Communist Confession of Faith. Unknown past of Marxist Catechism
The Manifesto of the Communist Party, or "The Manifesto of the Communist Party", as should be decently written, is simply a classical of Marxist literature. It can be said that it is the main programming paper of the political group, which has expliced its objectives and the tools for their implementation. But who has heard that the text in question has previously appeared in 2 versions, with crucial titles?
Christianity, Gnoise, and Salvation on Earth
In my erstwhile study, I had a short scratch history of the 1847 founding of the Union of Communists, or revolutionary group, in which they led primarily Karl Marx and Frederick Engels. What is notable, the organization described has undergone many changes, slow losing its first character:
In 1836, Paris was established Justice Union – organization of German expatriates, founded by Theodore Schuster on the basis of his earlier appointment Banite Union (1834). In 1837 he joined the group Wilhelm WeitlingAnd shortly after, he grew up to be the leader of the movement. The Union of the Righteous brought together supporters of Christian communism believing in revolutionwhich will bring about the resurrection of mankind and establish the Kingdom of God on earth--New Jerusalem. They sought to realize the thought of neighbour love, equality, justice, and universal brotherhood of all men. They regarded private property and money as a origin of greed and exploitation.
In my conclusions, I tried to answer the question of what Marxism truly is erstwhile it comes to the spiritual sphere. In another words, I called for a brief analysis “revolutionary faith“ Communists:
In conclusion, it can be concluded that Marxist ideology was based on Protestant and Judaist spiritual Streams of apocalyptic and Messianic character. He's a form. radiativegnosesIn which the hope of salvation was transferred to the present world, and whose instrument became an emancipative revolution.
All the points are further described in this paper, so I would like to decision on to fresher reflections, focusing on "Manifest of the Communist Party” and its previous, lesser known versions.
From the “Communist Confession of Faith” to the “Basic of Communism”
June 1847 Frederick Engels He wrote himself “A Summary of the Communist Confession of Faith” —Draft of a Communist Confession of Faith), i.e. the first of the later "Communist organization Manifesto", drawn up together with friend Karol Marx (publication in February 1848). In the meantime, Engels modified the "Zarys..." a bit, and in late November and December 1847 he presented to his companions "Basics of Communism” —Principles of Communism). Importantly, both papers were constructed in the form of catechism. “Basics...” already counted 25 questions and answers, so 3 more compared to “Zarys ...”. In addition, the author changed the order of issues and their content. The text layout has besides been modified.
We should surely answer the following question: why the Marxist program manifesto was originally a form of catechism and in fact was catechismWhat does Engels' correspondence with Marx indicate? Let's look at the PWN dictionary:
catechism
1. «A lecture on the fundamental principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers; also: a book containing this lecture»
2. «Basic principles of something»
The word “catechism” is Latin catechismus. The related word is ‘catechesis’ (catechesis), that is, “teaching the principles of Christian religion”. By confronting this cognition with the findings of my erstwhile study, we can argue that Engels's guiding intention was to teach Dogmas of Faith, which was shared by the Communists of the organization. As I noted earlier, the group went through many improvement phases, representing at the beginning Christian, Apocalyptic Communism, at the end, after Marx and the company took the helm – a secular, “scientific” form political gnosy (after Voegelin). To put it rather simply, 1 can see in Marxism the influences of Judaism, among others, with a strong emphasis on the leading function of Messiah, who, despite suffering, will yet attain salvation, in this case: proletariat make Paradise on Eartha classless society, free from exploitation and inequality.
The mature form of the ideology of Charles Marx
In 1 of the preceding paragraphs I simply pointed out that the final, mature version of the manifesto of political and spiritual Marxism was released in early 1848. Let's grow this subject a little. That's right. Charles Marx The text was rewritten and yet published in a more accessible, communicative form, i.e. broken down into chapters alternatively than catechetical questions and answers. Today, this paper is known as Communist ManifestoAlthough its authoritative title is "Manifest of the Communist Party” – a tiny difference, but still. 1 of the reasons for the consistent shortening of the name by many scientists, publicists and politicians is most likely the desire to propose that it was only a loose thought manifesto of any incorrect idealists, not a circumstantial and clearly defined political program to be implemented by the organization of professional revolutionaries.
The period of revolutionary and national free movement from 1848 to 1849 is known from past as Spring of the Peoples. The first riot in Germany is the end of February and the beginning of March. diary ‘Neue Rheinische Zeitung“ led by Communist Union, including Marx and Engels, published "Manifest..." in German, as well as heavy agitated for an armed coup. The paper was issued until 19 May 1849, so until Karl Marx was expelled from the Kingdom of Prussia for “anti-systemic activity”. So, as we can see, then, the communists tried to realize their plans on the first occasion. Fortunately, they failed, although the same cannot be said for their perfect successors.
Due to the volume of the text and the comfort of reading further observations I will make in a separate study. And then I'll effort to analyse it more carefully. content of the texts discussed. But now I can only send back to reading the past of the Communist Union, or the birth of Marxism as a religion and political ideology.
Bibliography
1. Boer R., Wilhelm Weitling, the First German Communist [in:] ‘Montly Review’, 2010, https://mronline.org/2010/10/21/wilhelm-weitling-the-first-german-communist/
2. Engels F., Draft of a Communist Confession of Faith1847, https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/06/09.htm
3. Engels F., On The past of the Communist League‘Sozial Democrat’ 1885, https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/communist-league/1885hist.htm
4. Engels F., The Principles of Communism1847, https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm
5. Oil W., Political messianism. Sources of phenomena in Judaism Theology [in:] ‘Diskurs’ 2007, No 5, pp. 57-66, https://depot.ceon.pl/bitstream/handle/123456789/1787/opiola_mesianism_political.pdf
6. Badger J., How was Marxism born? Christian Communism, Messiah, and Salvation on Earth, Hammer for Marxism, 2019, https://mlotnamarksizm.pl/felietons/how-native-sie-marksizm-mesiah/
