Evangelization & Culture Podcast

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The Persistence of the Ideological Lie w/ Daniel Mahoney

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Jun 10, 2025

Guest

Daniel J. Mahoney

Daniel Mahoney, Professor Emeritus at Assumption University and Senior Fellow at the Claremont Institute, discusses the resurgence of ideological lies and totalitarianism in modern society. He highlights the philosophical dangers of ideology as social engineering, drawing parallels between historical and contemporary practices. The conversation critiques Marxism and its human consequences while emphasizing the human spirit's resilience against oppression. Mahoney advocates for a deeper recognition of truth and tradition in maintaining civilizational values amidst ideological turmoil.

01:51:02

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insights

INSIGHT

Ideology Means Utopian Lies

Ideology is a utopian social engineering based on falsehoods about human nature and the human condition.
It requires violence and lies to sustain itself because it forcibly imposes a fabricated reality on society.

insights

INSIGHT

Misplacing Evil Fuels Tyranny

Ideologies misplace evil in bad systems, not human imperfection or original sin.
This mislocation leads to terror, tyranny, and scapegoating as solutions to human wickedness.

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INSIGHT

Contrasting Views on Human Nature

Locke and Rousseau viewed a perfect original state corrupted by institutions, assuming fixable human nature.
Burke saw original sin baked into humanity, making total institutional fix impossible before the grave.

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Exploring the Nature of Ideology and Its Implications

02:54 • 2min

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The Dangers of Ideology

04:44 • 18min

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The Dual Nature of Ideology

22:52 • 19min

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Ideology vs. Reality: The Marxist Dilemma

41:23 • 29min

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The 1989 Revolution: A Turning Point Against Total Ideologies

01:10:45 • 3min

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From Aspiration to Totalitarianism

01:14:12 • 6min

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Historical Ideologies and Their Modern Echoes

01:19:58 • 27min

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The Resilience of the Human Spirit Against Totalitarian Ideologies

01:47:03 • 4min

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The Persistence of the Ideological Lie

The Totalitarian Impulse Then and Now

Daniel J. Mahoney

Daniel Mahoney's 'The Persistence of the Ideological Lie' investigates the enduring allure and destructive potential of totalitarian ideologies. It examines historical instances of ideological fervor, from the French Revolution to modern-day political movements. The book dissects the core tenets of ideological thinking, revealing their inherent flaws and dangerous consequences. Mahoney emphasizes the importance of recognizing and resisting these impulses to safeguard individual liberty and societal well-being. The author provides readers with a framework for understanding and countering the ever-present threat of ideological extremism, advocating for a renewed commitment to reason, moderation, and respect for human dignity.

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George Orwell

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

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In his essay, "How the Great Truth Dawned," Professor Gary Saul Morson muses, "Why is it, Solzhenitsyn asks, that Macbeth, Iago, and other Shakespearean evildoers stopped short at a dozen corpses, while Lenin and Stalin did in millions? The answer is that Macbeth and Iago 'had no ideology.'" Notwithstanding its rabid inhumanity, Professor Daniel Mahoney asserts, ideology always makes a brutal comeback. Join me and Daniel Mahoney as we explore his chilling and informative new book The Persistence of the Ideological Lie: The Totalitarian Impulse Then & Now on the Evangelization & Culture Podcast.

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