The Sacralization of Politics

Submitted by Reverend (Canada), Aug 3, 2019 at 13:06

I would contend, that the demon in liberalism, as a political ideology, or political idol of our time, as some would describe, is not so much the desire or temptation "to politicize, and thereby debase, every aspect of life", but rather to "sacralize, and thereby to intrude into, every aspect of life", as a secular (i.e. this worldly) political religion. For example, Carl Schmitt stated in his book, Political Theology, that "All significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts". And likewise, Emilio Gentile in his book, Politics as Religion, persuasively argues that modern "politics" (whether it be fascism, communism or liberalism) has "over the last two centuries often taken on the features of religion, claiming as its own the prerogative of defining the fundamental purpose and meaning of human life". That is, whereby "secular" (i.e. this worldly) "political entities such as the nation, the state, race, class, and the party became the focus of myths, rituals, and commandments and gradually became objects of faith, loyalty and reverence". This is clearly articulated, or revealed, in the above article, whereby the writer states that "liberalism shares with communism a powerful 'faith' in rational minds finding solutions which translates into a drive to improve the citizen, modernize him, and mold him into a superior being." With this understanding, liberalism's social engineering thus becomes the theological equivalent of "progressive sanctification" and its futuristic vision the theological equivalent of a religious-based eschatological hope.

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