would religion be allowed in a socialist society

[karl1994]

Hi first post here i'm only new to the idea of real socialism i'm just wondering if hypothetically speaking in a world government would there still be a place for religion i would consider myself atheist but although i say most people aren't religious its still a choice and kinda comes into a lot of things like free will and self-expression

[GiantMonkeyMan]

Organised religion, as a political and economic force, will become obselete but the practice of faith and exploration of spirituality in various forms would probably continue. I would say that a lot of the reasons for religion practiced in the western world (I couldn't talk about anywhere else with authority) would no longer be applicable with the sense of community, belonging and charitable solidarity in the classless world we will establish.

[#FF0000]

Hi first post here i'm only new to the idea of real socialism i'm just wondering if hypothetically speaking in a world government would there still be a place for religion i would consider myself atheist but although i say most people aren't religious its still a choice and kinda comes into a lot of things like free will and self-expression

Communists don't call for a "world government".

I would imagine religious belief would just sort of dissipate (as is happening right now) but no, I don't think there would (or should) be any active repression of religion.

[Brutus]

Unless the church supports the reaction...

[Desy]

I would imagine religious belief would just sort of dissipate (as is happening right now)

What? I don't know where you're getting your statistics, but the non-religious population is ranging from 10-15% for a while now. Why would a new social structure 'dissipate' a religious, indvidual-spirtual belief?

[Comrade #138672]

What? I don't know where you're getting your statistics, but the non-religious population is ranging from 10-15% for a while now. Why would a new social structure 'dissipate' a religious, indvidual-spirtual belief?Because Communism will introduce new social relations which will do away with the old. Religion is also used as a tool to mystify class relations and a mechanism to cope with alienation. Without classes and alienation, the need for religion will be greatly reduced.

[Ocean Seal]

Yes, you can't monitor beliefs or make them illegal. We can campaign against the old reactionary churches which support anti-communist elements. But I would still respect the right of the masses to believe as they please.

[Fourth Internationalist]

Of course. Religion is a personal choice that each individual gets to choose if they want to be a part of it or not. As long as the religion doesnt advocate harm against others, and other people arent forced to be a part of it, why should we care? And btw, we dont want a world government. We want to end all government.

[TheEmancipator]

No. You keep your faith or views on the essence of life, man, and other such questions in private or in meetings to discuss such things. But you do not try to claim that you or your views on such matters are the sole bearer of truth. That is tolerance : respecting the opinion of others.

Religion implies three notions to me : indoctrination of the weak, cultural hegemony, and blind certainty. It must be vigorously criticised.

Faith, however, is essential.

[#FF0000]

What? I don't know where you're getting your statistics, but the non-religious population is ranging from 10-15% for a while now. Why would a new social structure 'dissipate' a religious, indvidual-spirtual belief?

13672 answered your question but what I was referring to was the fact that more and more people are identifying as "no religion" in pretty much all of Western Europe and The US and Canada (even though it's not like nobody's claiming religion anymore or anything. Don't want to overstate what's going on, of course)

[Desy]

Because Communism will intoduce new social relations which will do away with the old.

Ok... I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to say here, and how it deals with indvidual religious beliefs.


Religion is also used as a tool to mystify class relations and a mechanism to cope with alienation. Without classes and alienation, the need for religion will be greatly reduced.

How does that effect an indvidual opinion of the after life, and ones own curiousity with 'why we are here?' Do some people turn to religion to cope? Yes. But don't some people stay un religious because of the system in right now? Yes. I don't see how religion will dissipate. Communism isn't the answer to all questions about 'Life'.