Socialism
and Religion
By F. A. Ridley. Rational Socialist League, 70 Chestnut Lane, Amersham. 40 pages.
By F. A. Ridley. Rational Socialist League, 70 Chestnut Lane, Amersham. 40 pages.
This
is a reprint, updated by the author before he died in 1994, of a
pamphlet originally published in 1948.
On
religion, it takes up a basically similar position to ours, derived
from Marx: that religion is an expression of human alienation, of the
fact that humans are not in control of their destiny but are the
playthings of uncontrollable, impersonal economic and social forces
and resort to religion to console themselves and to try to make sense
of this. This is why, as Ridley puts it in a criticism of bourgeois
non-political rationalists and freethinkers, "no amount of
merely expository or destructive criticism—useful and necessary as
such criticism is in itself—can finally destroy religion; only the
coming of international socialism can do that, by abolishing the
social antagonisms which necessitate its existence".
On
socialism, however, Ridley is not so clear. Since he was a member of
the old Independent Labour Party (ILP) who hob-nobbed with
Trotskyists this is not surprising and explains his reference to that
contradiction in terms a "workers state" existing in
socialism.
He
mentions our 1910 pamphlet Socialism and Religion which he says
relied too much on Herbert Spencer's ghost theory of the origin of
religion according to which the first gods represented the imagined
spirits of dead heroes as they appeared in the dreams of their
followers (fair enough). He also mentions a pamphlet, Christianity
and Socialism, published by an SPGB member, Horace Jarvis, in the
1970s. This was published privately, partly because a pamphlet on
religion was not considered by us to be a priority but also because
it was more oriented towards textual criticism of the bible than a
deeper Marxist analysis of the social and historical origins and role
of the Christian religion. Even so, some Socialists have always liked
that sort of thing. Jarvis, incidentally, before he joined the
Socialist Party, had been a member of the Communist Party's front
organisation, the League of Atheists, but left the CP when they
dissolved this body so as to be able to attract religious support for
the Popular Front policy they adopted in the second half of the
1930s.
ALB
“...There
are among religious people many good and sincere citizens who could
be very useful to society, who are prepared to sacrifice everything
for their principles. The Salvation and Church Army. Nuns, who
renounce marriage and motherhood, and dedicate their lives to helping
the poor, the aged or the infirmed. There are also hundreds and
thousands of workers for churches, christian associations, and "do
good societies", who hope to leave this world a better place
than they find it, and who are seriously interested in peace and the
betterment of the human race, and the alleviation of
suffering.
Christians often claim that their religion is a comfort in times of trouble, but in political crises (which are now continuous) and also in wars, they are in a hopeless philosophical position, like a ship without a captain in a stormy sea.
Because of this they easily become victims of wily politicians and ruthless statesmen, and instead of helping to work for a better social world order, find themselves unintentionally supporting corrupt regimes and dedicating their lives to maintaining these systems. Their naive blindness to the real nature and background of religion prevents them from seeing clearly the material tasks of this life.
"The greatest curse of humanity is ignorance. The only remedy is knowledge. Religion, being based on fixed authority, is naturally opposed to knowledge. Science needs investigation and criticism. Religion is opposed to both these." Robert Blatchford.
Socialists who take a realistic view of man's problems, will look on the miracles of the Bible, the virgin birth, the resurrection, life after death and all the paraphernalia of religion as an obstruction to social progress. It is difficult to understand how any normally educated person can take it seriously, and hard to believe that thousands of people still consider stories that are the equivalent of Andersen's fairy tales, are true.
Christians might do well to follow the advice of the Bible (1. Cor. 13.11) "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put aside childish things." So long as they are tied to the Bible, they can never put aside childish beliefs which prevent them from understanding socialism.
It is quite obvious that if Christians are guided by the Bible and the priests, they cannot be expected to see through the much more skilful propaganda of the politicians, television, radio and newspapers, on life's more important matters.
One must oppose religion because it stands in the way of socialism and the understanding the latter necessitates. A man under the influence of drugs and alcohol cannot be expected to make a good socialist; but if he can be freed from these, at least there is a chance.
One cannot hope to change the world if the ideas that have made it remain unchallenged.
"Philosophers up to know have merely interpreted the world; what we have to do is change it." Karl Marx.
Christians often claim that their religion is a comfort in times of trouble, but in political crises (which are now continuous) and also in wars, they are in a hopeless philosophical position, like a ship without a captain in a stormy sea.
Because of this they easily become victims of wily politicians and ruthless statesmen, and instead of helping to work for a better social world order, find themselves unintentionally supporting corrupt regimes and dedicating their lives to maintaining these systems. Their naive blindness to the real nature and background of religion prevents them from seeing clearly the material tasks of this life.
"The greatest curse of humanity is ignorance. The only remedy is knowledge. Religion, being based on fixed authority, is naturally opposed to knowledge. Science needs investigation and criticism. Religion is opposed to both these." Robert Blatchford.
Socialists who take a realistic view of man's problems, will look on the miracles of the Bible, the virgin birth, the resurrection, life after death and all the paraphernalia of religion as an obstruction to social progress. It is difficult to understand how any normally educated person can take it seriously, and hard to believe that thousands of people still consider stories that are the equivalent of Andersen's fairy tales, are true.
Christians might do well to follow the advice of the Bible (1. Cor. 13.11) "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put aside childish things." So long as they are tied to the Bible, they can never put aside childish beliefs which prevent them from understanding socialism.
It is quite obvious that if Christians are guided by the Bible and the priests, they cannot be expected to see through the much more skilful propaganda of the politicians, television, radio and newspapers, on life's more important matters.
One must oppose religion because it stands in the way of socialism and the understanding the latter necessitates. A man under the influence of drugs and alcohol cannot be expected to make a good socialist; but if he can be freed from these, at least there is a chance.
One cannot hope to change the world if the ideas that have made it remain unchallenged.
"Philosophers up to know have merely interpreted the world; what we have to do is change it." Karl Marx.
There
are many who ask, why are socialists against religion? Why did Marx
write:-
"Religion is the opium of the people?"
Those who think religion is necessary to mankind and that it has a salutary influence, are usually very vague as to what constitutes religion.
Religion does not mean leading a good life; it is not sharing your possessions with the poor; it is not turning the other cheek when assaulted, or loving your neighbour. All these are problems of ethics and morality, so often confused with religion.. Christianity as well as other religions have their moral and ethical codes.
When Matthew Arnold defined religion as "morality touched with emotion", he added to this confusion.
Both Socialists and Christians may wish to help their fellows, and not harm anybody. They may try to be kind, courteous and considerate to the wishes of others - these are things which so many people think are religious principles. In fact socialists are doing their bit to better mankind in spreading the knowledge of socialism, and are often despised for it.
Religion portrays itself as a system of absurd anachronistic beliefs - usually accompanied by threats to non-believers and promises of rewards for the pious. In some cases it seems to be a pathological condition (what disease is to the body, religion is to the mind), where the person suppresses his reasoning power in certain directions. He accepts statements from the Bible as being beyond dispute, statements he would reject completely if he read them elsewhere. No wonder religion has been defined as a "psychological purgative for imaginary sins."
Religion is superstition running away from truth and afraid of being overtaken. This is because religion is based on belief. The many references to belief in the New Testament, makes it clear that "belief" is the basis of Christianity.
Religion is not a revelation, but the product of evolution as all forms of ideas and culture. No matter if fundamentalists reject evolution, their religion and all it contains has been the product of evolution. Even the idea of God evolved. See Grant Allen's "Evolution of the idea of God."
Originally, religion was a belief in the existence of supernatural beings, and the observance of rites and ceremonies in order to avert their anger or gain their good-will. "Corpse worship", as it has been tersely called, was the protoplasm of religion.
Religion is woven like a threat into the texture of human society from the early times to the present day. It is based upon man's ignorance of natural forces and has been propped up by rulers a s a means of keeping slaves in subjection.
Religion developed by primitive man to explain natural phenomenon such as storms, earthquakes, volcanoes etc. To the savage mind when the avalanche fell the rocks were angry; when the volcano belched forth destruction, the mountain was furious; when the ground rumbled and cracked then the earth was determined upon destruction.
Savage man saw everything in his own image. When his mental development had advanced a stage further it was the mountain spirit and the river spirit and the earth spirit that was angry, and he commenced to devise means to propitiate angry spirits.
It was here the priesthood stepped in, the vague beginning of what was eventually to become the Church, that has harassed mankind across the ages, supported tyranny, and reaped much profit in the process. Priesthood became the imaginary bulwark of man against the forces of nature and society; and religion his refuge when life was too burdensome.
In the early civilisations of Babylon and Egypt the priesthood was wealthy and powerful; chattel slavery and poor freeman toiled for its benefit. How powerful it was has been clearly shown by the treasures and manuscripts found in the tombs of the rulers. By holding out the threat of eternal damnation on the unfaithful the Egyptian priesthood accumulated vast wealth and property and stood behind the whips of the slave driver.
Each new religion starting with the will of the oppressed has ended with the power of a new oppressor. Privileged classes learned early the value of religion and used it ruthlessly to support their domination.
All religion is based on faith and faith is an illogical belief in the occurrence of the impossible. It is belief without evidence in a preacher without knowledge about things without parallel. Christian faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason; it is believing in something which your common sense tells you must be wrong. All this is in direct opposition to socialism, and cannot possibly be reconciled with or incorporated into socialism.
Those who think religion is necessary to mankind and that it has a salutary influence, are usually very vague as to what constitutes religion.
Religion does not mean leading a good life; it is not sharing your possessions with the poor; it is not turning the other cheek when assaulted, or loving your neighbour. All these are problems of ethics and morality, so often confused with religion.. Christianity as well as other religions have their moral and ethical codes.
When Matthew Arnold defined religion as "morality touched with emotion", he added to this confusion.
Both Socialists and Christians may wish to help their fellows, and not harm anybody. They may try to be kind, courteous and considerate to the wishes of others - these are things which so many people think are religious principles. In fact socialists are doing their bit to better mankind in spreading the knowledge of socialism, and are often despised for it.
Religion portrays itself as a system of absurd anachronistic beliefs - usually accompanied by threats to non-believers and promises of rewards for the pious. In some cases it seems to be a pathological condition (what disease is to the body, religion is to the mind), where the person suppresses his reasoning power in certain directions. He accepts statements from the Bible as being beyond dispute, statements he would reject completely if he read them elsewhere. No wonder religion has been defined as a "psychological purgative for imaginary sins."
Religion is superstition running away from truth and afraid of being overtaken. This is because religion is based on belief. The many references to belief in the New Testament, makes it clear that "belief" is the basis of Christianity.
Religion is not a revelation, but the product of evolution as all forms of ideas and culture. No matter if fundamentalists reject evolution, their religion and all it contains has been the product of evolution. Even the idea of God evolved. See Grant Allen's "Evolution of the idea of God."
Originally, religion was a belief in the existence of supernatural beings, and the observance of rites and ceremonies in order to avert their anger or gain their good-will. "Corpse worship", as it has been tersely called, was the protoplasm of religion.
Religion is woven like a threat into the texture of human society from the early times to the present day. It is based upon man's ignorance of natural forces and has been propped up by rulers a s a means of keeping slaves in subjection.
Religion developed by primitive man to explain natural phenomenon such as storms, earthquakes, volcanoes etc. To the savage mind when the avalanche fell the rocks were angry; when the volcano belched forth destruction, the mountain was furious; when the ground rumbled and cracked then the earth was determined upon destruction.
Savage man saw everything in his own image. When his mental development had advanced a stage further it was the mountain spirit and the river spirit and the earth spirit that was angry, and he commenced to devise means to propitiate angry spirits.
It was here the priesthood stepped in, the vague beginning of what was eventually to become the Church, that has harassed mankind across the ages, supported tyranny, and reaped much profit in the process. Priesthood became the imaginary bulwark of man against the forces of nature and society; and religion his refuge when life was too burdensome.
In the early civilisations of Babylon and Egypt the priesthood was wealthy and powerful; chattel slavery and poor freeman toiled for its benefit. How powerful it was has been clearly shown by the treasures and manuscripts found in the tombs of the rulers. By holding out the threat of eternal damnation on the unfaithful the Egyptian priesthood accumulated vast wealth and property and stood behind the whips of the slave driver.
Each new religion starting with the will of the oppressed has ended with the power of a new oppressor. Privileged classes learned early the value of religion and used it ruthlessly to support their domination.
All religion is based on faith and faith is an illogical belief in the occurrence of the impossible. It is belief without evidence in a preacher without knowledge about things without parallel. Christian faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason; it is believing in something which your common sense tells you must be wrong. All this is in direct opposition to socialism, and cannot possibly be reconciled with or incorporated into socialism.
“...Man
makes religion,
religion does not make man. Religion is, indeed, the
self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either not yet won
through to himself, or has already lost himself again. But man is
no abstract being squatting outside the world. Man is the
world of man –
state, society. This state and this society produce religion, which
is an inverted
consciousness of the world,
because they are an inverted
world.
Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopaedic
compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point
d’honneur,
its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its
universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic
realization of
the human essence since the human
essence has
not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is,
therefore, indirectly the struggle against
that world whose
spiritual aroma is
religion.
Religious suffering
is, at one and the same time, the expression of real
suffering and a protest against real suffering.
Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a
heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is
the opium of the people.
The
abolition of religion as the illusory happiness
of the people is the demand for their real happiness.
To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is
to call on them to give
up a condition that requires illusions.
It
is, therefore, the task
of history, once
the other-world of
truth has vanished,
to establish the truth
of this world. It is the
immediate task of
philosophy, which is in
the service of history, to unmask self-estrangement in its unholy
forms once the holy
form of human
self-estrangement has been unmasked. Thus, the criticism of Heaven
turns into the criticism of Earth, the criticism
of religion into
the criticism of
law, and the criticism
of theology into
the criticism of
politics...” - Marx,
A
Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right."
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