[Niall]

Originally Posted by angus58

I made the point that Communism is a secular "religion" - true it is a political ideology, but these days most religions are also political ideologies - take Islam for example: Religion and Politics inextricably entwined, making it a hell of a force to be reckoned with as the West is now discovering.

Marxist theory IS just that - theory. In an ideal world there would be no power hungry, corrupt, exploitative people, but the fact is that there are. The reason communism does not work is because Marx left out the human nature factor - that the strong will always exploit and abuse the weak. Russian communism was oppressive and restrictive, it was brutal to dissenters, it sought to crush any opposition or freedom of speech, thought or belief. It became a dictatorship, far worse than that which had existed prior to the Revolution.

Equality as a concept is illusory, people are NOT. and never will be, equal in terms of their inherent talents, skills or contribution to society; Communism seeks to repress difference and diversity, it's intention is to remove competition, inspiration and motivation, in short to crush the human spirit. The price for "equality" was and is way too high.

I understand what you are saying but I don't really think labelling it a secular religion is correct. Hardcore Communists think religion should be totally abolished.

Also, I don't think that politics is always influenced by religion. The increasingly secular attitudes of many world governments today shows that the state can remain totally secular and not use religion as a guideline for the laws they create. Some countries may choose to incorporate it though however like Islamic nations which you mentioned.

And the idea that Communism seeks to crush and oppress isn't what the theory of Communism is about at all. The ideal Communist state would have everyone on a equal levels for jobs, homes, facilities etc. People wouldn't be denied access to things just because they don't have enough money etc nor does it seek to repress diversity and difference either, the Soviet Union effectively legalised Homosexuality in the 1920s in the RSFR. Although Stalin did repress it again later on.

I'm not a Communist but I do understand the real vision of Communism and how it was meant to be.