Anthony J. DeBlasi's essay, The Ultimate Authority (September 7, 2025), argues that America, and the West, faces a cultural and moral crisis driven by Marxist-inspired progressivism, which he sees as undermining the Christian values that shaped the nation. He critiques the radical Left's rebellion against authority since the 1960s, accusing it of replacing divine and traditional authority with secular, coercive ideologies disguised as liberalism or democracy. DeBlasi warns that this shift threatens societal stability, echoing Bishop Fulton J. Sheen's assertion that moral truths are absolute, not subject to majority whim. This essay, from a conservative Christian perspective, expands on DeBlasi's themes, exploring how the rejection of divine authority in favour of secular humanism and Marxist ideology erodes the West's moral foundation, and why returning to Biblical principles offers a path forward.
The Christian ethic, as DeBlasi notes, profoundly influenced America's founding. The Declaration of Independence's appeal to "unalienable Rights" endowed by a Creator reflects a belief in divine authority as the source of human dignity and liberty. Thinkers like John Locke, whose ideas shaped the Founders, grounded natural rights in God's design, balancing individual freedom with moral responsibility. The Constitution's checks on power reflect an understanding of human fallibility, a core Christian tenet. This ethic, DeBlasi argues, fostered a civilisation that enriched lives through ordered liberty, contrasting with the chaos of godless ideologies.
Yet, since the 1960s, this foundation has been challenged. DeBlasi points to Marxist-inspired radicals who, rejecting traditional authority, sought to impose their own through riots and cultural infiltration. Their tactics, he suggests, mirror the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, where rebellion against perceived tyranny led to new forms of oppression. Social media posts on platforms like X echo this, lamenting the Left's dismissal of Christian values as "oppressive" while embracing ideologies that suppress dissent.
DeBlasi identifies the Left's rebellion as rooted in Marxist ideology, which dismisses God in favour of state power. He cites Alexander Trachtenberg's 1944 strategy to subvert America under "lovable" labels like progressivism, a tactic evident in modern policies prioritising secular humanism over faith. This shift manifests in attacks on Christian expression, such as Biden-era policies targeting religious institutions, now being reversed under Trump, and in cultural narratives that vilify Christianity as backward. For instance, progressive critiques of Christian stances on marriage or abortion, often frame them as obstacles to equality, ignoring their moral grounding.
This rejection of divine authority creates a void filled by what DeBlasi calls "near-sighted secular humanists" and "hollow-headed nihilists." Without a transcendent moral compass, society risks moral relativism, where, as Sheen warned, "wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong." X users frequently highlight this, decrying "woke" churches that dilute Biblical teachings for cultural approval, betraying the ultimate authority of God's Word.
DeBlasi warns that abandoning Christian principles leaves future generations vulnerable to cultural decay. Without the wisdom accumulated over millennia, rooted in scripture and tested by history, society drifts toward chaos. He questions whether technology, like artificial intelligence, can guide humanity without divine input, calling it "lifeless" and prone to manipulation. This resonates with conservative Christian concerns about transhumanism or unchecked scientific hubris, which adopt innovation over ethics.
The rise in violence and loss of common sense, as DeBlasi notes, reflect this moral drift. FBI data from 2024 shows stable but persistent violent crime rates, yet high-profile incidents, like the 2025 Minneapolis church shooting or the Charlotte train stabbing, produce perceptions of societal breakdown. Conservative Christians argue that only divine authority, with its clear moral framework, can restore order. They point to Proverbs 29:18: "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
Progressivism, DeBlasi argues, offers a flawed substitute for divine authority. Its Marxist underpinnings demand centralised control to enforce equality, often at the expense of individual freedom and moral absolutes. The 1963 Congressional Record he references, outlines Marxist plans to undermine family, morality, and law, tactics visible in modern pushes for cultural relativism and identity politics. Progressives adopt Christian concerns for justice, but reject their legal and moral moorings, creating a "civic religion" that clashes with faith.
This clash is evident in progressive hostility toward Christianity, seen as a rival authority, while Islam is often spared due to its perceived status as a marginalised faith. As discussed at the blog today, this "red-green alliance" unites progressives and Islamists against Western traditions, despite their incompatible end goals. Conservative Christians see this as a double standard, with X posts questioning why progressive churches embrace "wokeness" over scripture.
DeBlasi urges a return to divine authority, echoing Sheen's call for absolute moral truths. Conservative Christians advocate for churches that preach the unadulterated Word of God, resisting "woke" co-option. Believers are called to engage culturally and politically, as seen in faith-based voter drives, to preserve America and the West's Christian heritage.
Practically, this means supporting policies that protect religious liberty, such as Trump-style reversals of restrictive regulations, and fostering education that respects Biblical values. It also requires discernment in worship, avoiding congregations that adopt cultural trends over scripture. As DeBlasi suggests, the wisdom of the past, grounded in God's authority, must guide the future, ensuring that technology and culture serve human dignity, not supplant it.
DeBlasi's essay underscores a battle for the West's soul, where Marxist-inspired progressivism challenges the Christian ethic that built the West. By rejecting divine authority, the Left risks cultural and moral decay, substituting God's truth with state-driven relativism. Conservative Christians across the West, see a return to Biblical principles as the antidote, offering moral clarity and societal stability. As Psalm 33:12 states, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." In an era of rising violence and ideological strife, this ultimate authority remains the foundation for a flourishing West.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/09/the_ultimate_authority.html