Do you believe there is a correlation between Atheism and Communism?

I myself am an agnostic atheist and was having a conversation with a strongly christian friend. He stated that to have a successful society you have to have one that believes in god and specifically the Christian God. I thought I would bring the questions here to see some other opinions. This is the story.

I stated and provided proof that countries that are more non religious or atheist compete on the same level if not out doing greatly religious countries in education, life expectancy (that I broke down into happiness and health), and crime/homicide rates. These are some things that I think make a pretty strong society.

This brought us to communism somehow where he stated that the majority of communist nations are atheist. After a very long rebuttal on my part, this is what he said....needless to say I am done debating things like this.



Now, do you believe that atheism and communism are directly connected?

 

Typical Christian rant. There are some ludicrous points in his arguement, such as 'Evolution has NEVER been proven'.

 

^ I must admit I find that far beyond ludicrous.

I'm an atheist, does that mean I'm a communist? Uh, no.
I really hope this thread doesn't turn into one of those, he doesnt or does exist arguing threads.

 

There is no correlation and to try and imply one is silly and clearly shows how little someone knows of political versus personal philosophy. While it is true that most Communist countries highly discourage religion and in a lot of cases outlaw it, that doesn't mean that just because you don't believe in God you're a communist.

On the other hand, any sort of philosophy could become a religious thing and inspire fanatical devotion. Look at the military - you are indoctrinated, you go through initiation rituals, you follow leaders, and take most of them at their word. Doesn't that sound like a religion? Take Communism you could relate the state as a god if you can abstractly relate the two to where you begin to worship the state because they supply your needs. I mean it really is ambiguous as to how far a philosophy is pushed before it becomes fantatical devotion.

 

Correlation yes but not causation. Left wing people generally are less religious and left wing people are more likely to support communism.

 

Yes I think there is, every Atheist I have met say they are atheist just because they HATE God. Atheist is not the word for hating god lol... Every atheist I have met have tried to get me out of my religion (Catholic) and say religion is a poison etc. Good example on this thread


Amethyst - "Typical Christian rant" - Saying this like people with religion are a totally different human being.

But then the atheist's that piss me off are the ones who complain that we have religious symbols around towns/cities and then they try to sue them who do have it on their property.

People have to understand that our society are built on Christian values.


This world is going down the shitter.

 

No correlation. Sure, an atheist can be a Communist with no problem, but the two views have no overlap. You could argue that a religious person may be subject to more conventional views of their religion (e.g. Christians and Capitalism), but I don't see any reason for not believing in God to lead to Communism.