SPRING 1983 NOE,. 3, O. 2 $3.50 t The Murder of Hypatia, by Ronald Mohar Hannah Arendt, by Richard Kostelanetz Also: Was Marx a Humanist? articles by Sidney Hook, Jan Narvesofi Paul Kurtz ISSN 0272-0701 SPRING 1983 VOL. 3, NO.2 Contents About This Issue 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR This issue of FREE INQUIRY includes a section on James Madison and one THE FOUNDING FATHERS VERSUS on Karl Marx. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION James Madison, as framer of the 4 The Founding Fathers and Religious Liberty Robert S. Alley U.S. Constitution and proponent of 6 Madison's Legacy Endangered Edd Doerr the Bill of Rights, emphasized the 8 James Madison's Dream: A Secular Republic Robert A. Rutland principle of separation of church and state. Those who today argue that the ARTICLES Bible and the Judeo-Christian tradi- 12 The Murder of Hypatia of Alexandria Robert E. Mohar tion are the basis of the American 15 Hannah Arendt: The Modern Seer Richard Kostelanetz republic betray that principle. WAS KARL MARX A HUMANIST? The section on Karl Marx ap- pears on the one-hundredth anniver- 20 Karl Marx versus the Communist Movement Sidney Hook sary of his death. It deals with the 29 Marxism: Hollow to the Core Jan Narveson question, "Was Marx a Humanist?" 36 The Religion of Marxism Paul Kurtz Paradoxically, Marxist countries VIEWPOINT deny the separation principle and seek to impose a single ideology upon 45 My Humanism Lester Mondale the entire society. It is they who have BOOKS established a state church and do not permit the free expression of con- 46 Capitalism Defended Antony Flew science, heresy, or dissent. 47 The New Fright-Peddlers Vern Bullough 'Those who believe in a secular 48 The Ethical Culture Movement Harold Beryl Levy republic emphasize the need for a COUNTERPOINT pluralistic democratic society in 51 Humanism and Politics which all points of view are allowed to flourish. Marxist religion repre- 53 CLASSIFIED sents a particular philosophical- economic point of view. Conservative 54 ON THE BARRICADES theists and totalitarian Marxists who attempt to establish a state church are thus similar in their attempt to inject a system of belief into politics. — Ens. Editor: Paul Kurtz Associate Editors: Gordon Stein; Lee Nisbet FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is pub- Contributing Editors: lished by The Council for Democratic Lionel Abel, author, critic, SUNY at Buffalo; Paul Beattie, president, Fellowship of Religious and Secular Humanism (CODESH, Inc.), a nonprofit corporation, 1203 Humanists; Jo-Ann Boydston, director, Dewey Center; Laurence Briskman, lecturer, Edinburgh University, Scotland; Kensington Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y. Albert Ellis, director, Institute for Rational Living; Roy P. Fairfield, social scientist, Union Graduate School; Joseph Fletcher, theologian, University of Virginia Medical 14215. Phone (716) 834-2921. Copy- School; right 1983 by CODESH, Inc. Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading University, England; Sidney Hook, professor emeritus of philosophy, NYU; Marvin Kohl, philosopher, State University College at Fredonia; Second-class postage paid at Buffalo and at additional mailing offices. Jean Kotkin, executive director, American Ethical Union; Gerald Larue, professor of archaeology and biblical history, USC; Ernest Nagel, professor emeritus of philosophy, Columbia University; Subscription rates: $14.00 for one year, $25.00 for two years, $32.00 for three Cable Neuhaus, correspondent; Howard Radest, director, Ethical Culture Schools; Robert years, $3.50 for single copies. Address Rimmer, author; M. L. Rosenthal, professor of English, New York University; William Ryan, free lance reporter, novelist; Svetozar Stojanovic, professor of philosophy, University of subscription orders, changes of ad- dress, and advertising to: FRII Belgrade; Thomas Szasz, psychiatrist, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse; V. M. Tarkunde, Supreme Court Judge, India; Richard Taylor, professor of philosophy, University of Rochester; INQUIRY, Box 5, Central Park Station, Sherwin Wine, founder, Society for Humanistic Judaism Buffalo, N.Y. 14215. Manuscripts, letters, and editorial in- Film Reviews: Hal Crowther; Poetry Editor.' Sally M. Call; Book Review Editor: Victor Culotta. quiries should be addressed to: The Editorial Associates: H. James Birx, Vern Bullough, James Martin-Diaz, Steven L. Mitchell, Editor, FREE INQUIRY, Box 5, Central Marvin Zimmerman. Park Station, Buffalo, N.Y. 14215. All manuscripts should be accompanied by Executive Director of CODESH, Inc.: Jean Millholland; Managing Editor: Richard Seymour. three additional copies and a stamped, addressed envelope. Opinions ex- Art Director: Gregory Lyde Vigrass; Copy Editor: Doris Doyle. pressed do not necessarily reflect the Editorial Staff.' Joellen Hawver, Barry Karr, J. Quentin Koren, Lynette Nisbet, Alfreda Pidgeon. views of the editors or publisher. 2 It has always astonished me that theo- logians sometimes seize upon abstract prin- ciples dear to themselves and then follow LETTERS TO THE EDITOR them right down to their logical conclusions without the slightest heed to the misery they sometimes entail. Cardinal Newman comes to mind, with his fatuous suggestion that it Singer Responds to Bullough were informed of alternative sexuality classes would be better for the heavens to fall, and they might enroll in if they were uncomfor- the earth's population perish in deep Vern Bullough, in "A Dissenting View," table with mine. Such carefully guarded misery, than for one poor soul to tell a which follows my article, "My Ordeal at multiple options was the key factor in deliberate lie or steal a single farthing. That Long Beach" (FI, Winter 1982-83), criticizes repeated approval of my course by university idea, that the moral issue is somehow the teaching practices that I would also criticize. agents—before the attacks started. paramount one, is the constant theme of They do not resemble my practices. My professional background in sex- the Church Fathers—one thinks at once of Despite my use of the phrase "totally uality includes all of the usual self-education St. Augustine and Tertullian—and also, of self-disclosing," it is not true that I require of currently active sex professionals, plus the course, of the contemporary "moral ma- gay people to come out. By that phrase I following: (1) Several scientific articles in jority," as well as of a great many academic meant that students were to be frank and submission to or in revision for the Journal philosophers. They seem never to ask them- open in small group discussions about such of Sex Research. (2) Co-founder, associate selves: "What would be the actual result, topics as masturbation. Further, students editor, and editor of the journal Alternative over the generations, if our principles were had the option of submitting sensitive writ- Lifestyles. (3) Manuscript referee for the made laws?" Instead, they talk of moral ten assignments to my gay or feminist co- Journal of Sex Research. (4) Reviewer of principles or, worse yet, metaphysical ones. instructors rather than to me. sexuality texts for virtually all the major The comfort of these spares them the neces- Sexology is of course more than "wide- publishers in the area. (5) Author of popular sity of actually looking at the unpleasant eyed prurient voyeurism." Field trips con- articles on sexuality; author and producer of facts that sometimes do not blend well with stituted less than 10 percent of class or visual media for the National Sex Forum. (6) principles. assignment time. All were optional; none Active leadership for ten years in various There is no principle of religious ethics were required. No "participation" was re- national and local alternative-lifestyle that anyone knows to be true, though many quired on any of them. At least two instruc- groups, gay-rights groups, etc. are embraced by faith—often at great cost tors briefed the students and accompanied I have no apologies to make about my in terms of their actual consequences. them on sensitive field trips. Students were standing in the field of sexology. Likewise, Similarly, there is no principle of philoso- not encouraged to participate in unor- my students were asked to be analytic and phical ethics that anyone knows to be true, thodox sexuality on the field trips or at any conceptual about sex; that was their though philosophers, like everyone else, other time. primary mission, not "prurient observation." sometimes have strong feelings in this area. Students were permitted to write about Finally, Bullough is arguably correct in Marvin Kohl does not know that there is novel sexual experiences as part of an assign- asserting that my resignation was a strategic anything wrong with destroying a fertilized ment if they first consulted with me about error. I did not resign for strategic reasons, ovum, zygote, blastula, blastocyst, or fetus, their intentions and followed stringent however, but for personal ones: because my nor does labeling one of these "human" guidelines to avoid personal risk. It is not presence was endangering others, and be- alter anything. He writes of "moral true that this practice is uncommon or cause my mistakes in public relations were anguish," but of the several fine people I unethical. Optional written assignments on causing untold trouble and embarrassment know who have chosen abortion none has novel sexual behaviors such as mastur- to my colleagues. I was not personally com- felt the least trace of this, nor do 1 see how bation, pelvic self-exam, role reversal dates, fortable with continuing to be a source of anything would have been improved if they etc., are common in sexuality classes in this such disruption for so many others. For this had. region. Further, to deny students the op- reason, I have not regretted my resignation. Questions of a woman's control over portunity to examine in writing their own her own reproductive function, or of the sexual behaviors would be to deprive them Barry Singer right of the state to compel women in a free of a uniquely valuable experience.