Essay:Dogmatism, Cults, and Religion: A Marxist Perspective

Introduction

Two years ago, I released my first essay onto ProleWiki titled Dogmatism, An Anti-Marxist Tendency. As such with any essay, an essay exists within the confines of a particular person (or persons) which shows their particular experience. Back in 2022, I was only on the stepping stone to truly understanding theory, dogmatism, and ideology.

Aside from grammatical and spelling issues, the essay primarily focused on analysing dogmatism within the context of Marxism, such that it completely abstracted from the confines of dogmatism in general. This dogmatism, which is prevalent in religious organisations, cults, etc. must also be taken into account. One grave error a Marxist can do is abstract information rather than apply the information to a specific context.

As such the three characteristics I've given in regards to dogmatism, that being;

1. regarding statements as 'fact' without evidence,
2. utilising a false premise in order to justify their statement,
3. and (typically but not always) striving for purity fetishism,

are incomplete analyses that require further work. Therefore, this essay will analyse dogmatism in general. Within the context of ideology, not just Marxism. Therefore this essay serves as perhaps as an extension of my previous essay, though I do not recommend reading my previous essay, as I will begin to analyse from scratch.

Why Do We Need to Analyse Dogmatism?

Dogmatism, as it exists within the context of Marxism, is indeed vehemently opposed. However this dogmatism, however it exists, it certainly does not exist within Marxism alone. It exists within other ideologies, within pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, cults, and organised religion. This dogmatism, of which I will touch on, does not only talk about dogmatism, but also talk about those who call a particular group dogmatic.

To begin, we will not look at dogmatism. But why? Isn't that what this essay is about? The issue at hand is that dogmatism isn't a nuclear unit. It is divisible, it is a process. A process which transformed due to human need of productivity. To look at dogmatism at face value is to make an incorrect analysis. This is a mistake which I made earlier. I looked at dogmatism within the context of human society, starting with pre-class society. However we must begin in a different standpoint, with a model that can accurately define dogmatism from the perspectives that exist under our capitalist society today.