Interesting, so Karl Marx was essentially a non-functional sociopath who developed an unrealistic social, or political, theory which was seized upon by the worst participants in the Russian Revolution and used as a tool to take power. Look at it that way and it does tend to focus responsibility for the horrors which were to follow.
I’ve long been curious about the religious beliefs of Marx’s parents. I know his mother was of rabbinical descent. Most of these Protestant conversions were to put it mildly superficial. So what did Marx’s parents actually believe. Open to anyone who knows.
In some ways I think they were a bit like Trotsky's parents. Non-believers who kinda tried to pretend at times to be believers. Trotsky's parents were Jewish, whereas Marx's were reformed Christians, but neither sets of parents appeared to take religion very seriously, and I think their children saw that and rejected religion. (This is just from my high-level reading of their parents from biographies on Marx and Trotsky.)
As a high school senior in ‘67, a guest instructor shared the same biographical information. I asked how Marx could find supporters after losing employment & not feeding his family. It was all I needed to hear of the man.
Thank you for this article - very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Utterly fascinating! I had no idea how much his family suffered because of his beliefs.
Interesting, so Karl Marx was essentially a non-functional sociopath who developed an unrealistic social, or political, theory which was seized upon by the worst participants in the Russian Revolution and used as a tool to take power. Look at it that way and it does tend to focus responsibility for the horrors which were to follow.
Well put.
This was a great read!
Many thanks!
I’ve long been curious about the religious beliefs of Marx’s parents. I know his mother was of rabbinical descent. Most of these Protestant conversions were to put it mildly superficial. So what did Marx’s parents actually believe. Open to anyone who knows.
In some ways I think they were a bit like Trotsky's parents. Non-believers who kinda tried to pretend at times to be believers. Trotsky's parents were Jewish, whereas Marx's were reformed Christians, but neither sets of parents appeared to take religion very seriously, and I think their children saw that and rejected religion. (This is just from my high-level reading of their parents from biographies on Marx and Trotsky.)
As a high school senior in ‘67, a guest instructor shared the same biographical information. I asked how Marx could find supporters after losing employment & not feeding his family. It was all I needed to hear of the man.
Same
Great article, as usual. Predictable facts, but excellent article nonetheless.
Thank you!
really interesting - love learning about things like this
Best Marx background!!
Nailed it, Heinrich!
You're a Jew