Is Communism A Religion?

It seems you can tell a religious person their deity isn't real, but you can't tell a Communist Communism isn't real. So maybe Communism is a religion in all but name?

 

Are you under the impression that you've talked to a communist here?

 

Well, @crank seems to be a wannabe Commie; based on what I've seen.

 

I disagree with this.

Feminism isn't like Communism.

Feminism came from the need of equal rights, the right to be treated like a human instead of a piece of meat by men. Communism is a belief about equality of no rights and being treated like a work horse in the name of some communal pot.

 

You’re just ranting now, ironically sounding a lot like one of those eccentric street preachers.

 

Communism isn't per se a religion, but it is an anti-religion "dying" thing: Chances are if a person practices a religion they are dead or dying or imprisoned in something like the Gulag Archipelago.

 

That's possible, @crank would have to comment. That being said, there are many interpretations and implementations of communism, communists who say

may not be the same communists who would build statues to their leaders.

 

Er, in a communist system, in theory the government also serves the people. In fact that notion is at the heart of the ideology.


Communists are officially atheist. so no god picking is necessary. But I get how you might think that advocating NO religion the same thing as advocating for a religion, since each religion thinks only their's can provide a ticket to eternal life. Binary thinking at its finest.

 

I'm a subscriber to the idea of collective living, yes. Communist being the more identifiable term for same.

I'm absolutely opposed to political/state socialism/communism, however. It's a terrible corruption of collectivism (which must be 100% voluntary).

And you're right .. no leaders, no statues.

 

Possibly. But it could also be that they believe that humans generally do better in collectives, than flying solo. And that the planet needs more of us downshifting our expectations and demands. And that the complex systems we depend upon are dangerous to our survival (in that we're far too dependent). Etc etc etc.

 

Ok, so crank responded, and while he seems to be a communist by some sense of the word, he is not so in the sense that you seem to be using it. So it seems hasty to draw any conclusions about communism based on the responses in this thread.

 

He is also a she

 

In the same sense that libertarianism and capitalism are religions

 

Stalin and Mao weren't leaders?

 

Communism is an economic based belief system.
It's a command economy, for a command lifestyle.

 

How so?

ISIS look Soviet in nature because Soviets have a belief system and intolerance for other religions. Communism is a religion without a miracle, it's a religion in all but name. Have you seen North Korea lately? Worshiping their leader, living in servitude.
Libertinism or Captialism don't really have a belief system as such.

 

Have you seen the Lincoln Memorial and all those who call the GOP 'The party of Lincoln'? Now you literally have every political party, ideology or reform movement becoming a religion if it sustains popularity over a generation or two. Take one smaller step and we can conclude that the GOP and the rest are just large cults. We need to tighten this definition.

Personally I think a religion needs a belief in a deity or deities, and an afterlife/reincarnation, it needs some references to supernatural, or miraculous occurrences and some semblance of structure , hierarchy or rules/guidelines to distinguish it from spiritualism.

 

Capitalism is a nasty religion.

 

Nah, not a religion, just because it shares some things with religion, as other things do.

Religion whether it is a belief system of primitive people, or the belief system of a civilization is defined by some kind of relationship with the supernatural. Most religions explain the origins of man, and some tell of the relationship of man to their god or gods.

This is why it is said that Mahayana Buddhism isn't really a religion but a philosophy of living.

Communism is missing a defining supernatural being or beings that is above man. It is missing metaphysics. Without the primary defining factor, calling it a religion is not accurate. No supernatural at its core, no religion.

 

Doesn't act like ISIS.
Communism acts like ISIS.

 

So? Not all religions act like ISIS. Why would that be the defining factor?

 

...the same could be said for wearing trousers or having a mullet or playing the stock market....just depends upon your perceptions and views of what they bring to one and what one thinks one gains from them...question is do they get tax incentives for believing in them....

 

Capitalism and libertarianism are intolerant of disagreement

What is the holy book of communism?

North korea is a dictatorship just as nazi germany and the ussr used to be. An oppressive government does not equate with religion

The equivalency that you claim has to apply both ways. If north korea is a religious state because if worship of their political leader... then Christianity and judaism would require worship of their political leaders.

Frankly, i think all religion is bunk because it requires you to believe nonsense
So based on that standard i guess communism is a religion too... was that your point
Are you willing to agree that religions expect their adherents to belive nonsense... just like north korea?

Actually, their most adamant proponents have very strong belief system.... and by the way, these people commonly believe that our constitution is inseparable from religion and capitalism... i would say that such people worship the free market, think that it is inerrant, think that any interference with the free market is evil,

 

But a religion can equate to an oppressive government;
Spanish inquisition, Taliban Rule, ISIS; why should Communism be any different if its results are the same?
It's a belief system. Believed by the masses, or imposed on to the masses.
Who's to say those who believe in Communism are any different than religious followers?