Confusions Ideologiques et Dimensions Religieuses

In: Res publica: politiek-wetenschappelijk tijdschrift van de Lage Landen ; driemaandelijks tijdschrift, Band 17, Heft 3, S. 333-339

Abstract

An attempt to clarify the often confused distinction between ideology & religion. Ideology refers to a collective project immanent to society, while religion signifies a collective commitment toward an absolute, a transcendent source of meaning & value. Today the ideological belief that by destroying present social structures, happiness, brotherhood, & justice could be enjoyed, at once becomes a substitute for the absolute of religion. Absolutized ideologies destroy the conditions of meaning in life by dissimulating the perfect imperfection of the human condition. Ideological eschatology expects an end of history, located in future time, to be reached under the scientific guidance of political engineers. For religious eschatology, the end of history is transcendent in eternity. Christians & Marxists, in search for understanding & common action, usually confuse the future with eternity, immanence with transcendence. Modified HA.