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View Full Version : What do you think Frederick Engels is saying about religion ?



tradeunionsupporter
15th June 2010, 22:11
What do you think Frederick Engels is saying about religion ?

Introduction

Written by Karl Marx as an address to the General Council of the International (http://www.marxists.org/glossary/orgs/f/i.htm#general-council), with the aim of distributing to workers of all countries a clear understanding of the character and world-wide significance of the heroic struggle of the Communards and their historical experience to learn from. The book was widely circulated by 1872 it was translated into several languages and published throughout Europe and the United States.
The first address was delivered on July 23rd, 1870, five days after the beginning of the Franco-Prussian (http://www.marxists.org/glossary/places/p/r.htm#prussia) War. The second address, delivered on September 9, 1870, gave a historical overview of the events a week after the army of Bonaparte was defeated. The third address, delivered on May 30, 1871, two days after the defeat of the Paris Commune – detailed the significance and the underlining causes of the first workers government ever created.
Publication Information: The Civil War in France was originally published by Marx as only the third address (here comprising Chapters 3 through 6) separated into four chapters. In 1891, on the 20th anniversary of the Paris Commune, Engels put together a new collection of the work. Engels decided to include the first two addresses that Marx made to the International (Chapters 1 and 2) – in this way providing additional historical background to the Civil War; Marx’s account of the Franco-Prussian War (July to September, 1870). In this publication, basic titles have been provided for each chapter in brackets, to give the unfamiliar reader a basic guide to the historical events each chapter discusses. Also, Engels 1891 introduction has been separated into two parts: an introduction (below) and a postscript (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1871/civil-war-france/postscript.htm).

1891 Introduction by Frederick Engels
On the 20th Anniversary of the Paris Commune

[Historical Background &
Overview of the Civil War]

Thus, from March 18 onwards the class character of the Paris movement, which had previously been pushed into the background by the fight against the foreign invaders, emerged sharply and clearly. As almost without exception, workers, or recognized representatives of the workers, sat in the Commune, its decision bore a decidedly proletarian character. Either they decreed reforms which the republican bourgeoisie had failed to pass solely out of cowardice, but which provided a necessary basis for the free activity of the working class – such as the realization of the principle that in relation to the state, religion is a purely private matter.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1871/civil-war-france/intro.htm

Blake's Baby
16th June 2010, 00:07
What's the question you're asking? Do you mean "what does Engels mean when he says 'in relation to the state, religion is a purely private matter'?"

If that is what asking I think he means that the state has no right to tell you what you can and can't believe.

tradeunionsupporter
16th June 2010, 00:46
Yes that is my question.

Blake's Baby
16th June 2010, 11:01
Then that's my answer.

Any particular reason you're asking? What Engels says seems fairly strightforward to me, which is why I was unsure about what you were asking. I thought I had misunderstood something.

Mahatma Gandhi
16th June 2010, 13:15
Then that's my answer.

Any particular reason you're asking? What Engels says seems fairly strightforward to me, which is why I was unsure about what you were asking. I thought I had misunderstood something.

He has a question within a question! If the state has no business telling people what to believe, why then did the Soviet Union go after the Eastern Orthodox Church . . . or Chinese communists go after Buddhists and so on?

Zanthorus
16th June 2010, 13:37
He has a question within a question! If the state has no business telling people what to believe, why then did the Soviet Union go after the Eastern Orthodox Church . . . or Chinese communists go after Buddhists and so on?

Because of course, Engels was in total control both of those events from beyond the grave :rolleyes: