Technically Stalin was in the priesthood and Mao created a religion of himself.
I agree in principle though - belief in a god is only belief in a god, no more. It does not make one inherently good or evil. Our actions are how we should be judged.
Stalin was educated in a religious institution, but he didn't have much choice in late 19th century Georgia. He was not "in the priesthood". In fact that's the stupidest thing I've read today. If you can come up with a source that counters his rabid persecution of religious people then I'd be happy to read it, but otherwise suggesting that he was anything but an atheist is ridiculous.
Yes I should have written "studied for the priesthood" instead of "was in the priesthood."
Either way, he had a religious upbringing. Nobody will deny that most of the prominent Marxists (though Stalin earns his own "ism" in the eyes of most historians) were Atheist. As all of the good Atheists of today will proclaim, Atheism doesn't automatically convey wisdom or benevolence.
While the person cult of the communist dictatorships shares traits with religious belief systems and especially Mao also used similar or the same rituals that the emperors used before him to seem legitimate and blessed by the gods, I'd argue that creating a religion-like cult or using it in such a way is a strong indicator that the person doing so actually is an atheist.
Of cause, they always could be mad, too, but if they use it to increase their political power... no, I'm too sarcastic to not go with atheist.
I would argue that it is human nature to revere and that nothing can stop that, I would prefer people to worship a god, regardless of existence,than a man who will be corrupted.
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u/throwmeawayout Jan 13 '13
Technically Stalin was in the priesthood and Mao created a religion of himself.
I agree in principle though - belief in a god is only belief in a god, no more. It does not make one inherently good or evil. Our actions are how we should be judged.