Root of all Evil
Out of context: Reply #52
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- KuzIII0
It is entirely misleading and false to claim the despotic regimes of the 20th century that were inspired by Marxist economic theory was done explicitly in the name of either a) atheism or b) materialism. Quite obviously you do not know the history of these states you refer to, or the nature of their revolutions and counter revolutions.
It could be just as easy for a dishonest Christian, like yourself, to say that the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, who died at the hands of European Imperialism – also died due to an atheistic materialistic philosophy – that of Capitalism. However you would never allude to that as an example since the perpetrators of European imperialism were often deeply religious, Christian men.
What happened in those countries you speak of, more often than not, was a disenfranchised class overthrowing established elite institutions. Due to the certain conditions of these states, they more often than not, descended into despotism and terror. This has happened throughout human history for completely non-religious reasons – from the French revolution, to the wars of Independence across the world – including those inspired by Communism in South America, that were markedly less bloody than their conservative counterparts (i.e Pinochet etc.).
What happened in Russia, for example, was not in the name of “non-God”, but rather a reaction (initially) against a corrupt tyrannical Czarist regime which spread it’s terror in collusion with the Church. When the Soviet’s attacked the Church, they were attacking an enshrined elite institutional network in Russian society, that was wholly corrupt and was a tool for spreading Czarist despotism.
Human beings go to war for many reasons. Religion is one of them. Wealth, power, and the redistribution of finite resources is another. One of the causes requires the belief in a supernatural deity. The other does not. However it is wholly misleading to claim that the desire to spread “atheism” in any way shape or form is, by default the cause of wars/atrocities committed in the name of simply the distribution of power. Though the Marxists were by and large atheists, their revolutions were CLASS revolutions. Revolutions precipitated by economic pressures. It is interesting to note, that the most devout Communists and Leftists in Iran, were the followers of Ayatolla Khomeini. It is also interesting to note, the long history of support giving to the anarchistas, and the Communists of Spain, by the Spanish clergy.