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Statism is defined as the manifestation of a given political system in which the state has almost absolute centralized control over social and economic affairs. All countries on the face of this planet are statist in some degree or another. The term often pops-up among individuals that oppose state authority and those that uphold individual liberty as the ultimate moral virtue.
The Origins
In order to examine how Statism emerged, we need to investigate how humans were organised before the notion of the State. As early as 450.000 years ago, humans used to roam the earth as Nomads without having a sense of property. More or less we were much like the rest of the animals. Things changed about 12.000 years ago when we started making small local establishments. The first states were formed along with the first religions among people who shared common ideas.Contrary to common belief, gods are not required in the recipe for religion. Religion is rather a generic concept that emerged out of people’s stories in an effort to sculpt a communal code of behaviour. At first it evolved slowly and sporadically, taking flesh and bone through the common daily practises of local tribes such as animal sacrifices, dancing and food rituals.
Practises gave birth to a code of behaviour that enabled the administration of a given geographical area from its inhabitants. The code of behaviour, combined with plenty of superstition about the world, gave rise to the first draft of the state-religion.
Early state-religions were formed around the worship of natural elements. They often occupied specific areas like lakes, forests, and caves due to the provision of livelihood those resources offered. The mysterious way nature was providing gave rise first to the worship of the water, fire, forests and mountains. This is afterall why early gods embodied natural elements.
Later on, animals were worshipped as Gods. This gave birth to polytheist pantheons such as those of Hinduism and Ancient Egypt. Monotheism emerged only recently over a couple thousands of years when the first Jews fled from Egypt. The first priest of monotheism, Moses, was serving the Egyptian Pantheon when he decided to leave it (Exodus) leading his own religion focusing on one God. Christianity and later Islam established their violent dominion on earth based on the idea of the one true God while the rest of the deities remained lesser gods (angels). Constantine around 325 A.C.E. established the first state-religion after organising Christianity. Byzantium was the first Empire that gave birth to statism. It embodied a deep sanctity for the Empire that was framed under strong religious belief.
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For thousands of years cultures around the world had religion and state intertwined one way or another since both supplied security and purpose for daily life. The moral code shaped the first religious archetypes. The kings and queens depended on religious advisors to rule. In many cases, such as in Ancient Egypt the ruler was divinely chosen. In other cases, such as recently in Imperial Japan, the Emperor was considered a God himself.
As state conquests where taking place on the planet, larger state-religions absorbed the practices and beliefs of smaller cults. For example the Christian tradition of holy communion (drinking Christ’s blood in the form of wine and eating his flesh in the form of bread) was first followed from cults of Mesopotamia who required the consumption of real human blood and flesh in order to establish a religious rank.
All religions that ever existed are an amalgamation of different practices that evolved along the occupations of the different state-religions. The most popular religions that remain until today on this earth are also the most violent historically in regards to how they were propagated through their respective State (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam).
The aftermath
This is how the statism we know today came to be. The parallels in daily life are extremely similar until this day. In religion for example, a god is the creator and ruler of all things with presidents and governors being the intermediaries. Religion rules what some people call as the “spiritual” while the state rules the tanginble. This is why they are so often presented to be intertwined in social affairs. Many presidents and political candidates use their belief in God as a currency for their morality. In essence, both the ideas of “God” and “Government” are fictional invented from some men (priests and politicians). One cannot touch God or the Government but rather experience it through beliefs and practices. Both need to be imprinted in the human mind from a young age in order for them to flourish as reality.![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://www.cyprusfreethinkers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/statism-vs-religion-english-01-1.png)
But really, what is statism beyond the superficial government buildings and absurd regulations? What lies beneath the labyrinth of flying papers, lost energy and time that freezes human action while filling it with paranoia? What lies beyond old books and manuscripts that require faith rather than evidence?
Kafka investigates the workings of the state by taking apart bureaucracy which functions as the fuel for statism. Through his work The Castle he examines how the state-religion works to fulfill its own existence, trapping the individual into a void of pointless action, removing his will while constituting him defenceless to the whims of the pastor-politicians. The citizens accept their fate and then attach themselves to the state-religion like leeches, surrendering their spirit with solemn devotion. The grandeur of power through armed men ready to defend and protect creates unshakable faith. No wonder we see so many soldiers with religious books in their hands.
This blind belief eliminates any form of individuality, creating subjects that police each other through fear and conformity. After all, this is how people get to die for a piece of land that is owned by people in funny costumes
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The bureaucrats, or rather the prophets of the state-religion, present their laws much like commandments which they rarely follow but expect others to do so. The individual accepts the laws as de-facto ethical quote without questioning their origins and purpose. Public education brainwashes certain values to citizens from an early age so that questioning any of the state-religion axioms can alienate the individual from the tribe. Citizens grow up as wax statuettes ready to be carved by the whims of the state.
All actions supposedly happen for citizen’s own good. The state functions as the protective creator, a father figure, ready to guide the defenceless and irresponsible child to the truth—his salvation. This action is often translated as sacrifice either indirectly through the legal and tax system or directly with a weapon in one’s hand.
Feeding The Machine
The mechanism of Statism relies on the self affirmation of the State as the ultimate totem of human worship. It’s dogma works to re-assure the existence of itself through violence and coercion. Without violence all the pieces of paper, all the national stamps and fancy signatures would have as much value as a used toilet paper. Special permissions are required for every human action, from marriage to opening a business. Everything needs to have a stamped blessing.The absurdity is summed up with the idea that humans cannot be trusted, cannot govern themselves so they have to elect other special humans to guide them...
This is, perhaps, the greatest weapon of statism. It reinforces apathy and stupidity. Much like all religions the believer just has to be present in some events and follow from time to time some practices in order to conform. People become sheep, heavily dependent on their leaders. They are ready to accept the world around them based on blind faith. This is how war and mass violence becomes publicly acceptable as a necessary evil.
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Most Statists like to lie to themselves that they are free while they serve the state. This is after all why the motto “The Land of the Free” is so popular in America. Most people are not free or untamed but rather hopelessly enslaved by a never-ending need to be constantly accepted by the tribe. This has been true since the dawn of human civilization.
Is There Any Hope?
Culture by nature creates inherited superstitions. Whether these deal with deities living in the sky or here on the ground it remains irrelevant. A state official, pushing buttons, being entrusted with the well-being of millions is much like a God that can control with one move the future of his subjects. Illusions such as nationalism and statism serve as emotional fairytales that diffuse the will of the individual surrendering it to the group, much like it happens with wild animals.Friedrich Nietzsche emphasizes in his Book Thus Spoke Zarathustra how the individual gets ostracized from the tribe for lack of conformity—or rather the lack of ability to be willingly an idiot, shallow and gullible like the rest.
Statism is unlikely to cease being popular anytime soon. Monopolies that are carefully crafted by the state depend on maintaining human sheep. Functions like working 8-5, paying taxes and attending public school establish a solid basis for conformity. Any diversions can be quickly repaired with the appropriate pill. The system, unable to fix itself, regulates and changes the subjects either with physical force or manipulation.
Mind slavery is the hardest prison of all to escape from because up and foremost it demands bravery and open revolt. Any questioning of the system creates schisms among peers, alienating the inquisitor perhaps forever and branding them as “different”. In much the same way, a religious person obeys his own absolute truth and rejects everything that challenges those ideas. Statism will most likely continue preserving itself at the expense of individual liberty for years to come. Our only hope for the near future is the internet and more specifically decentralised technologies that liberate individuals from their own prison.
Remember. A system never changes because of a revolution or education. A system only changes when a new one, a much more efficient one, replaces the old. We are witnessing this transition over the last decade or so and we can only dream to live it in its full potential.
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Organized statism and organized religion do have a number of similarities. We have known this for thousands of years, this is not a unique perspective.
However, organized statism and organized religion should Never be confused with the bible!
Organized states, and organized religions (as we know and define them) are both controlled by men, and these men control the minds of the masses.
Man is the common denominator in both instances, not God.
Do Not Confuse God or the Bible with Religion!
Organized states and organized religion both have man as its leader e.g. the President/Pope, Celebrity/Church Leader, Senator/Self-Proclaimed Prophet, or Congress/Committee of Men that make all of the decisions, and lays out all of the laws/doctrines that the naive masses blindly follow.
One example (there are hundreds) of how the bible does not mirror religion is when Jesus warned of "The "Traditions of Men" and told us how much he detested it. Jesus warned us of Statism but few took the time to stop and listen.
Today, Christianity has incorporated many of the "Traditions of Men" into their man-made religious interpretations while their origins remain un-biblical.
Man has already taken control of the main stream media, the Gov't and the education system - so, it should not come as a surprise that man has also taken control of the Christian (religious) narrative (research Controlled Opposition).
Man (state and religion) knows full-well that very few people will take the time to read the bible/constitution for themselves. Man knows that very few people will research evolution theory vs creation and come to their own conclusions. The State and Religion both know that the masses (for the most part) are totally unawares and asleep at the wheel.
True religion, is a personal relationship with God, not what man (state/religion) tells you that it is.
Follow me if truth is important to you.
We will leave no stone unturned.
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You have a circular reasoning problem
The bible, a book, was written by men. These men said in that book that there is a thing called "God".
You read this book, others told you about the Book, hence you know about "God".
So yeah. Gods are imaginary friends invented from priests/politicians in order to control people.
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No circular reasoning.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
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Hahahahahaha you called it.
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Matthew 13:10-13 - And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
God has always existed - we are mere instances of his existence. For all that we know God might have thousands, millions, billions and quad-trillions of these instances simultaneously running.
He is God - he can do anything that he pleases!
God created the universe - all that he asks of you is to believe in him- he didn't ask you to go to church, do confession etc (that is man/statism).
Evidence
Furthermore, you can ask God that question when you meet him.
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How can you be so sure? What if you meet another God from another religion telling you "sorry, you got it all wrong"?
You are a christian because you were born in a christian environment. same applies to hindus, muslims, buddhists and everything else in between.
you just believe what other people told you to believe. get over it.
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You are a broken record. A book is not evidence.
I can bring another book from another religion.
Dude. get your shit together. It is the same as a statists bringing his constitution as evidence for his country's superiority.
don't you get it? come on. it takes an I.Q of a potato
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Bring me your books from other religions and I will tell you why it is different to the bible.
State your position and produce your evidence.
I notice that you are yet to question, or tackle my major points? I have given detailed responses , supported by scripture, logic and reasoning and you keep giving me one-liners and gifs.
Bring me these books from these false-religions and I will look into them and show you how they they differ to the bible.
Q (from me): What is your point exactly and where is your evidence?
A (from you): I hate the very idea of a God and I don't need to produce evidence, reasoning or logic to support my personal opinion!
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I am sure because I have spent thousands of hours looking at evidence. I have also travelled, and spent significant periods of time living in approx 80 countries. Many people don't venture further than their lounge chair as they wait for the television to tell them what to think and believe.
Collosians 2:8 - Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:17-19 - For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Let me ask you a question - can you prove to me that God (Christian) is not real?
If you are being honest with yourself you will know cannot prove it. That makes you agnostic.
At best, atheism is an unreasonable and irrational worldview!
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Have you heard the concept of "Burden of truth".It states that if you think God is real,you have to proof he is,not the people that claim him not to be.
Everyone can say that something which seemingly doesn't exist is real.If we had to prove everyone wrong about such claims all the time,we would not have time to debate actual logical ideas
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I don't have to prove anything but in saying that I have more than enough proof to satisfy myself.
It would be great if neo-darwinists practised what they preached but unfortunately double-standards apply.
If we are to be consistent the 'burden of proof' standard should apply to the theory of neo-darwinism (natural selection acting on random mutations).
Neo-darwinists should stop lying by stating that their theories are facts. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are very few scientists today that are defending the theory, it is as good as dead - but the theory is still found in text books and taught in classrooms all over the world. Children and students are being lied to but that seems to be ok with most atheists!
This is just one of many blatant examples of the hypocrisy that is so prevalent in the scientific community.
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Great post! I agree the "transition" is happening. It's just so slow. People know things need to change, but they aren't ready to let go of their beliefs and training.
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thank you @dcat. The transition takes time. We can only wait and do our part.
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Doing your part for Satan - the bible predicted this as well.
That day = 2nd coming of Jesus Christ
Falling Away = the transition that you speak of and are working towards.
Man of Sin Revealed = Satan
The bible contains the answers to everything - it is perfect and infallible and written thousands of years ago.
When you meet Jesus don't tell him that you were not forewarned.
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Really good blog post. I think you explained the issue a lot better than Larken Rose did actually.
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thank you @the-ego-is-you
I examined the issue from an anthropological (evolutionary) perspective rather than political.
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so you examined it from a purely scientific (man-made) perspective. Trusting man is a big mistake. Men lie, we all know that.
I am going to blow the lid on science, one post at a time (mark my words). Science is a hybrid of fact and fiction.
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I'm only affraid of "violent" transition . A lot of bad things hapening right now .
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I don't think so @iggy
There are small revolutions around making a big one almost impossible. A lot of bad things are always happening since the dawn of humanity. actually a lot less happen today.
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They didn't have nuclear and biological weapons or a mass media and education system to indoctrinate the masses in minutes at the dawn of humanity either - think deeper.
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Hi . I will be very happy to see your design in my logo contest . would you like to join ? thanks
https://steemit.com/logo/@airmike/golem-logo-contest-100-sbd-prize-quarantee
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thank you @airmike. the post hasn't generated much so far and 100SD is too low.
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A VERy good post of great value to this world we live in.
I hope people are able to see what it is you are really sharing here.
It is so obvious when people are statists weather that be religious or political or the MANY form DOGMA and CONTROL play out in the grand manipulation of the masses.
Cognitive dissonance keeps most people from receiving our message and thus the circle perpetuates. What we really need is a major change in the way children are raised, thus parenting standards and of course the education system needs a complete overhaul. Otherwise by the time people are "grownups" they are already indoctrinated as statists.
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thank you @quinneaker
I don't think many people can look into it. The barrier or religious belief often blocks critical thinking.
fear is a powerful drug
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Hahhahahahahahahahhaahhahaha I KNOW most can't look into it.
Yes religion as well as politics and many other things are barriers to critical thinking, objectivity and logic...All of which are FAR more important than some indoctrinated set of beliefs/ideas.
The world is pretty fucked man...Yes there is always hope but most people in most countries are VERY far from empowered consciousness.
Your posts are very sharp and I am sure hard for many to handle. Unfortunately the people that need to hear what you share most are the ones who have the most difficulty processing it properly.
Best Regards Brother~*~
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what message is that exactly? is it possible that 'our message' is also religion?
Agreed, only a few look into it - even less look deeper into it (my point in different comments across this post).
You're both on the right track (statism v religion) but you're still just skimming the surface. Dive deeper!
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Nice! I wish I had seen this post earlier.
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Statism: the most violent religion ever.
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“You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
― R. Buckminster Fuller
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