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gome
You're absolutely right that 'communism' does not 'equate' atheism, though it necessarily contains it, if by communism we mean the communist ideology, and that is the only thing we can mean, for a communist society has never existed!
For example, in his Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right, Marx says 'Man makes religion, religion does not make man'. (Which he wrote in the process of positing his own dialectical materialism against Hegel's dialectical idealism.)
And he also writes, in that same essay, '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.' And he also speaks of atheism as 'the denial of the unreal.'
But enough of Marx. As you know, I am anything but a 'communist', though I do share Marx' view of religion. But, unlike Marx, I do not believe (the majority of) people will ever give up their religion, for we will never create the conditions which would make it possible for them to do so...It would mean to overcome the human condition, not merely specific political and material social arrangements, as Marx envisioned...
And if (most) people need a religion, then it becomes a question of what kind of religion. And when I look around and compare, I see one that is truly pathological and dangerous, much more so then any of the others - and if you have read any of my posts, you probably know which one I am referring to...
posted by
Nautikos
on March 2, 2009 at 6:30 PM
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womeninthegap - I have to admit that having a little scrap here and there
is part of the fun of blogging for me.
There is something in all of us that reacts to being challenged, especially when the challenger cannot back what they say. There is a distinct pattern to these frothing fundies, most of them are dumber than your average housepet. The problem with many of them is that they don't know it, they actually think that the driveling nonsense they offer to refute facts and reality is somehow meaningful. When they cloister together and support each other's drivel is when they are the most insufferable but especially when they are finding ways to justify their intolerance of others.
When are they going to learn that it is they who are being tolerated?
posted by
gomedome
on February 25, 2009 at 6:48 AM
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No doubt that is true...but it's against my nature to let a challenge pass! I guess I'll pass on heaven, then, as I have had enough of ignorant, loud-mouth assholes here on earth! LOL
posted by
womeninthegap
on February 25, 2009 at 6:25 AM
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womeninthegap - it has been my experience that responding to some of the
comments I receive here is a waste of time.
I only do so in some instances to allow others a laugh or two and to garner clicks. Infantile and non cohesive arguments loaded with contradictions, while ignoring facts and reality, are the norm for a handful of commenters. The most amazing part of this ongoing exercise is that they seem to truly believe that within their convoluted and extremely confused take on the world around them, that they somehow have an endorsement for their words and actions from the imaginary beings they believe exist. If that were true, their imaginary heaven would be exclusively populated by loudmouthed, ignorant assholes.
posted by
gomedome
on February 24, 2009 at 7:34 AM
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RedStatesMan...
actually, Muslims do believe in God--not your version of Jesus-freak God--but they certainly are not atheists (ever heard of Mecca?). Islam traces it's foundations back to Abraham, just as Judaism does.
And, no, I am not so naive as to believe that communism couldn't exist in this nation; I just don't consider governmental transparency, stimulation of the economy, equal pay for equal work, boosts for the middle class//restrictions for big business, improved education, improved health care, and increased social programs for children and the elderly to be communism...just simple good sense.
Your response to my comment is yet one more case of rapid Republican rhetoric, blasting at anyone who is not a white, Anglo, Republican (rich) male.
posted by
womeninthegap
on February 24, 2009 at 4:03 AM
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RedStatesMan - I'm sorry I ever referred to you as a "chucklehead"
I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to chuckleheads everywhere for lumping you in with them. . . . . and then you have the nerve to refer to another commenter here as an idiot? . . . you should be so lucky, being an idiot would be a promotion for you.
Even though I have whumped you on your soft little head more times than I count, I feel compelled to keep doing so until something registers. First off; I could not care less about how you view your president, your Republican partisan drivel which has you judging a man's performance after just one month in office is too ridiculous to comment on.
Your problem is that you are incapable of distinguishing between your God fan club with all of its inherent inconsistencies and hypocrisies and God himself. It is only in your imagination that this blog makes daily attacks on your imaginary God. Then you add a suggestion that I attempt to fool your God by pretending that I believe in him to "hedge my bets"? . . . but I though he was all knowing?
And do you really believe that simply acknowledging the existence of one of countless versions of an imaginary being has you "covered" in the afterlife? . . . . geez buddy, you're worse off than I ever thought.
"Communism by June" . . . too friggin funny.
posted by
gomedome
on February 21, 2009 at 9:12 AM
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metalrat - Re: You are absolutely right...
I'm not sure if I saw your comment or post where you said that (but I could have), the comment that has come after your comment here is more representative of what I was addressing in this post.
Socialism should not be a dirty word, it should instead be recognized for both its shortcomings and the value that it has in the select instances where it is workable: as a purchasing strategy enhancing socially benevolent infrastructure, encapsulated within a democratic system of governance and utilized only when appropriate.
As existing examples we could start with public schools and public libraries. Shrinking world economies, dwindling resources, existing social problems and a host of other realities mandate that some of the ways we do things must change.
posted by
gomedome
on February 21, 2009 at 8:31 AM
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womeninthegap - the part that amazes me about the people that are still
adhering to this outdated notion is as follows:
Communism does not work as a system of central governance, this should be obvious by reviewing the recent history of the major communist countries. The two largest, Russia and China have both moved more towards free market systems with more individual freedoms for their respective citizenry. On the other hand, we are still seeing people defending a small government and an unbridled capitolist system as the only workable means of administering a country. My only questions to them are: how are things going now? Can a democratic capitolist system continue to thrive without enforced financial oversight, social conscience and the efficiencies inherent in establishing social/communal purchasing efforts?
posted by
gomedome
on February 21, 2009 at 8:13 AM
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OTA. - thank you and thanx for stopping in
posted by
gomedome
on February 21, 2009 at 7:46 AM
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Re: Interesting history...
HA! I must admit Gomerdome, I did agree with this statement:
Communism, is a failed political ideology. It has historically demonstrated that the premise of all citizens working for a common good is unworkable simply because it does not appeal to basic human characteristics.
Too bad our completely worthless president does not see this as the truth! I had heared so much about him being 'what we all have waited for' LOLOLOLOL! As I knew the first day I saw him he was a pile of liberal worthless sh*t! We are now in the socialism stage soon to be communism by June, I say! Of course, we need to look into eliminating that between now and then. I congratulate you on your political take on communism and being able to distinguish between right from wrong. However, I wish you the best of luck on the whole daily continuous attack against GOD who does exist but I think you may need an insurance policy dude! Why not hedge your bets? That way, you may or may not be covered for the afterlife; it's worth a shot at this point!
As far as the womeninthegap comment, I was amazed at the naive belief that there could not be communism in this nation. So interesting it is how so-called progressive idiots can not see beyond their noses. Thye seem to think nothing can happen! Now that is stupid! I just love how some people think they all have it figured out and never think that all is possible. Those people are the kinds you will find along the roadside with all fours up in the air, dead, if there was an actual depression. Muslim or atheist, neither believe in GOD! Is that too simple for the progressive thinker to understand? Thus the conflict! Think about the whole picture!
posted by
RedStatesMan
on February 20, 2009 at 11:17 PM
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You are absolutely right...
..and I am guilty of mentioning Atheism and Communism in the same breath, but, I'm aware that many of the citizens were privately religious in spite of the state imposed sanction against religion.
And I also wish people would realize, as you do, that Soviet style Communism was a facade.
Because every Right-Winger in America uses Socialism as a scare-word whenever they encounter a policy or opinion they don't agree with.
posted by
metalrat
on February 20, 2009 at 8:07 PM
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Interesting history...
and yet one more example of the fundies trying to lump all the "bad" (their idea, not mine) things together into one ball that doesn't touch them. As an aside, during the election process last year, my father-in-law, a stanch Republican, repeatedly told my daughter if the Democrats won the election we'd all be communists. Huh? He never mentioned atheists, but brought up Muslims a time or two!
posted by
womeninthegap
on February 20, 2009 at 7:58 PM
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~ well done Gomedome
posted by
Blue_feathers
on February 20, 2009 at 10:47 AM
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