Why do Atheists struggle to disassociate themselves from the stigma of Stalin, Mao, and Communism?

Question

Many Atheists always associate all Christians, Roman Catholic and Protestants, with the Crusades, when only the Roman Catholic Church was responsible...

Many Atheists say that Atheism had no influence over Stalin's or Mao's behavior, but isn't that like saying that a belief in God had no influence over Abraham or Moses or Jesus, when rather conspicuously it did?

Why do Atheists struggle to separate Atheism from Communism when it undoubtedly was an integral part of Stalin's Russia and Mao's China and the Communism that governed the two countries?

To say that Atheism had nothing to do with the atrocities perpetrated by these two mass murderers is like saying that Hitler was not influenced by whatever madness he suffered from....

What do you think, of course, Atheists included?

Answer 1

There are more than a few distinctions to be made here.

First, you can't try to split hairs concerning the Crusades being a christian vs. muslim war. At the time, there was only the Roman Catholic Church, and a few splinter groups which were too small to really be counted. This does mean that yes...this war was originated by, and fought for, the church (meaning...christians). In shorter terms, at the time of the crusades, all christians were catholic.

On to communism. If you were to study Marxist communism, you would realize that neither Stalin, nor Mao, were communists. Their struggle to remain in power is proof of that. They only claimed to be communist, and by nature of the manifesto, were atheist. Furthermore, Stalin personally endorsed a church...doesn't sound very 'atheistic' to me, nor does it endorse the vitality of atheism to communist Russia. Mao, on the other hand, did not rule based on his atheism, rather his communisim...of which the former is only one brief aspect.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the point that you're trying to make is that while all of christianity was responsible for the crusades (because, as stated...the catholic church was really the only viable christian church at the time), atheism played a minor role in the atrocities of two communist leaders (due to the fact that atheism is a component, not the whole, of that particular philosophy.

Seems to be a world of difference...

Answer 2

Only the roman Catholic Church eh??!!! what about Jim Jones, David Coresh, the Salem witch trials, the list is very long. More people have died in the name of God than what ever Stalling and Mao put together have done.

Anybody that kill other people for pleasure or gain is crazy. Religion belief is another matter. When religious people kill they definetly do it on their religious belief. When Stalling and Mao did it was to keep control. For example, if I kill the religious groups then I have the control because they have no choice but to follow me as opposed to some priest that can convince people that what I say is wrong. I'm sure that they occasionally killed someone because they did not agree with their religious belief which was probably lack of belief. Again, you must ask the question, did they kill because they where atheist or because the other person contradicted them? Again, the answer is power not religion.

The other thing about the Catholic Roman Church is that at the time that was the most powerful religion. There weren't that many choices back then as there are today. So, when the atheist call forth the Crusades they refer to the church in power at the time which is still base in christianity. If the methodist or the mormons where the head church at the time things would probably turn out the same.

Finally atheism and comunism are not the same thing. One is a government philosophy the other one is a belief system. Atheist for the most part are not interested in subjugating people under one rule. A concept that Christian struggle with since they are always so eager on pushing their belief and condemn those who don't convert.

Answer 3

I'm an atheist, and I think that Stalin and Mao were obviously influenced by atheism. Incorrectly, of course. Atheism only means a lack of belief in god, not any other philosophical concepts.

There are idiotic savages among atheists as well as religious people. They're among the human race. However, by all means, don't associate whack-jobs like these with all atheists.

Answer 4

I don't struggle to disassociate myself from Stalin, Mao, and Communism. Heck, I don't know what half of them are, so I can't necessary answer your question.
But it's not like I chose to be an atheist. I'm an atheist by birth. I didn't know what church was until I was in the 5th grade, and by then I Bible was too "adult" for me to read. I guess you can say I'm an atheist by ignorance, but that's how life should be lived. Don't tell me I have to read a book to understand Life; by the time we would have finished that book, our lives would already be over.

Answer 5

Its not a struggle. Commonest have nothing to do with my Atheist beliefs. Just because Commonest tried to force Atheism on people why Should I associate myself with that. That was Commonest not Atheism at work. I don't try to force Atheism on people which cant be said by Christians they try to force feed their religion constantly. Communism was the greatest threat to Atheism ever. During the time of the Soviet Union Many in the west were afraid to declare themselves Atheists for fear of being branded Commonest. Unlike religions Atheism can not be forced on people.

Answer 6

An excellent question.

People often confuse the actions of the Catholic church as those of all Christians, and atheists often side-step their philosophy's effects on society.

After all, if there is no God, there are no ultimate consequences. Why should I give a rat's pituty about anyone else? By atheist philosophy, I shouldn't - welcome to the world of anarchy.

I actually have no problem discussing the Crusades. They are an excellent example of what happens when un-informed groups make descisions based on little or no information. Wait that reminds me of someone. . .

Answer 7

Probably for the same reason that the land that is known for freedom, disassociates itself from nine decades of state sponsored slavery. We moved on.

I suspect Jesus himself tried desperately to disassociate himself with his heritage. Seventy well documented generations must have appeared to him like a dragon, preparing to devour him.



I might add that for the entire reign of the material minded socialist party, the USSR tried desperately to disassociate themselves from the fact that their empire was inhabited by fanatical Muslims, not Christians, or atheists. Now Russia is surrounded by many small nations, with the old USSR's cache of nuces, and a major score to settle.

That might be why they want to forget materialism, and revert to the comforting arms of Orthodox Christianity.

Philosophers like Kant had a lot to do with materialism, and the rise of acceptable atheism. They also influenced, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, etc. You take the good from the bad, and move on. It's like decanting wine, leave the dregs.

Answer 8

Atrocities are committed by humans who can believe whatever they want. I'm an atheist, but I'm not ashamed of atheism just because some historically bad dudes were of the same mindset. To me that's like saying I should be ashamed of being blonde because Dahmer was blonde too. (ok, it's not the best analogy ...)

Anyhow ... I think you make a good point. And anyone who tries to defend bad deed doers just because they were atheists probably has some things to figure out on their own anyhow.

On that note, I'm off to bed.

Answer 9

Because HUMANS distance themselves from other humans who they believe to be acting wrongly. It doesn't matter what theist or non-theist beliefs a person has if they're doing the wrong thing. If they're doing the wrong thing then no one wants to be associated with them. Period. And not every action a person makes has to do with religion. Person A might punch someone in the face. Person A happens to be a follower of Religious Choice X. No one is going to say "Person A punched that guy in the face because of Religious Choice X". They're going to say "Wow! Person A is a jerk. Let's not hang around him."

Answer 10

Christianity was the reason for the crusades, atheism was a side-effect of communism, not the motiation behind it. Communist violence took part in order to create undivided societies that could function well as a whole, not motivated by atheism itself, in fact, any uniform belief would've done. Christianity-related violence happened because people dogmatically believed they were right... Oh, and just for the record, Protestants started the Peasant's war which killed hundreds of thousands....