Hegel
Philosophy of History
quoted in
Raya
Philosophy and Revolution
(1973)
pp. 299-300 (note 90 to Ch. 1)
The reformation resulted from the corruption of the Church. That corruption was not an accidental phenomenon; it is not the mere abuse of power and dominion. A corrupt state of things is very frequently represented as an 'abuse'; it is taken for granted that the foundation was good—the system, the institution itself faultless—but that the passion, the subjective interest, in short, the arbitrary volition of men has made use of that which in itself was good to further its own selfish ends, and that all that is required to be done is to remove these adventitious elements. On this showing the institute in question escapes obloquy, and the evil that disfigures it appears something foreign to it. But when accidental abuse of a good thing really occurs, it is limited to particularity. A great and general corruption affecting a body of
[300]
such large and comprehensive scope as a Church, is quite another thing. The corruption of the Church was a native growth.
Raya prefaces thusly:
Our point of concentration leaves no room for concern with Hegel's concepts either of politics or religion. Because, however, I do think that Hegel's critique of the Church casts greater illumination on the so-called vanguard parties than any illumination by Communists, here is one quotation for them to ponder:...
It seems to illuminate a lot of things, actually.
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