[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]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”.
Stalin had a better mustache than Hitler, though.[/quote]
I respect Hitchens, and haven’t read Bullock, but I agree that any political/economic/social theory can be considered a “religion.” If Communism can be a religion, so can Capitalism. Hell, your description above perfectly fits American Patriotism, something that has been a religion for a long time with our flags and our eagles and our war porn and our manifest destiny. I am religious about beer and ice hockey.
For the purpose of this discussion I understand “religion” to be a belief in a supernatural being.
