Communism, Democracy and Religion

The world is rent by a conflict between Communist governments attempting to conquer it and democratic regimes resisting them. Each side is inspired largely by belief in a value system which ultimately must rest on faith—on desire, hope, fear and trust rather than knowledge. Faith is a necessary element of religion also. Therefore we are told sometimes that what faces us is a religious conflict. Yet though religions require faith, faith does not require religion nor suffice for it. In fact, neither political ideology constitutes a religion. Democracy cannot rival religion at all; therefore it can be allied to it. Communism is a substitute which attempts to supersede religion and therefore cannot be allied to it.

As an alternative, Communism frequently inspires no less devotion than religion. It requires as much dogmatic belief and subordination to an apostolic succession of leaders who organize followers and direct their dedicated lives so that they perceive the world in terms of their faith. The dogma has eschatological features promising elimination of poverty, war, inequality and insecurity, depicted as the roots of evil and of unhappiness. (These latter two are equated.) Finally, Communism offers an interpretation of humanity’s past career on earth, a prophecy of inevitable fulfillment in the Communist millenium and rules on transforming the present into that rosy future by means of revolution. Where Communism is established this faith functions as opiate; where it is to come, the vision is a powerful stimulant for the dedicated.

EH

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Ernest van den Haag

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The world is rent by a conflict between Communist governments attempting to conquer it and democratic regimes resisting them. Each side is inspired largely by belief in a value system which ultimately must rest on faith—on desire, hope, fear and trust rather than knowledge. Faith is a necessary element of religion also. Therefore we are told sometimes that what faces us is a religious conflict. Yet though religions require faith, faith does not require religion nor suffice for it. In fact, neither political ideology constitutes a religion. Democracy cannot rival religion at all; therefore it can be allied to it. Communism is a substitute which attempts to supersede religion and therefore cannot be allied to it.

As an alternative, Communism frequently inspires no less devotion than religion. It requires as much dogmatic belief and subordination to an apostolic succession of leaders who organize followers and direct their dedicated lives so that they perceive the world in terms of their faith. The dogma has eschatological features promising elimination of poverty, war, inequality and insecurity, depicted as the roots of evil and of unhappiness. (These latter two are equated.) Finally, Communism offers an interpretation of humanity’s past career on earth, a prophecy of inevitable fulfillment in the Communist millenium and rules on transforming the present into that rosy future by means of revolution. Where Communism is established this faith functions as opiate; where it is to come, the vision is a powerful stimulant for the dedicated.