The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-27
Lenin on Religion
By MAX EEDACHT

The writings and speeches Of Lenin are an
inexhauStible arsenal for the revolutionary work
ers. They embody a theoretical guidance for
all revolutionary struggles in the period of inn
perialism; at the same tins they embody
examples of proletarian struggle executed in
accordance with MARKHAM revolutionary theory.
The writings and speeches of Lenin must there
fore be made accessible to the masses of militant
workers.
Efforts in this direction were already made by
International Publishers by publishing in popu-
lar edition the first four titles of Lenns COM
plete works. This edition comprises six vol
umes and can be bought for less than ten dollars.
This edition should be acquired and studied By
every student Of MarxisIn-Leninism, by every
leading and active worker in the revolutionary
movement.
In addition to this edition Of Lenin's works, the
International Publishers are now also issuing in
a low-priced, popular pamphlet form series
Of Lenins writings and speeches arranged in
accordance to important subjects. This edition
must find mass distribution. Revolutionary
workers must not only acquire and study these
pamphlets; they must sell them to their fellow
workers in the shops and in the unions; they
must make the discussion of the contents of
these pamphlets a method of propaganda among
these fellow workers. The price for this series
varies from Is cents to SO cents Per title. This
makes il possible for every worker to buy them.
Till now, seven titles have been issued in this
series. They are: The Teachings of Karl Marx,
The War and the Second International, Socialism
and War; The Paris Commune, The Revolution
of 1906 and What Is To Be Done? The latest
title just now published is entitled Religion.
Lenin Religion is well chosen selection Of
writings and speeches of Lenin on this important
subject Religion is unquestions5ly one of the
most effective bourgeois poisons it is used to
paralyze the class force of the Iroletariat. That
is why the position of revolutionary Marxisnl
toward religion was made the earliest object OF
attack on opportunist revisionism. The material
list base of Marxism left very clear the anti
religious position OF Communism. Revisionism,
however, endeavored to obscure this clear posi-
ton. 1t selected the programmatical formula
ton that religion is a private matter Thus the
principle that the state, the government should
keep its hands from supporting, favoring or rec
ognizing religion was turned into the principle
that religion was the exclusive province of indi-
vidual desires This was then interpreted by the
reforrnists as meaning that even the revolution
LIST had right to choose for himself if he wanted
or did not want religion. Religion is the anti
thesis OF Materialism; Socialism stands unre-
servedly on materialism. But the reformistS used
their formulation as a justification for revising
Marxism from materialst revolutionary science
into a petty-bourgeois and anti-proletarian
poison.
In the booklet, Lenin Religion, we find
clearly formulated the position Of the uncom-
promising proletarian revolutionist against the
opium of the people" In one of Lenins letters
to Cork reprinted in this volume, Lenin's criti-
cism of god seeking and god creating represents
in few paragraphs the full case of the working
class against religion.
The bourgeoisie in the United States through
its apparent, but llusionary, separation of church
and state, succeeded in preventing the develop
ment of broad movement.
Therefore the struggle against religious illu-
SONS among the American workers is very i'm
portant. Lenin on Religion supplies effective
weapons for this struggle. Yet In all struggles
Of the workers the churches throughout the land
play their role retainers of TIE co-'t-'"-s. II
its teachings and dogmas the church endeavors
to prevent the resistance of the wolAe.s to b.
infamies of capitalist exploitation and oppression.
1t promises a reward hereafter in proportion to
the sufferings borne patiently here In its
activities the church breaks strikes expels
workers. for striking, as was done in Elizabeth
town, and betrays the workers to the bosses
wherever it has the opportunity GA detailed
study Of the role played by the various churches
catholic, protestant and jewish, in the class
struggle in the United States is described in the
pamphlet "The Church and the Workers" by
Bennett Stevens, which is No. Is in the Inter-
national Pamphlets series. and which sells at
ten cents)
The revolutionary workers everywhere should
make mass distribution OF Lenn on Religion
oue form OF THAR ACTIVITIES against the TssIAnM
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