Good Monday Morning – Anyone for Karl Marx today? (1818-1883)

1. Question – Has there ever been or will there ever be a time of no conflict in any aspect of life?

2. Thought – Marx tirelessly studied the philosophical and economic ideas of his day and then meticulously wove the details of his own beliefs. His bitter atheistic outlook on life centered on the ongoing conflict of society. Marx agreed with the then popular Hegelian thought that society continuously developed two antagonistic groups of people who would conflict. The conflict would become a revolution that would bring these groups together into a new society. That society would eventually split into two groups destined to conflict. Seeing around him the upper classes (or bourgeoisie) and the lower classes (or proletariat), he believed that these groups would come into conflict because of their differences in wealth and living conditions. But he set forth his own opinion that man could change this pattern of history by using the conflict of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat to usher in an enlightened society. Marx’s new harmonious society would strive for the betterment of all people by taking “from each according to his ability” and giving “to each according to his need.” All greed would then be overcome in this setting in which society owns all things in common. Marx called this utopian communism. (Economics for Christian Schools by Alan J. Carper)

“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.” (Proverbs 23:4)