The Naked Socialist

by Paul B Skousen

  As populations spread across Europe during the middle ages, there was a shift from agricultural life to the rise of city-states and large concentrated populations. Power became consolidated in centralized groups, in local rulers and in businessmen, and the farmers became the paid or indentured laborers for the wealthy. International trade became important and the profitable benefits of peace and cooperation between regions, realms and budding countries were secured as best as the times would allow.

  Another advancement that grew out of the middle ages was an improved value on life—people were not as easily disposed of as in centuries past. Individuals took a more active part in social life. They saw the world much differently. Instead of rule by the gods and the whims of the deities, people began to formulate advantages for personal gain outside of local feudal control.

  Curiosity about the world and the mechanisms giving it energy and operation triggered the rise of philosophers and their schools of thought. Balance and harmony with the universe became the new spiritual pursuit. The study of astrology, languages, the arts, politics, literature, music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and philosophy flourished. It was the dawning of a new age, the age of enlightenment.

  Polybius Describes Socialism’s Deadly Pattern

  Polybius was an ancient Greek historian who lived 200-118 B.C. He is known for his 40-volume work, The Histories, covering the period 220-146 B.C. He describes the growing power of the Roman Republic and how it eventually overshadowed Greece. His insights were extremely valuable in the writing of the U.S. Constitution.

  In the passage below, Polybius provides an amazing insight into man’s eternal cycle that starts as a condition of savagery, then the fight for freedom, then succumbs to corruption, and back again to savagery. He explains why this cycle continually unfolds, suggesting the best way to stop it is proper education about freedom, passed along from generation to generation, parent to child, forever. There is nothing new to the bad ideas of socialism, they’ve been around forever. But so have the good ideas, when they’ve been preserved and practiced. During the dark ages, the bad ideas prevailed.

  Speaking about the oppressed who eventually gang up and overthrow a tyrannical government, Polybius said—

  “Then as long as some of those survive who experienced the evils of oligarchical dominion [all power in the rulers], they are well pleased with the present form of government, and set a high value on equality and freedom of speech. But when a new generation arises and the democracy falls into the hands of the grandchildren of its founders, they have become so accustomed to freedom and equality that they no longer value them, and begin to aim at pre-eminence; and it is chiefly those of ample fortune who fall into this error.

  “So when they begin to lust for power and cannot attain it through themselves or their own good qualities, they ruin their estates, tempting and corrupting the people in every possible way. And hence when by their foolish thirst for reputation they have created among the masses an appetite for gifts and the habit of receiving them, democracy in its turn is abolished and changes into a rule of force and violence.

  “For the people, having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others, as soon as they find a leader who is enterprising but is excluded from the honors of office by his penury [his poverty], institute the rule of violence; and now uniting their forces massacre, banish, and plunder, until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch.”158

  Learning to recognize socialism

  In the ancient world the ideas of socialism sprang up spontaneously wherever bullies wanted to rule. In today’s modern world, that phenomenon is facilitated by instant communications, unprecedented access, and almost limitless resources to magnify ideas and theories everywhere, even down into the intimate and private world of the individual.

  As in the days of Aristophanes, popular entertainment continues to be a strong vehicle to both promote socialism and warn against it. Books and movies that create prophetic fantasies of a world under socialism are widely enjoyed. They have raised the art of story-telling to new heights, and many of them give chilling portrayals of a future world enslaved in socialism by the Rulers. For example—

  1984: Richard Burton’s last film. Cameras are everywhere in futuristic 1984. Big Brother is always listening and watching. Only crimes of the heart escape scrutiny—for a while, anyway.

  Fahrenheit 451: The totalitarian government does not want books because they spark notions of freedom. So-called “Firemen” are given authority to check anyone anywhere for hidden books, and may burn them on the spot. It works until one of the Firemen meets a pretty school teacher named Clarisse. She likes books....

  THX 1138: It’s a great socialist idea—drug everyone’s emotions and sex drive so they stop bothering others and obey the robot cops without question. It works until someone dodges the drug—and then human nature awakens, demanding a mate and freedom. In true socialist fashion, the tense final chase scene lasts only as long as the regime’s inflexible budget.

  V for Vendetta: Remember, remember the 5th of November. A freedom loving terrorist awakens London from its stupor of obedience to the Chancellor’s oppressive socialism, using Truth against the regime’s Lies.

  The Village: This gripping conspiracy of ignorance to control the villagers is riveting. All the socialistic tricks are there: deceit, control, no innovation allowed, terror to keep the populous subservient to the fathers, until desperation requires a messenger to procure medicine from the evil capitalists on the “outside.”

  The Matrix: Here is the perfect socialist society with all humans in a coma, their brains running a program that grants them a fulfilling life while their bodies float in life-sustaining fluids with wires taking away electrical energy to support the vast communal intricacies of the Matrix.

  A Bugs Life, Antz, Bee Movie, among other animated movies, portray the struggle of the individual protagonist doing battle against regimentation and the “colony mind set.” The totalitarian society allows for no innovation or deviation from the expectations of assigned duties and the mandate to just “go along to get along.” The hero tries to stand up against this regimentation and tell his friends about freedom and individual choice, at the risk of his life.

  For the movies listed above, which of the seven pillars of socialism played a role? Which of those “evil government” fantasies are becoming accepted today in day-to-day life, even partially?

  Draco used executions to manage his state problems. Which pillars of socialism are needed to ensure such power over life and death in a ruler? Name some recent leaders or countries where such power exists or recently existed.

  Describe how the Spartan society destroyed its families.

  List the pillars of socialism that Plato promoted. What did he say about private property? About lying? About self improvement? What did the Founders think about Plato’s ideas?

  How did India’s caste system treat women? Can you name some nations where women remain in lower castes or classes?

  How was “all in common” exercised among the Essenes? By Chang Wang? By Rome’s bread and circuses? Did it work?

  What are some of the “bread and circus” strategies in operation today that keep the people temporarily satisfied but not improving their current predicaments? Has this tactic succeeded in keeping certain political parties in power? Give some examples.

  What socialistic programs appear to have been primary reasons for Rome’s eventual collapse? What role did a declining currency play? Welfare and entitlement expenses? Malaise of the citizenry? Do you think personal virtue plays a role in lasting liberty? .

  According to Polybius, who values freedom the most? Why? When freedom is no longer valued, what then becomes the most important goal? Is that happening in today’s world? Explain.

  Part IV--SOC
IALISM IN THE MIDDLE AGES

  “They advocated having all things in common—including wives. Early Church fathers stated, ‘They led lives of unrestrained indulgence’...”

  * * *

  153 See Bruce Bartlett, How Excessive Government Killed Ancient Rome, The Cato Journal, Vol. 14 Number 2, Fall 1994.

  154 See The Encyclopedia Britannica, 13th Edition, 1926, Rome.

  155 See Michael Rostovtzeff, The Social and Economic History of the Roman Empire.

  156 A. H. M. Jones, Taxation in Antiquity, published in The Roman Economy: Studies in Ancient Economic and Administrative History, 1974, p. 161.

  157 Aurelio Bernardi, The Economic Problems of the Roman Empire at the Time of Its Decline, in The Economic Decline of Empires, Routledge, reprint edition, 2006, pp. 16-83.

  158. See William Ebenstein, Great Political Thinkers, Plato to the Present, Rhinehart & Co., Inc., New York, p. 115.

  Chapter 24: Socialism and the Rise of Christianity

  True Christianity blessed the world. The frauds and misguided adherents used the Gospel of “Good News” to wreak havoc.

  With the rise of Christianity the roots of socialism found rich soil in which to sink its perversions and corruption. On the surface, socialist doctrine aligned well with the basic Christian ideals of charitable giving, sharing, and a belief in a future “last days.” It was this latter idea of a coming millennium that attracted early Christian dissenters. They rejected the growing power of the Church, and longed for the prophesied thousand years of peace and joy when all things would be had in common.

  The Catholic monasteries and convents provided good models for the socialist life style—no private property, all things in common, self-interests and initiative subordinated to abject obedience, and all forms of the nuclear family abandoned. However, that self-imposed Spartan existence wasn’t enough for the Christian heretics.

  What is a Heretic?

  A heretic is someone with a dissenting point of view to an orthodox religion; it is someone who makes a change to the official dogma, the tenets, or declared beliefs of a religion. Being accused of heresy results from expressing or acting out those dissenting views.

  A heretic is not the same as an apostate who rejects completely a belief system. And, it is not the same as a blasphemer—someone who is rude or irreverent toward a religion.

  As the religious heretics159 gained power and influence during the Middle Ages, they adopted several perversions of the Christian model and used force and death to impose those beliefs on others. This was poles apart from what Jesus taught. His was a gospel of compassionate choice—free and voluntary; no compulsion, no coercion, and no force.

  Socialism in the Christian Era

  The first 500 years of Christianity saw the rise of heretical movements, each built on the preachings of a strident leader who strove to rework Jesus’ true Gospel of peace.

  The heretics’ misunderstanding was rooted in events described in Acts 2:44-45 and 4:32, where the idea of lumping all property together and living a life of pious poverty received Biblical authority (See Chapter 36, Did the Early Christians Practice Communism?). For the heretics, common property was a sign of humility and an overt signal to everyone that they were rejecting the imperfect material world. Rejecting material goods remained a common theme among the heretics for many centuries.

  Christianity Offers Choice, Socialism Offers Force

  The 1,500 years of Christian heresies are good examples of how the pillars of socialism found power under the guise of sincere association with Christianity. The drifting away from the simple concepts taught by Jesus led many tens of thousands into behavior completely contrary to his Gospel. Likewise, the heretical descent into debauched paganism violated the most basic truths of happy human existence that had been embraced even before Moses brought forward God’s commandments to ancient Israel.

  As noted below, many of the heretical groups descended into a “jungle morality” of uninhibited sexual union, a theme common to all fallen societies. Scholar Igor Shafarevich located much of the Middle Ages information that follows. He describes these religious movements in greater detail in his book, The Socialist Phenomenon.160

  WHEN: 1st Century A.D.

  HERESY: Nicolaites—first Christian socialists161

  STORY: As the original Apostles died away, various break-away Christian factions began to interpret scripture in strange ways, and injected their own ideas. They began forming various sects to create their form of a perfect society. The Nicolaites took their name from Nicholas, one of the seven deacons in Jerusalem. They are mentioned negatively in the Book of Revelations.162 They preached against private property, and encouraged having all things in common—including wives. Early Church fathers stated “they led lives of unrestrained indulgence,” and “ate things offered to idols.”163 Nicholas supposedly allowed other men to share his wife. Eusebius said this socialistic sect was short-lived.164

  WHEN: 2nd Century A.D.

  HERESY: Carpocratians—also had wives in common

  STORY: Carpocrates165 taught a few principles of Christianity and then brayed off into the wilderness by falsely attributing to God a desire that his followers practice the socialist ideals of all things in common and no private property: “God’s justice consists in community and equality,” wrote Epiphanes, the son of Carpocrates. “He who takes a wife, let him possess her. But they can possess all in common as the animals do.”

  Epiphanes continued: “It is therefore laughable to hear the giver of laws saying: ‘Do not covet’ and more laughable still the addition: ‘that which is your neighbor’s.’ For he himself invested us with desires, which moreover must be safeguarded as they are necessary for procreation. But even more laughable is the phrase ‘your neighbor’s wife,’ for in this way that which is common is forcibly turned into private property.”

  This sect was reported to have spread from western Greece to Rome and points between. Having women in common was a distinguishing enticement that helped the sect grow so rapidly.

  WHEN: 3rd Century A.D.

  HERESY: Manicheism—also shared wives

  STORY: Followers of Manicheism believed in the socialist ideals of all things in common and no private property. The group’s founder, Mani (A.D. 216-276), lived in Babylonia and became the founding prophet of his sect after he had a personal spiritual experience. Afterwards, he wrote six sacred books that he claimed corrected the corruption of Adam, Zoroaster, Buddha, and Jesus.

  Plato’s class socialism can be detected among Manicheism followers. They organized themselves into the upper “Elect” and the mainstream “Hearers.”166 The Elect fasted once a week, sometimes twice. The Catholic Encyclopedia reports Mani’s followers were rigidly regulated. “They were forbidden to have property, to eat meat or drink wine, to gratify any sexual desire, to engage in any servile occupation, commerce or trade, to possess house or home, to practice magic, or to practice any other religion.” They were opposed to marriage and viewed maternity as a calamity and sin because having children interfered in “the blissful consummation of all things.” 167

  Mani’s religion endured about 400 years and was one of the most widespread religions in the world. At its peak, Manicheism stretched from the Roman Empire to China. Mani’s six holy books were translated into Persian, Chinese, Greek, Coptic, and Latin, among others, helping prosper the sect. St. Augustine was a member for 9 or 10 years before converting to Christianity—then he became its fierce opponent. The sect finally faded from sight in the A.D. 600s.

  WHEN: 4th Century A.D.

  HERESY: Mazdakism—early communists168

  STORY: The Mazdakians tried to practice the socialistic ideals of no private property and having all in common. They used strange ideas and perverted conclusions to control and coerce followers into nefarious behaviors.

  The name
sake for Mazdakism is a fellow named Mazdak. Not a lot is known about him, and some wonder if it was an earlier Mazdak who actually named the religion. Most of the information about this heresy comes from his enemies scattered about in such diverse places as Syria, Persia, Greece and Arabian territories.

  Mazdak taught there were two main forces in the universe—light and dark—that were meant to remain separated but accidently mixed together here on earth. He said the living were obligated to rid themselves of the dark so more light could be released into the world.

  To this end, Mazdak discarded the Church’s religious formalities and emphasized good personal conduct. This included sharing one’s wealth, no killing or shedding of blood, no eating flesh, never oppressing others or inflicting harm, always standing on best manners to be friendly, to be giving and kind—and, oh yes, sharing the women.

  Mazdak believed God gave the earth’s resources to everyone as a gift so things could be divided up and shared equally among all men. He blamed the greedy and strong for hoarding the resources and dominating the weak, whereby the earth’s evil inequalities were created.169

  Mazdak taught that inequality unleashed the evil demons of Envy, Wrath, Vengeance, Need, and Greed into the earth. He said the only way to get rid of these evils was by eliminating family and property, and making women and wealth common among all people. And that’s just what they tried to do: destroy family and live off of each other. The historian Abu Tabari (A.D. 838-923) wrote, “Frequently, a man did not know his son nor the son his own father, and no one possessed enough to be guaranteed life and livelihood.”170

  Modern historians brand Mazdak as an early socialist, and his philosophy as early communism.

  Mazdakism Was Appealing

  Over the years, Mazdakism spread across Persia, even converting Persia’s King Kavadh. Local Zoroastrians (followers of an ancient Iranian religion) feared the Mazdakism’s growing popularity. In A.D. 524, they received permission from the king to rise up, attack the Mazdakians, and cleanse the land of that evil heresy. The band of attackers successfully slaughtered most of the Mazdakians, including Mazdak whom they hanged. A few small remnants fled for survival, and kept the movement going for centuries. By the 1700s, only a small handful of Mazdakians remained, continuing to practice their observances among their Muslim neighbors in secretive modesty.