See, your first criticism of Marx states that his life experience helps to explain how he got to think like he did. That`s true. And ironically (i think you know) that`s pretty much in agreement with marxist theory of knowledge. But the social and psychological contexts that allowed someone to come to a certain understanding of reality doesn`t say anything about the veracity of that understanding, as you correctly argues afterwards.

The second criticism is one I certainly agree in general as a criticism of Marx, but it`s not decisive. Marx wouldn’t agree he disregards social and psychological aspects, but rather that these aspects are material as well. As far as spirit goes, that would also be explained by matter. So we just go back to the age old debate of idealism vs. materialism, when we should focus on how one philosophical stance has led him to a wrong conclusion and criticize that directly.

Your third criticism goes directly to the point: belief in nothingness after death is an ideology too. As Weber would say, marxists cannot apply ideology analysis to others and believe they`re neutral observers with no ideological leaning. That`s pretty much it, simple and clear. Hardcore marxists hate to admit that, sure!

Having said that, I`m not convinced it is easier to believe in nothingness than in a paradise whose entrance depends on a forgiving God. And as the modern atheist showmen say when they are hard pressed, their critique is much more directed to the specific claims of every particular major world religion than to pantheism and deism in general. Your idea that God`s existence does not depend on the psychogenesis of our knowledge is correct, and the atheist leap is certainly wrong. But the ideas that we make about God do depend on context, and his analysis was a based in a world much less secular than ours. If some basic form of agnosticism was a given at Marx times and believers argued in terms of personal trust, i doubt he would have written that. So I`m not sure if Marx is as wrong as you suggest, or if part of him being less right today is an outcome of secularization.

(that was a looog comment! Well, hope you enjoy it!)

I do not know, social medical care conjures up images of mediocre medical care. I believe in health coverage for the poor 100%. Just the way we do it is market mechanisms. So it does not slow the rate of technology.

OK manybe that metaphor does not work perfectly but I do think many young people are swept up with idealism of sharing and social ideas but do not see the full implication of government directed sharing vs private free will sharing. The ideas of socialism are nice but they lead to serfdom.

So every generation must relearn this lesson, sad really. I look at the “Occupy” protesters her in the States and I laugh. They all are crying for an end to Capitalism and more Government. ‘Useful Idiots’ indeed.

I mean people doing well, does not affect my own internal happiness. It is not like they are stealing from me, if anything they made money by creating some value in the market place. But even if they did not. Even if they got paid some crazy salary somewhere that they did not deserve, so what. They did not steal it from me.

Wealth generation both personal and for the nation as a whole, always does better when markets tend to be free and governments are small.

Communism dragged everyone down as does socialism. The European countries turning now to socialism for a solution to a problem that was caused by government in the first place will be setting themselves on a course of their own destruction where everyone is poor.

When it comes to health care it is easier to say ‘revolution’ and have social medical care. But I think medical coverage for the poor can be better dealt with though free market ideas.

Further, I am waiting for the day things like stem cell therapy for replacement of discs in the spine or treating brain injury for example become cheap and available. This will not happen if market forces and incentives for research are hampered.

I think people need to consider free market solutions that will result in a higher greater good for all.