property, but an Altruistic Elite Benefactor, that the common man could put his trust in, to care for him & protect him from those who might exploit him. This Elite Patron could control the economy.. He could produce perfect social justice. He could save the earth. He could control the weather, & usher in an era of Peace & Harmony, if the common man would put his trust in this Divinely Inspired product of human evolution. But it is a false hope, & a misplaced trust, as the elite are NOT benevolent, but are complicit with the exploiters, as they have always been. All they offer is a return to the dark ages, and we are fools to believe them.

Anyway, i find it a fascinating study.. the roots of ideology. When we can see where we have come from, it gives some idea on where we are going, especially as we repeat the same mistakes from history.

“I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such: because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well-administred; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administred for a Course of Years and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other.” ~Benjamin Franklin

The main problem, as i see it, is the pervasiveness of progressive ideology, in ALL of our human institutions.. not only in America, but all of the western, civilized world. They dominate academia, the media, entertainment, & all of govt. It is the de facto religion of the day, & has been steadily growing since the 50's. You can see it in court rulings, entertainment, the attitude toward religious faith, the view of science, morality, & just about every facet of life is immersed in, & springs from, this ideology promoted with unflagging propaganda & intensity. I do not expect us to recover, as a nation, as the sickness of leftist ideology goes too deep. It would take a revolutionary purge to rid the nation of this evil in America, & the rest of the world would not let us do that, even if we wanted to. I do not know what will take the place of the American hegemony, but i see it on the decline. I don't see any way out. I wish i did, & i wish i could have some hope for an American Revival, but there are too many enemies of the American Experiment, & too many useful idiots to march in lockstep with the propagandists.

I suspect there is a budding despot somewhere, waiting in the wings. ..waiting for the time to be right to burst forth as the Savior of Humanity, who will lead us into a socialist utopia. I am sure that despotism is in our future, as freedom is too rare a thing in human history, & cannot defend itself. The newer generations have lost the vision for America, & gaze longingly at euro nanny states as their ideal. That is their indoctrination.  Their minds are in the grip of the propagandists, & i don't know if they can be liberated.

As for me, i will not go quietly into the night. I will continue to expose and resist the flood of progressive evil that has infected this land, & that exploits & dominates the working man across the globe. If there was a movement to defend the constitution from all enemies, foreign & domestic, & preserve the American Experiment in self rule, i would join in to try to preserve our heritage of freedom. But i fear that we are a dying breed.. old lunies tilting at windmills. If this current generation does not want freedom, but prefers the comforting security of despotic rule, i cannot help them. It is their time, & they must defend freedom for themselves. I will die a free American. They cannot take that from me. But i cannot pass the baton on, if nobody will take it.

Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty. ~Thomas Jefferson

Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants. –William Penn