Religion

[Jewishcomrade]

I have see many people say religion and communism don't work. Do you feel this way?

[Slavic]

I have see many people say religion and communism don't work. Do you feel this way?

Organized religion as an institution and communists typically have always been at odds.I see no reason why though that individual worship would be conflicting with communists.

[Connolly1916]

Organized religion as an institution and communists typically have always been at odds.I see no reason why though that individual worship would be conflicting with communists.

Spot on. Organised religion = Church interference in state* affairs = Corrupt church officials with a twisted interpretation of their religion dictating state policy**. See - the Irish free state since 1922.


* Yes I know, fuck the state.
** Sorry, that's something of a mouthful. I tend to ramble.

[Comrade Jacob]

Individual religion is fine in my opinion just don't organize and try and get in the state or society as a whole.

[Maraam]

The broad Marxist view is that religion is part of the cultural/ideological superstructure, it's 'created' by the economic base, and thus will end up supporting the class structure that it exists within. In medieval Europe, this would've been the feudal structure of peasants and serfs and so on, in contemporary Europe it's the rule of the bourgeoisie, and so on.

On top of this, most (with the except of explicitly religious socialist theories) religious analysis is effectively incompatible with socialism, because socialism is materialist and thus it's difficult to put religious themes or thought in it (even if it coincides with socialism, for example it's easy to argue for equality and land reform under most religions, but using 'because God said thus' isn't a useful line of analysis) as that would undermine the non-religious nature of the analysis itself.

However, communism/socialism isn't incompatible in the broad sense of it still being possible to be a socialist/communist and religious at the same time - a personal example, I'm a Muslim. The general view is that with the end of capitalism the contradictions that create religion will die out, and thus the need for religion will be removed and religion will become obsolete, but that's a future prediction and doesn't stop one from having a religion during class, or even after (it's completely possible that religion would stick around in communism after class is abolished). As long as one doesn't use religion as a core part of analysis, or try and convert anyone at the picket line, it's compatible. If you are religious, just a heads up, that you will find some new-atheist Richard Dawkins types who see religion as the root of all evil in the left, but they're in the minority.

[Blake's Baby]

There's no reason why one can't be a 'religious communist'. There have been many religious communities that espoused communism over the centuries.

What doesn't make any sense is trying to be a religious Marxist. The materialist view of history and class struggle is rather negated by 'meh, Magic Man can do what he likes'.

[Anglo-Saxon Philistine]

There's no reason why one can't be a 'religious communist'. There have been many religious communities that espoused communism over the centuries.

Such as?

edit: What I mean to say is, I know that quite a few religious movements advocated communal consumption, but this is not communism - none of them, to the best of my knowledge, advocated the socialisation of the means of production.

[Thirsty Crow]

Organized religion as an institution and communists typically have always been at odds.I see no reason why though that individual worship would be conflicting with communists.
Because if one is consistent in practicing a religious creed it is more than likely that the person isn't going to be able to either generally adhere to the materialist conception of history or effectively participate in any kind of political work.

The special role of the incarnated transcendent and/or divinely inspired individuals in history is completely at odds with communism.

[Slavic]

Because if one is consistent in practicing a religious creed it is more than likely that the person isn't going to be able to either generally adhere to the materialist conception of history or effectively participate in any kind of political work.

The special role of the incarnated transcendent and/or divinely inspired individuals in history is completely at odds with communism.

I do not expect the whole of the world's population to subscribe to Marxist materialistic thought before, during, or after a revolution. Nor do I think that it is necessary that everyone has to think like a Marxist for there to be a revolution.

Religion and Marxism may be at odds, but individual worship can exist in a communist society. I can not see religion disappearing post revolution nor is that a bad thing.