Communism and Religion

[Guevara-Castro]

I have always wondered where Communism and Religion stood today. I understand that Marx and Lenin were firmly opposed to the idea, but where does it stand in todays communism? and why did Marx and Lenin oppose it?

[LOLseph Stalin]

Separation of church and state. :)

[ArrowLance]

Religion is another way to oppress the worker. Instead of sweatshops, you have churches and tithe bags.

[mel]

Religion is another way to oppress the worker. Instead of sweatshops, you have churches and tithe bags.

Oh yeah they're totally the same thing.

[ArrowLance]

Oh yeah they're totally the same thing.

Totally.

[the last donut of the night]

Although Marx and most communists have been extremely critical of religion or theism, I firmly believe in separation if Church and State. Simple as that. The State should never be the one deciding which ideas are right or wrong -- that is paternalistic and not true to democracy.

Now, if you mean communism, then people should decided what they want to believe in.

[Radical]

Religion should be a COMPLETLY private matter. Seperated from the state.

[Kukulofori]

The general consensus seems to be that religion will fade away when people are no longer opressed. It tends to be the strongest among opressed groups (the Catholic Irish, the Christian Greeks, today's Middle East, etc.).

Historically, religion's been an enemy of the revolution, with churches siding with fascists and etc, but that doesn't mean they can't be friends too. Hitler was more scared of the Christian communists than any other group, because while the rest were just sitting around waiting for a revolution, the Christians were the ones willing to put their lives on the line.

Also I'm pretty disgusted at the amount of people equating communism with the state, and quoting an amendment to a constitution written by an infant empire's bourgeoisie to do so no less.

[ArrowLance]

The problem is that churches exploit their members. I don't care if the members want to give money to the church, same as I don't care if a worker wants to have his labour exploited. I want to end both of them. If you want to believe in a god, have fun, but don't go around making organizations.

[al8]

Religion should be wiped out by means of destroying it's public presence. That includes destroying and replacing religious buildings with something secular and barring religious messages and attitudes from mass communication.

[mel]

Religion should be wiped out by means of destroying it's public presence. That includes destroying and replacing religious buildings with something secular and barring religious messages and attitudes from mass communication.

To what end?

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

If you are particularly interested in the movement in Latin America, Guevara-Castro, there is a book called "Fidel and Religion" that talks about this. Basically Fidel says that religious people can be revolutionaries. The Liberation Theology movement also brought Marxism to catholic churches. This emphasized building up the poor. Che Guevara said, "Only when Christians will have the courage to give a wholehearted revolutionary testimony will the Latin American revolution become invincible, because up to the present they have allowed their doctrine to be instrumentalized by the reactionaries."

[samofshs]

if you want proof that you can in fact be religious and leftist at the same time, go to my group called "christian leftists"

[LOLseph Stalin]

if you want proof that you can in fact be religious and leftist at the same time, go to my group called "christian leftists"

Well it is possible. It's perfectly possible as long as those religious people aren't preaching or trying to get religious affairs involved in those of the state during the Socialist transitionary stage. Religion should always be a private matter. :)