This discussion covers materialism and spiritualism. The aim is not to place these two topics on a pole of opposition, as is often the case, but to explore an intersecting pole of agreement on what’s ‘good’ and ‘bad’ for the world.

Initially the discussion zones in on the materialist principles embodied by Engels at Marx’s grace when he said, ‘mankind must first of all eat, drink, have shelter and clothing, before it can pursue politics, science, art, religion’. The point being that before humanity can rightly conceive of such ideas as includes religion and spirituality, its material needs must be met. While perhaps we ought to attend to our spirit as we do our mind and body, the discussion reveals the poignancy of this point in placing current trends of spiritualism on par with the nutritionally and educational deficiencies we find in food and learning under capitalism. With this, and while we have specific and commonly held notions of ideal food and education, the notion of spiritualism perhaps needs rearticulating, distinguishing it from its three previous historic instances of organized religion, new-ageism and the current technologically mediated trends geared at emotional betterment and improved productivity. This is a post-theistic spiritual framework.

The focus moves on to nature versus nurture, discussing the differences between a capitalist and possible communist system in conditioning human nature and its various negative expressions. Regardless of access to wealth currently, both the rich and poor commit anti-social behaviour, suggesting that regardless of the material impact of communism, people will still behave badly. This is true, and its not the design of communism to negate the wild variance of human nature. However, the compulsion under capitalism to pursue profits nurtures human nature in radically different ways than would be the case under communism. The brutality of social relations as conditioned by capitalism renders the individual disconnected, as neighbours become mere vectors in their pursuit of profit and survival. This leads to poor mental (spiritual?) health, therapy for which is, too, radically structured by capitalism. Without the social emphasis on profits, reproduction and care could take the place of production and economic growth. The systemic, material context has profound effects on how human nature is nurtured.

Under communism, social and material relations might be so radically otherwise that the need to explicitly rearticulate spirituality might not be necessary, as such lack as we experience under capitalism may not occur. Our spirits may be full. However, this is merely human spirit and is distinct to our yearning due to the lack we experience when it comes to mystery and what lies beyond our comprehension. The intro/outro music was created by Eoin. Get in touch if you'd like to hear more.