It is difficult to discern, at first glance, any important common characteristics in ideologies such as Gandhism and Marxism-Leninism, Kemalism, and Shintoism. If they have anything in common, it seems to be a strong infusion of self-contradiction. But on second glance the diverse characteristics and geographic origins of these ideologies fade into the background. In their very self-contradictions one may detect recurrent patterns.