Karl Marx famously declared religion to be “the opiate of the masses,” implying we’d be better off without it. But can human beings really live without a religion of any kind? Perhaps when we try to suppress the spiritual instinct so innate to our humanity, it doesn’t disappear altogether; rather, it gets channeled unconsciously into cultish behaviors and modes of thought where we least expect them to show up.

In this intellectually rigorous discussion, I meet with writer and New Hampshire state legislature candidate Mike Belcher to discuss his heady piece, “A Resolution to Declare Marxism a Religion.” Mike explains what he means by “Marxism,” including an overview of related philosophers Hobbes, Rousseau, and Hegel, and why he believes Marx's seemingly outdated philosophy is alive and well today. He argues that social Marxism manifests not only as progressivism, structural determinism, applied postmodernism, idea laundering, and queer theory, but also in everyday, implicit aspects of the culture at large. We discuss the quasi- and pseudo- religious elements of these belief systems; their roles in psychological warfare and institutional capture; and Mike’s case for why making the religious aspect explicit is essential for maintaining separation between church and state. 

Along the way, we explore important moral, ethical and philosophical questions. Do words create reality? Is there such a thing as “the right side of history?” What do virology and meme theory have to teach us about the spread of ideas? How does one bolster their “psychological immunity?” How do we engage in “re-moralization?” And how can we reclaim the time-tested virtues of grace, forgiveness, and redemption in a ruthless social climate?

If you’ve been following the work of James Lindsay, Helen Pluckrose, Peter Boghossian, and their ilk, you’re not going to want to miss this conversation.

Mike Belcher lives in Wakefield, New Hampshire, where he is running for political office as a State Representative. He has been a paramedic, heavy industry laborer, and teacher. He now writes on philosophy, politics, religion, current events, and law at his Substack: A Path Through. You can follow him on Twitter @mikebelcher14.

In this conversation, Mike referenced his draft legislation criminalizing destruction of minors sex organs, and a refutation of Postmodern relativism.

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.

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