Tuesday, February 20, 2018

AN EXCELLENT THESIS ON THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN ALT-RIGHT

      Catholic scholar Matthew Rose has written a thesis explaining and outlining the anti-Christian underpinnings of the so-called Alt-Right. The thesis is remarkable for its depth of research, and also for explaining the often convoluted theories spun by this insidious movement in layman's terms. Rose's article is also very timely, with the approaching Vatican Synod on Youth scheduled this Spring. Readers may recall that, last Summer, American Bishops drafted a consensus on the radicalization of American youth---particularly its young men. Professor Rose's thesis is an excellent synopsis of the poisoned ideas from whence much of this radicalization springs. 

       "Almost everything written about the Alt-Right in mainstream outlets is wrong in one respect," he says, "The Alt-Right is not stupid. It is deep. It's ideas are not ridiculous. They are serious. To appreciate this fact, one must inquire beyond its presence on social media, where its obnoxious use of insult, obscenity, and racism has earned it a reputation for moral idiocy. This reputation is deserved, but do not be deceived. Behind its online tantrums and personal attacks are arguments of genuine power and expanding appeal. "

        This is a point which we have frequently made here as well. In fact, we go further and say emphatically that the movement is a cult. The thing to be remembered about most of these various leaders---both on the Internet and radio---is they are primarily autodidacts. There's nothing wrong with self-learning, but one of the weaknesses of not having a traditional education is lacking critical thinking abilities. Professor Rose cites Julius Evola as one writer frequently quoted by the Red Pills, for example. It's not difficult to read and study Evola---but one should also read his critics and balance their opinions against what they have read. Autodidacts often make the mistake of accepting scholarship at face value.

         The Alt-Right also holds several positions as though they were self-evident truths. This is one of their most cultish features: they are forever concocting neologisms, maxims, commandments, rules, etc. which are not open to any question and ---more importantly---not open to any analysis. The obnoxious slurs referenced by Professor Rose are ways by which they reinforce their principles to their disciples---by ridiculing others with different opinions or facts. 

         One example to which Professor Rose alludes is that the Alt-Rightists sneer at traditionally Conservative positions. They use the term 'Cuckservative' against us and accuse Conservatism of having failed by, in Rose's words "regarding them as principles which currently abet White dispossession." But the central question should be whether Conservatism actually has failed. Until 2017, we have been without a Conservative White House since 1989. Conservatism seems to be on a political upswing. 

          Then, in Rose's article, he gets to the heart of the matter: "The Media takes such statements as proof of the Alt-Right's commitment to White Supremacy. But this is misleading. For the Alt-Right represents something more nefarious, and frankly more interesting than White Identity Politics. The Alt-Right is Anti-Christian. Not by implication or insinuation, but by confession. Its leading thinkers flaunt their rejection of Christianity and their desire to convert people away from it." (emphasis ours).

          The point of conversion was the giant Red Flag signalling that we are dealing here with a cult. Now, true, the Red Pills profess Christianity occasionally, but they veil their anti-Christian positions by attacking organized churches. They say that the churches have been 'converged' and 'feminized' and assert that churches are toxic environments that are in a state of apostasy and working hand-and-glove with 'Social Justice Warriors' to overthrow civilization (as they define it). Rose quotes a young man who has left the Faith for the Red Pill Heresy as saying, "Soon the only people left in Christianity will be Third-World immigrants, and a handful of self-hating Whites." 

        A second Red Flag, also noted by Rose, are the number of outright Atheists in this purportedly 'Christian' movement. The fact that Atheists are in sympathy with the cult and churches are generally opposed to it ought to give one serious pause to consider their actual motives. 

        Professor Rose's conclusion is brilliant: "The temptation to dismiss the Alt-Right should be resisted...they distort many truths through both malice and ignorance, and lead young men into defending views and espousing authors whom they scarcely understand. Yet we can learn from their distortions how Christian Theology, whose failings have led to the movement's rise, might also be its remedy."

        Which echoes what we've also said for a long time: that it will take Christian men--- like Professor Rose and the Catholic Bishops---to stop ignoring the threat and start speaking out. A handful of Protestant leaders have starting doing so---most notably the Southern Baptists---and the Catholic Church is starting to move too. This is a positive sign because the Baptists and Catholics combined make up the majority of American Christian churches. 

        The article itself has much more to offer than our brief summary; so be certain to read it as well. 



       

       

2 comments:

  1. Amen! Now there's an answer to prayer I was hoping for! I appreciate Matthew Rose articulating things so clearly and taking note of the fact that this is actually an attack on Christianity. That's the part that really concerns me. It's been very frustrating trying to communicate that truth to people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes---he did an excellent job. His is the best summary of the problem that I've seen written so far.

      Delete