The Future of Marxism an Interview with Sidney Hook
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The Future of Marxism An interview with Sidney Hook Mechanic of Death: The Case of "Ivan Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh the Terrible" and Robert H. Rimmer respond to critics Joe Nickell John P. Fischer Also: In Praise of Blasphemy • Church and State in Ireland Abortion vs. Adoption • Humanism in the Black Community A special invitation to you to become a Charter Associate Member of the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism Dear Subscriber: We invite you to become a Charter Associate Member of the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism (CODESH). Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the founding of CODESH, the nonprofit educational organization that publishes FREE INQUIRY magazine. CODESH was created in 1980 in response to the unrelenting attacks on secular humanism issued by religious fundamentalists. In our view there was no adequate forum for defending secularism and demonstrating the values of humanism. We decided to take on the challenge of forming one. Secular humanism is an authentic and positive way of life that provides ethical guidelines for a good and meaningful existence independent of religion. FREE INQUIRY has consistently upheld the view that humanism is not a religion, and that we can nourish authentic ethical values without relying on dogmatic absolutes allegedly handed down by a transcendent being. FREE INQUIRY has been effective in responding to the intemperate criticisms of secular humanism. CODES H also believes, however, that it is time to set off in new directions—not simply to defend ourselves to our critics, but to demonstrate by word and deed the viability of a thoroughly secular, humanistic way of life. Secular humanists often feel isolated in their communities, surrounded by a culture so saturated with religious symbols and dogma that it alienates those who do not believe and allows them few outlets for independence and dissent. Many readers tell us that FREE INQUIRY and CODESH provide them with a vital lifeline to others who share their secularist outlook. Two years ago, CODESH helped to initiate the formation of local and regional secular humanist groups throughout North America. These groups have grown rapidly in both size and number, and have provided important networks for those interested in humanistic pursuits. They have sponsored lectures, provided meeting places for social get-togethers, and initiated projects that have put them in the vanguard of the new grassroots humanist movement. We believe it is time to further the growth of the awareness of humanism, and to strengthen the bonds by providing a solid basis for identity with a dynamic national secular humanist organization. That is why we are inviting you to become a Charter Associate Member of CODESH. We believe it is important to establish a thoroughly secular network that creates a tie of fellowship between like-minded individuals and groups nationwide and throughout the world, and that defines and clarifies the humanist movement. But we can succeed only if we work together to emphasize the importance of values based on science and reason—values that will enhance our lives in the here and now and allow us to become all that we are capable of being. For only $15 a year ($25 for families), Charter Associate Members will receive the Secular Humanist Community Report, which details the activities of local and regional secular humanist groups, and the Robert Ingersoll Report, which is committed to reviving the memory of this great nineteenth-century freethinker. In addition, you'll receive a 10 percent discount on the registration fees for FREE INQUIRY conferences and seminars, on FREE INQUIRY audiotapes and videotapes, and on a select list of books that have grown out of the activities of FREE INQUIRY and CODESH. Each Charter Associate Member will also receive a personalized wallet-size membership card. Perhaps most important, by becoming a Charter Associate Member, you will join with thousands of others who realize the need to keep alive the ideals of secular humanism. Unless strong alternatives are developed, there is no guarantee that the battles for freedom and secularism that we win today will be preserved tomorrow; for each age brings with it new forms of irrationalism and dogmatism. Only by building viable secular humanist organizations can we hope to ensure the growth of humanist values in the future. Won't you join us today? We look forward to your participation. Sincerely, ,e Paul Kurtz Vern Bullough, Senior Editor Gerald A. Larue, Senior Editor Jean Millholland, Executive Director Tim Madigan, Executive Editor Mary Beth Gehrman, Managing Editor Norm Allen, Editorial Associate Doris Doyle, Associate Editor Andrea Szalanski, Associate Editor Tom Flynn, Editorial Associate Robert Basil, Editorial Associate Jim Christopher, Editorial Associate Richard Seymour, Chief Data Officer Tom Franczyk, Editorial Associate Valerie Marvin, Special Projects HONORARY CHARTER ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Jo Ann Boydston, Director, Dewey Center Marvin Kohl, Professor of Philosophy, SUNY at Fredonia Bonnie Bullough, Dean of Nursing, SUNY at Buffalo Ronald A. Lindsay, Attorney, Washington, D.C. Mario Bunge, Professor of Philosophy, McGill University Paul MacCready, President, AeroVironment, Inc. Paul Edwards, Professor of Philosophy, Brooklyn College Albert Ellis, Director, Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy Delos McKown, Professor of Philosophy, Auburn University Roy Fairfield, Social Scientist, Union Graduate School Robert Rimmer, Author, Quincy, Mass. Stephen Jay Gould, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Thomas Szasz, Psychiatrist, Upstate Medical Center, Harvard University Syracuse Adolf Grünbaum, Professor of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh Richard Taylor, Professor of Philosophy, Union College Sidney Hook, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, New York Edward O. Wilson, Baird Professor of Science, Harvard University University YES, I wish to become a Charter Associate Member of the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism Enclosed are my dues for: ❑ A one-year single membership, $15 ❑ A one-year family membership, $25 Also enclosed is my additional contribution of ❑ $ (Donor) ❑ $100 or more (Supporter) ❑ $25 or more (Endorser) ❑ $500 or more (Sustainer) ❑ $50 or more (Sponsor) ❑ $1,000 or more (Benefactor) ❑ $5,000 or more (Patron) Total S ❑ Check enclosed ❑ MasterCard ❑ Visa Acct. 4 Exp. Name Address City State Zip Return to: Jean Millholland, FREE INQUIRY, Box 5, Buffalo, N.Y. 14215-0005 • (716) 834-2921 SUMMER 1989, VOL. 9, NO. 3 ISSN 0272-0701 Contents 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 11 ON THE BARRICADES 62 IN THE NAME OF GOD 7 NOTES FROM THE EDITOR The Prospects for Democratization of Marxism-Leninism / In Praise of Blasphemy 8 EDITORIALS The Need for Eupraxophy, Tim Madigan / Some Thoughts on Revolution and Social Change, Vern Bullough ARTICLES 14 The Future of Marxism Sidney Hook and Tibor Machan 26 Mechanic of Death: The Case of "Ivan the Terrible" Joe Nickell and John F. Fischer 34 Don't Call Me Brother Austin Miles with Edmund D. Cohen 38 Humanism in the Black Community Norm Allen 41 The Enlightened Humanist: Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Robert H. Rimmer 46 My Response to Ronald O. Clark Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh 47 Rajneesh and Rimmer Take a Drive Robert Basil 52 Social and Economic Development in China Lin Zixin 53 The Marriage of Church and State in Ireland Wendy M. Grossman 55 Separation of Church and State in Western Europe Oldrich Adrysek 49 VIEWPOINTS Abortion or Adoption? The Moral Case Examined, Paul Kurtz / Swimming Upstream with Salman Rushdie, Gerard Thomas Straub 57 BOOKS Paradox Lost and Regained, Roy P. Fairfield / Books in Brief 60 READERS' FORUM Editor: Paul Kurtz Senior Editors: Vern Bullough, Gerald Larne Executive Editor: Tim Madigan Managing Editor: Mary Beth Gehrman Special Projects Editor: Valerie Marvin Contributing Editors: director, Dewey Center; Robert S. Alley, professor of humanities, University of Richmond; Paul Beattie, Unitarian Church, Pittsburgh; Jo-Ann Boydston, Roy P. Fairfield, social scientist, Paul Edwards, professor of philosophy, Brooklyn College; Albert Ellis, director, Institute for Rational-Emotive Therapy; Union Graduate School; Joseph Fletcher, theologian, University of Virginia Medical School; Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading University, England; Professor Emeritus of R. Joseph Hoffmann, chairman, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Hartwick College, Oneonta, N.Y.; Sidney Hook, Philosophy, NYU; Marvin Kohl, philosopher, State University of New York College at Fredonia; Jean Kotkin, executive director, American Ethical Union; Howard Radest, director, Ethical Culture Ronald A. Lindsay, attorney, Washington, D.C.; Delos B. McKown, professor of philosophy, Auburn University; psychiatrist, Upstate Medical Schools; Robert Rimmer, author; Svetozar Stojanovic, professor of philosophy, University of Belgrade; Thomas Szasz, Sherwin Wine, North American Center, Syracuse; V. M. Tarkunde, Supreme Court Judge, India; Richard Taylor, professor of philosophy, Union College; Committee for Humanism Associate Editors: Doris Doyle, Steven L. Mitchell, Lee Nisbet, Gordon Stein, Andrea Szalanski Molleen Matsumura Editorial Associates: Robert Basil, Jim Christopher, Fred Condo Jr., Thomas Flynn, Thomas Franczyk, James Martin-Diaz, Executive Director of CODESH, Inc.: Jean Millholland Chief Data Officer: Richard Seymour Typesetting: Paul E. Loynes Audio Technician: Vance Vigrass Staff. Brent Bailey, Steven Karr, Lisa Kazmierczak, Marlene Kulman, Anthony Nigro, Alfreda Pidgeon, Ranjit Sandhu FREE