Some Clarifications on Marx

Lately, I have been having a lot of conversations involving capitalism and its detractors. Most questions involve how I feel about Karl Marx and "Communist nations." Many people have identified me as a communist (and reasonably so, I suppose, all things considered). What I aim to do in this post is to briefly flesh out some of my current thoughts on Marxism, clarifying some issues that I have been dealing with a bit irresponsibly thus far.

First thing's first: I have already written a paper on Karl Marx and Christianity which I posted here earlier. Allow me to explain this paper a bit. The prompt involved expressing where Marx and Christianity can find amicability and where they necessarily diverge. Due to space limitations of 1,000 words, however, I chose to focus only on where the two can find common ground, as it seems this is the position that requires the most explanation and provocation (considering it is largely ignored). Some have misread this thinking I have completely bought into Marx and all that comes with him. While I don't think this necessarily flows from my paper, I can see how the one might get this impression. Hopefully this post will bring more clarity to the subject.

Let's start with a basic statement: I hate capitalism.

Let me be quick to point out, however, that this hatred did not in fact stem from Marx. As early as high school, reading the Gospels has hinted to me that money is, as Paul says, the root of all kinds of evil. Though I lacked the language and skill to fully articulate why this was so, it was clear to me that Christ advocated equality and brotherhood, the opposite of division and competition. A system that celebrates the latter, therefore, clearly cannot be the preferred "system" (if there is one) of the Prince of Peace. What Karl Marx did was articulate more specific rationality (to use his terms, an approach that was more "scientific") that targeted the root evils of capitalism which I was then able to view through the lens of Christianity.

Reading Marx, it is incredibly difficult to deny his especially intricate treatment of the subject. (Of course, taking on the economic system encouraged by the entire "developed" world requires no less.) Thus far I have heard many arguments defending capitalism, but none of their promoters seem to be aware of the debate. Marxism has been around for quite a while, and it didn't end with the death of Marx. It has survived in the minds of many philosophers throughout the last hundred years. In fact, due to the work of many contemporary philosophers (notably Michael Hardt, Antonio Negri, Slovoj Žižek, and Alain Badiou) Marxist scholarship has been renewed with great vigor. Though I wish I had the time and talent to respond here to every objection I have dealt with thus far in my conversations with others I can at least say this -- I have yet to be convinced that capitalism is a system that affirms the teachings of God. In fact, the more I talk, think, and read about the subject, the more I learn capitalism is necessarily opposed to the values of Christianity.

That being said, there are a few specific objections to Marxism that must be immediately answered, as they demonstrate a severe lack of understanding of the subject at hand.

1) What about Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, and various other revolutions? Surely they do not affirm Christian values!

This is correct. However, the aforementioned and often-cited examples are not examples of communism. They are examples of totalitarian dictatorships. Though they have undeniably sprouted from communist roots, they are not manifestations of Marx's idea. Leninism, Maoism, etc. are not Marxism. This would be like saying the Crusades prove Christianity is a violent and terrible effort.

2) The communists are atheists! How can you advocate a philosophy pioneered by an atheist?

Well, in a certain sense you have me here. I am not allowed to be a communist. They have kicked me out. However, I have not claimed to be communist. I have only claimed to be against capitalism. As far as I have considered economic philosophy, the solution is still to be determined.

3) Jesus didn't offer a system of economics. Capitalism, though flawed, is the best we have.

This position is correct in saying Jesus offered no system of economics. However, Jesus (and other Biblical writers) did offer many words about money, materialism, and attitudes contrary to capitalism. Furthermore, this position demonstrates a lack of understanding as far as the real destruction caused by capitalism as well as a passive acceptance of the status quo, typically (at least in my experience) a result of scholastic laziness or apathy on the subject.

So to summarize and conclude, I will say this.

I am against capitalism. I also find Marx's critiques to be incredibly helpful in articulating the evils of the system. If this makes me a Marxist, then so be it. But my hatred for capitalism is not rooted in Karl Marx. It is rooted in the Scriptures, and it seems to me to fit the Biblical narrative best -- much better than exploitative economics. I am not a communist. I have yet to determine what exactly I am. I am interested in socialism, distributism, and anarchism, all of which have very prominent members of the Christian community involved from both Protestant and Catholic traditions (in fact distributism was developed primarily by Catholics).

Ultimately, I would hope I deserve the title "Christian." I seek to find out what Christian economics really is, and thus far that entails helping your neighbor, not being concerned with material things, and thinking of others before yourself.

In other words, not capitalism.