The Readiness

 

On Page xi of his book, The True Believer, Eric Hoffer notes that mass movements can be social, national or religious. Here is what he writes about their family likeness: “All mass movements generate in their adherents a readiness to die and a proclivity for united action; all of them, irrespective of the doctrine they preach and the program they project, breed fanaticism, enthusiasm, fervent hope, hatred and intolerance; all of them are capable of releasing a powerful flow of activity in certain departments of life; all of them demand bling faith and singlehearted allegiance.”

 

My response: Altruism-collectivism ethos is at is most toxic and virulent when animating true believers in a mass movement. These adherents are not rugged individualists, nor self-actualizers. Individualissts will die for their country or a good cause, but they would much rather dot their own thing, enjoy life and be happy. It is the unhappy and frustrated that are willing to give their life for their cause, their bare lives is all they can gather to themselves any longer to offer their leader.

 

Their utter unity is the source of their mighty power in crushing dissent and opposition to their cherished holy cause. The social force that they can bring to bear can topple governments or societies whole.

 

They demand blind faith and singlehearted allegiance from their zombie followers and receive it wholeheartedly. Their doctrines and programs breed fanaticism, enthusiasm, fervent hope, hatred, and intolerance. None of these true believers are kind, happy or nice people. They are the children of darkness.

 

Hoffer (H after this): “All movements, however different in doctrine and aspiration, draw their early adherents from the same types of humanity; they all appeal to the same types of mind.

 

Though there are obvious differences between the fanatical Christian, the fanatical Mohammedan, the fanatical nationalist, the fanatical Communist and the fanatical Nazi, it is yet true that the fanaticism which animates them may be viewed and treated as one. The same is true of the force which drives them on to expansion and world dominion. There is a certain uniformity in all types of dedication, of faith, and pursuit of power of unity and self-sacrifice. There are vast differences in the contents of holy causes and doctrines, but a certain uniformity in the factors that make them effective. He who, like Pascal, finds precise reasons for the effectiveness of the Christian doctrine has also found the reasons for the effectiveness of Communist, Nazi and nationalist doctrine. However different the holy cause people die for, they perhaps basically die for the same things.”

 

My response: Hoffer is suggesting that those that would study mass movements must realize that the program or doctrines espoused by rival holy causes that individual mass movements propel forward may differ, but the motives, purity of thought, and totalism of world view and level of enthusiastic adherence that all these movements exhibit are identical.

 

This uniformity of thought that excites such utter unity and appetite for self-sacrifice in these followers out for world dominion for the holy cause they are eager and willing to die for, is a uniformity that is commonly shared by all.

 

Mass movements and holy causes are social and historical phenomenon to be taken seriously, to be recognized for what they are when occurring, and to be vigorously opposed by those that would remain free, independent and happy, devoid of control by unhappy ideologues whose millions are on the march.