[lbo-talk] creepy journal

[Shane Taylor]

C. G. Estabrook wrote:
> Orwell, who famously believed that it was not possible
> to be "both Catholic and grown-up," was a rather good
> example of the gibe that the residual religion of the
> England in the 20th century was anti-papalism. His
> notion that "Chesterton ... expresses in a simplified
> ... form, certain tendencies that exist in every
> Christian reformer" is remarkably narrow (although
> he does interestingly note Belloc's prescience).

I can't vouch for whether or not Orwell is accurate about Chesterton's
simplified society.  And Chesterton, from what little I've read, is a
vivid and fine writer with a number of smart observations.  I enjoy
reading him, actually, despite how absurd some of his reasoning can be. 
But the "mediaevalism" Orwell describes is certainly present in today's
"antiglobalization" movement.  As in Orwell's description, today there's
an outrage over existing injustice, but also a suspicion that
industrialized society itself is the problem.  A significant amount of
green thinking views capitalism and socialism as two-sides of the same
corrupt industrial coin.  That's what makes the Orwell excerpt relevant.

Besides, I'm all for a militantly secular left.  And that gibe you cite
is awfully close the fundi hue and cry that "secular humanism" is a
religion, and a state-sponsered one at that.

-- Shane

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