The Religion of the Left

Obama as Democrats see him.

Yesterday, I noted that, in the United Church, politics has taken over from religion.

I wonder if it would be fair to say this has happened, on the left, generally? Is leftist politics a kind of pseudo-religion?

Certainly Marxism is, and explicitly so. It is hostile to religion because it considers itself a direct rival. It seeks the creation of a heaven on earth.

Generally, it is a seductive proposition. Instead of having to strive to behave morally, one can just vote the correct way, and consider oneself moral whatever else one does. This is perhaps why leftist politics is especially attractive to the upper classes, to wealthy professionals.

You do get creepy things on the left: references to the Kennedy administration as “Camelot.” Posters at the 1976 Democratic Convention reading “JC Will Save America!” (JC in this case being Jimmy Carter, pictured, but with an obvious reference to Jesus Christ). An article in Rolling Stone in 2012 referring to Barack Obama as a “light worker.”

The First Family, circa 1961?

Democrats expect their vote to work magic. This is one reason why they tend to nominate relatively little-known candidates for the presidency, and to be relatively more successful when they do—Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George McGovern. Insurgent candidates have also often come close: Eugene McCarthy, Gary Hart, John Edwards, Howard Dean. This happens because Democrats are looking for a Messiah. The more one knows about a candidate, the less one is able to believe or hope they have magical powers.

JC Will Save America!