The Russian Communists Were Not Motivated By Atheism

It is common for various theistic apologists now a days to argue that, yes, religion has caused many atrocities but atheism is responsible for far more. Therefore, it is said, religion is preferable to atheism because religion is what helps keep people in line and moral. Without religion societies will no longer have a moral compass and Russia is an example of what could take place if they listen to the "New Atheists" and leave their religious beliefs behind. I argue that neither of these claims have any basis in reality and I offer the following evidence: 1. The basis of Communism was the abolition of private property and capitalism. These things were seen as evils that exploited the populace and must be abolished in order to better man's conditions. To Marx, it was man's conditions that caused a person to cling to religion and remain content in this life, however, with the realization of socialism, religion will simply fade away because people would no longer need its consolations because the loyalty and adoration of the state was to replace it; there would be no reason to ban religion because it would simply become unnecessary because the state would be there in its place. [1] This was the motivating factor in Stalin's Purges and the mass killings that took place in Russia. The Communists were attempting to fit a round peg in a square hole. The people did not want to live in communal lands and give up their religion, as was required of Marx's doctrine. However, Marx did not approve of the violent means that were taken in trying to make his beliefs a reality. [2] Even several quotes of the Communists themselves clearly explain their motivations, and they did not spring from atheism. Here is one: "Economic slavery is the true source of the religious humbugging of man...The proletariat of today takes the side of socialism, which enlists science in the battle against the fog of religion and frees the workers from their belief in life after death by welding them together to fight in the present for a better life on Earth." - Lenin, Socialism and Religion, 1905 2. Religion is also not needed regarding morality because of studies that have been conducted in Europe by sociologists which show that such countries such as Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Denmark have the lowest levels of religious belief in the world and their countries are thriving. [3] Based upon the 2005 United Nations Human Development Report these, and other highly secular, countries are "the most healthy, according to life expectancy, adult literacy, per capita income, educational attainment, gender equality, homicide rate, and infant mortality." [4] It was the Communist's attempts to force socialism upon the population by forcing religion out of the communities and gain this "classless society," and had nothing to do with atheism itself. [5] Based upon the several European countries it also appears that a lack of religion does not harm a society as is often claimed. Therefore, atheism had no part in the crimes of the Communists because we have identified their true motivations and it's been proven that a lack of religion does not cause societies to veer into a tailspin. Because of this, I argue that it was not atheism, but their Communist ideology which was the true motivating factor. References: 1. Atheism: A Very Short Introduction, by Julian Baggini, pages 81-88 2. Ibid. 3. 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a god, by Guy P. Harrison, page 296 4. Letter to a Christian Nation, by Sam Harris, page 43 5. The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief, edited by Tom Flynn, page 621