A liberal crack-up

An ongoing debate among leading philosophers and writers over the centuries concerns whether secular liberalism results in a form of psychosis, even madness. In the 20th century, leading intellectuals such TS Eliot (in The Waste Land) answered in the affirmative.

Given that modern secularism was ushered in by the French Revolution, which resulted in genocide and the first documented accounts of government-inspired speech/thought control, it’s hard to disagree with their conclusions.

Secularism and liberalism, then as now, are characterised by a combination of irrationality and intolerance. Modern, liberal Ireland exhibits many of the characteristics of this psychosis.

From the intolerant response to anyone who dared to question the concept of same-sex marriage, to the positive hysteria exhibited during the recent National Maternity Hospital saga, all the signs are there.

Added to the mix is the abortion debate where a vacuous mantra of ‘a right to choose’ is supposed to shut down all argument. Strange times, indeed.

Eric Conway, Navan, Co. Meath.