Karl Marx Communist Manifesto on Religion
Religion according to Karl Marx is a basis for continued separation between the ruling and the working class. The ruling class employs religion behind which lurks its own special interest. According to him there is a constant overpowering of new religious ideas over the old. The ancient religions was overthrown by Christianity and itself succumbed to rationalistic ideas in the 18th century. He interprets that to be the birth of religious liberty and awakening the freedom of consciousness. He says eventhough religious , moral and philosophical ideas changes it did not change the system founded on them. Communism he says should abolish all eternal truths, religions and existing moral principles and constitutes them in a new picture which will not make history repeat but establish a system that requires no more self correction or overpowering of one idea over another, or exploitation of one class of people (religious, social or economical) over the other He feels one does not require deep intuition to understand human consciousness which changes with changes in time due to the material and social changes around him.
The ruling class according to him are minorities but who have been strong and ruling the majority, among many factors employing religion as one of them. This reminds me of Brahminism and its misuse by few as a ruling minority over the majority under the name of god and religion. Karl Marx idea was to unite the working class and also remove the boundaries of nationalism among them to bring a self conscious independent movement by the majority for the majority. Buddha was faced with a similar situation of his times but he found a solution through his wisdom, for he knew there is nothing else to master but oneself through one’s own mind.
Main failure of Karl Marx philosophy is he failed to see that eventhough the interests have to be centered around the likes and wants of majority and abolition of every sectarian form of antagonistic society, there requires a trustful government on the same principle to implement with all sincerity adhering to the same goals. He wanted to abolish the minority over majority, but he failed to see the communist governments formed are indirectly minority (do not really represent people, as people with power tend to use it for their own purpose) controlling the majority and by virtue of this enormous control given to the government, it became like an aristocratic rule.
Failure of communism is directly linked with economy, and it seems to be true for there were no steps taken for higher productivity. Obviously everyone under the communist rule would be getting equal privilege, well it may sound great but not everyone works the same. There are a section of people who benefit on others work and are just parasites and there is NO COMPETITION and thus NO IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY. The society eventhough is divided by capitalistic ideas still seems to be the workable philosophy for a better economical living. A better economy brings about a change in living and even moral conditions among people with the challenge and competition being the motivational factors to survive by being contributive, responsible and productive.
Communists-Marxist-Humanist-Socialist-liberal Democrat tomato-tomoto?
Humanist Manifesto ll
Religion
* FIRST: In the best sense, religion may inspire dedication to the highest ethical ideals. The cultivation of moral devotion and creative imagination is an expression of genuine "spiritual" experience and aspiration.
We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species. Any account of nature should pass the tests of scientific evidence; in our judgment, the dogmas and myths of traditional religions do not do so. Even at this late date in human history, certain elementary facts based upon the critical use of scientific reason have to be restated. We find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of a supernatural; it is either meaningless or irrelevant to the question of survival and fulfillment of the human race. As nontheists, we begin with humans not God, nature not deity. Nature may indeed be broader and deeper than we now know; any new discoveries, however, will but enlarge our knowledge of the natural.
Some humanists believe we should reinterpret traditional religions and reinvest them with meanings appropriate to the current situation. Such redefinitions, however, often perpetuate old dependencies and escapisms; they easily become obscurantist, impeding the free use of the intellect. We need, instead, radically new human purposes and goals.
We appreciate the need to preserve the best ethical teachings in the religious traditions of humankind, many of which we share in common. But we reject those features of traditional religious morality that deny humans a full appreciation of their own potentialities and responsibilities. Traditional religions often offer solace to humans, but, as often, they inhibit humans from helping themselves or experiencing their full potentialities. Such institutions, creeds, and rituals often impede the will to serve others. Too often traditional faiths encourage dependence rather than independence, obedience rather than affirmation, fear rather than courage. More recently they have generated concerned social action, with many signs of relevance appearing in the wake of the "God Is Dead" theologies. But we can discover no divine purpose or providence for the human species. While there is much that we do not know, humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.
SECOND: Promises of immortal salvation or fear of eternal damnation are both illusory and harmful. They distract humans from present concerns, from self-actualization, and from rectifying social injustices. Modern science discredits such historic concepts as the "ghost in the machine" and the "separable soul." Rather, science affirms that the human species is an emergence from natural evolutionary forces. As far as we know, the total personality is a function of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context. There is no credible evidence that life survives the death of the body (No Judgement Day). We continue to exist in our progeny and in the way that our lives have influenced others in our culture.
Traditional religions are surely not the only obstacles to human progress. Other ideologies also impede human advance. Some forms of political doctrine, for instance, function religiously, reflecting the worst features of orthodoxy and authoritarianism, especially when they sacrifice individuals on the altar of Utopian promises. Purely economic and political viewpoints, whether capitalist or communist, often function as religious and ideological dogma. Although humans undoubtedly need economic and political goals, they also need creative values by which to live.} end
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My point was those who were involved with takeover of CoS are opposed to all religions and their aim is to undo them.
What other pretext for IRS/INTERPOL to join forces is up for speculation. The facts are there. You can "Dead Agent any "source"...documents can be forged, witnesses coached and paid for.
Haters that just want all blame put on LRH and GO OSA SEA ORG and the TECH...knock yourselves out.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. LRH was no exception to that rule and all those who were blinded by ambition and power were also manipulated by worse "puppeteers' expert in what they have been doing to Nations and Corporations, Religions for their warped agendas since day one.
Scientology is in the teeth of a much worse predator then anyone can fathom. Keep your heads in the sand if you will, when you wake up one morning and find our Constitution shredded, you won't be able to blame CoS.
When any religion is suppressed, cult or not, all are are in danger.
Whether real or imagined, when you feel betrayed, deceived, abandoned, and in my case "shot in the back"...whatever, hurt & pain turns to hate and hate blinds.
Everyone on this board knows that many Scientologists have gone to their grave as happy as we have been unhappy. Life happened!