Re: Max Horkheimer on Theism and Atheism
On Jul 8, 2007, at 2:39 PM, Mr. WD wrote:
On 7/8/07, Yoshie Furuhashi critical.montages@gmail.com wrote:
Max Horkheimer 1963 Source: Critique of Instrumental Reason. Max Horkheimer. Published by Continuum 1974
opposite of religion. Those who professed themselves to be
atheists at a time when religion was still in power tended to identify themselves more deeply with the theistic commandment to love one’s neighbor and indeed all created things than most adherents and fellow-travelers of the various denominations. Such selflessness, such a sublimation of self-love into love of others had its origin in Europe in the Judaeo-Christian idea that truth, love and justice were one, an idea which found expression in the teachings of the Messiah. The necessaryThis appears to be the sentiment echoed by Habermas in his essay “A Time of Transition”:
“Christianity, and nothing else, is the ultimate foundation of liberty, conscience, human rights, and democracy, the benchmarks of Western civilization. To this day, we have no other options [than Christianity]. We continue to nourish ourselves from this source. Everything else is postmodern chatter.”
Yeah, and Slavoj Zizek was arguing a few years ago that through its
emphasis on redemption, rather than acceptance of fate, Christianity
is our primal source of the revolutionary impulse. And there’s the
heart of a heartless world argument, too. Fine. That’s one thing.
It’s quite another to argue that we have to become religious, or
defer to the religious. With Yoshie telling us we have to embrace the
Islamists and the establishment liberals all getting into line to
blow Jim Wallis, I think I’ll pass.
Doug