Religion

[Pogue]

Just quick questions cos i know this topic is exhausting and divisive:

Are most of my comrades here on revleft completely opposed to religion, or just organised religion, or fundamentalism, etc?

How do you view religiously inspireed progressives/progressive movements, of which there have always been many and are still a few, such as the Catholic Workers Movement?

Although I know our oppistion to religion is opposititon to the pacification of the workers and opposition to fundamentalism and reactionary dieas, do we not run the risk of sounding like some fascists when they go on about their Anti-Islam/Muslim/Jewish shit like they tried to (and failed, thanks to Antifa comrades in Cologne)? Wont people associate our often seen "Religion = Shite" stuff as a lack of tolerance and hatred?

[al8]

Hate and intolerance is not bad when it is used right, as fx. in hatred of reactionary stuff. The fault does not lie with us that people can't make a destiction between reactionaries using religious critique as a euphimism for racial attack. Like you don't confuse religious people with staunch atheist when they critisize among themselves, do you? Then why would you confuse racists engaging in religion bashing with atheists in perticular? I for one thing am never going to lay off my religion bashing just because some racist or religionist do it too. In fact, from I have noticed they always do it to little and in a way that betrays who they are.

[mykittyhasaboner]

Are most of my comrades here on revleft completely opposed to religion, or just organised religion, or fundamentalism, etc?
I am personally opposed to religion, and IMO the negative influence it's presence has on society. But i don't believe in the suppressing people's rights to believe in what they want to believe. As far as organized religion it depends.
Fundamentalist groups who push their beliefs on the rest of society, and want everyone to conform to their religious values should not be given the right to organize. But, a religious group that organizes among willing participants should be given the right to their religious practice.


How do you view religiously inspireed progressives/progressive movements, of which there have always been many and are still a few, such as the Catholic Workers Movement?Groups such as the CWM are in my view acceptable, but i would criticize the basis of their beliefs.


Although I know our oppistion to religion is opposititon to the pacification of the workers and opposition to fundamentalism and reactionary dieas, do we not run the risk of sounding like some fascists when they go on about their Anti-Islam/Muslim/Jewish shit like they tried to (and failed, thanks to Antifa comrades in Cologne)? Wont people associate our often seen "Religion = Shite" stuff as a lack of tolerance and hatred?fascists actually hate religious people, meaning they hate people. anti-religious leftists are opposed to the religion itself and not the people who are religious. this is because unlike fascists, leftists recognize that people have the right to believe what they want.

[LOLseph Stalin]

I have to say that religion and the state should definitely be separate. Sarah Palin appears to be breaking this rule. I have to admit that I perfer old-fashioned Marxist views on religion.

[Drace]

I am opposed to religion completly but I wouldn't express my views if I had the power to do those.
It seems religion is getting old anyway.

[mikelepore]

I must admit to being inconsistent. I believe that socialist groups should allow religious people to join, and not bug them about it. We don't need any more reasons to be divided among ourselves. However, at the same time, religion is nothing but a package of fallacious thinking, every kind of fallacy an irrational mind can make, all globbed together. It's in the interest of the socialist cause to promote clear thinking skills and scientific outlooks among the working class. I'm contradicting myself and I don't know how to fix it.

[Decolonize The Left]

My approach to religious individuals is simple:
I attempt to argue, through the use of reason and logic, that religion is inherently authoritative, oppressive, destructive, and irrational.

If I can accomplish this, it is incoherent for a 'leftist' individual to hold the values of Marxism, communism, anarchism, etc.. and be religious. You may find my complete articulation of this argument here (http://www.revleft.com/vb/argument-against-monotheistic-t92450/index.html).

- August

[cleef]

Religion which promotes a natural hierarchy i am opposed to...however spirituality on a personal level, in an attempt to stimulate a persons own moral growth is something i am in favour of.

[Yehuda Stern]

I am completely opposed to religion, and I am also opposed to allowing religious people to be members of the revolutionary organization in its pre-mass party stage. In a workers' state, there must be a complete separation of religion and the state, so that no religious institute is funded by it and all education is scientific. I would also like to see something like the Society of Militant Atheists in its early stages. However, I don't think religious workers should be barred entry to the party once it is a mass party, and certainly the state shouldn't limit their right to practice their beliefs in any way.