[quote=afx114]Stalin and Mao may have been atheists, but are you claiming that their atheism systematically influenced them to commit their atrocities in the name of atheism? Hitler and Stalin has mustaches. So did Saddam. Using your logic I can conclude that mustaches must lead to genocide.[/quote]
Afx: Actually, hold on a second there. There is a valid point to be made that Communism and National Socialism were a form of religion. Its been argued, and persuasively so, from authors ranging from historian Alan Bullock (“Hitler and Stalin” and “Hitler: A Study in Tyranny”) to Christopher Hitchens (“God is Not Great”).
There is no arguing in the destructive force of both movements, and the words, symbols, icons of both movements are intended to evoke a sense of righteous purpose, historicity and “faith” in the “teachings”.
