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Could Communism in Russia have been successful with Christianity instead of Atheism?

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DOC

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D
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I have to feel a big part of the collapse of the Soviet Union had to do with corruption, and also a lack of enthusiasm, spirit, and direction amongst its people. If the official state doctrine of the former Soviet Union had been Christianity instead of Atheism is it possible it could have been successful?
 
Do you honestly think that a foundation in Christianity precludes corruption?
 
The basic problem was that a political doctrine was being forced on people who did not personally agree with the doctrine.

For anything of that kind to work, the first thing to do is to ask for volunteers, and then do it among the volunteers only.

And don't give the power to a closed inner circle. Keep it transparent and democratic.
 
I actually laughed out loud when I read the OP.

DOC, are you seriously suggesting that Christians cannot be corrupt?
 
DOC said:
I have to feel a big part of the collapse of the Soviet Union had to do with corruption, and also a lack of enthusiasm, spirit, and direction amongst its people.
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Having known multiple Russians raised under the former soviet union, I can say confidently that there wasn't a "lack of enthusiasm, spirit or direction" for the state.
 
The question seems to imply that atheism was the religion of the Soviets. Atheism, of course, is not a religion. The religion of the Soviets was Communism.

If Communism wasn't enough of a unifying belief system to make a go of it, I doubt another belief system (one which did not have the success of communism as a core principle, moreover) would provide any better source of unification or motivation or whatever it was that the Soviets are assumed to have lacked. (rather than a rational system of economics)
 
I have to feel a big part of the child molestation scandal in the catholic church had to do with corruption, an all-consuming desire to appear infalliable and also a suppressive/oppressive attitude towards sex that prevented priests with sexual diviance predilections from seeking help. If the official doctrine of the catholic church had been Humanism instead of Christianity is it possible this horrible amoral scandal could have been avoided?
 
DOC said:
True Christianity, yes. Quasi-Christianity probably not.
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"True" Christianity? What the effing eff does that even mean?

"True Communism" would have worked too, by the same illogic you're using.
 
joobz said:
Having known multiple Russians raised under the former soviet union, I can say confidently that there wasn't a "lack of enthusiasm, spirit or direction" for the state.
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Maybe not for the state, but for life in general. And that's where the Atheistic doctrine comes in.

I mean why does Atheism have to be tied into Communism. Couldn't Christianity be just as easily tied into Communism as Atheism.
 
DOC said:
Couldn't Christianity be just as easily tied into Communism as Atheism.
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All religions so far have been the expression of historical stages of development of individual peoples or groups of peoples. But communism is the stage of historical development which makes all existing religions superfluous and brings about their disappearance
--Frederick Engels - The Principles of Communism - 1847
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Are you sure you are clear on what exactly communism is?
 
DOC said:
I mean why does Atheism have to be tied into Communism. Couldn't Christianity be just as easily tied into Communism as Atheism.
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No. Communism requires absolute fealty to the state. There can be no competition. Christianity requires absolute fealty to God. There can be no competition. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, DOC.
 
DOC said:
Maybe not for the state, but for life in general. And that's where the Atheistic doctrine comes in.

I mean why does Atheism have to be tied into Communism. Couldn't Christianity be just as easily tied into Communism as Atheism.
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Not if you want to try to brainwash a people and have them loyal to the state and nothing else.

No matter how you try, you are not going to convince anyone outside of a church that forbidding religion was done for the sake of atheism.

It's about control. Just like the control Christianity has tried to inflict on the world throughout history.

Why don't you do yourself a favor and rent "A State of Mind". It will take you inside the lives of people living in North Korea today. The level of brainwashing there will terrify any thinking person. You'll note a complete lack of "indoctrination into atheism". They worship their leader over all. These people are positively religious in their loyalty to the state. This is not done in the name of atheism.

Open your eyes and your mind, Doc. It's not about atheism. It's about wanting to be certain that ONE AND ONLY ONE ideology is enforced. Period.
 
DOC said:
I mean why does Atheism have to be tied into Communism. Couldn't Christianity be just as easily tied into Communism as Atheism.
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There were a lot of Christian communists prior to the time of Marx. Not sure why the change was so thorough.

"Acts of the Apostles" describes the early Christians as having community property. And the punishment was death in two instances for violating the rules of community property.
 
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