R.J. Rushdoony and Otto Scott discuss communism, tracing its history from the 5th-century Mazdakite movement in Persia to modern Marxism in the Soviet Union, Red China, and beyond. They note communism’s appeal to intellectuals, elites, and opportunists who are drawn to power, influence, and social control rather than ideology, and its reliance on propaganda, education, and media to shape minds. Early communists, they explain, bought loyalty and infiltrated institutions to gain control, a tactic that continues in modern politics. They highlight the pervasive influence of communist ideas in the United States, including in Congress, academia, unions like the NEA, and through racial and identity politics. Marxism today functions less as a utopian theory and more as a pragmatic tool for advancement, power, and ideological control, often aligning with progressive political agendas. The erosion of Christianity and moral responsibility, coupled with secular, pragmatist education, has left many Americans rudderless, unable to think causally or long-term. Rushdoony and Scott warn that religious conservatives face systematic silencing through laws and regulations, while communist and Marxist influences grow largely unchecked. They emphasize the importance of awareness, education, and organized Christian action to resist ideological infiltration and preserve moral and societal order.
