Marx and Mysticism

Abstract

PHILOSOPHY had always been hostile to Christian theology, in Marx’s view. In an article written in 1842 he commented on the fact ‘that all the philosophies of the past without exception have been accused by the theologians of abandoning the Christian religion’.¹ That Christian theology does not stand upon grounds of reason, Marx observed, had been maintained by ‘the most capable and consistent section of Protestant theologians’. But the majority of theologians had simply attacked and denounced philosophy for its hostility to orthodox ecclesiastical dogma. Such attacks had been made, Marx added, even upon the philosophies ‘of the pious Malebranch and the divinely inspired Jakob Boehme’.²