The histories of faiths are all essentially the same: a vague and ambiguous millennial doctrine preached by a charismatic founder, Marx or Jesus; mystical variants held by the first generations of followers; and a militant consensus put firmly in place by the power-achieving generation. Bakunin, like the Essenes, never really had a chance. The truth is that punitive, hysterical religions thrive, while soft, mystical ones must hide their scriptures somewhere in the hot sand.
Read more http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2012/03/05/120305crbo_books_gopnik#ixzz1oBbJZvrP
Sunday, March 04, 2012
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