Re: [Marxism] Re Religion and Opium

["viveka" <kaliyuga@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ilyenkova writes:

Of course any Marxist organization will patiently explain the
> materialist opposition to religious belief in supernatural entities or an
> afterlife. Lenin's attitude on this was extremely flexible as shown by his
attitude to
> strikes. He warned against a sectarian attitude towards those workers who
> were religious but who participated in strikes: "To preach atheism at such
a time
> [i.e., during a strike] and in such circumstances, would only be playing
into
> the hands of the church and the priests, who would desire nothing more
than
> to have the workers participating in the strike movement divided in
accordance
> with religious beliefs." When socialism has been won we'll know if the
early
> Marx's views on religion being a product of class society were correct. If
> people are still building churches, mosques and synagogues then we'll have
to
> refine our view. I doubt it; but we don't have crystal balls.

Some very excellent points.  No we don't have crystal balls, though I too
would find it hard to imagine large churches and competing faiths in a truly
socialist society.

I happened to read Roque's speech just now to the General Assembly.  He
speaks, as other Cubans do, about their "sacred" duties, a word which is
imbued with religiosity itself.  Cubans carefully choose their words, so I
don't believe this is an accident.

Perhaps the need for religion is due, in large measure, to the contradictory
nature of living in our society, and that, when those contradicitions are
reconciled, the need to segregate our lives into "religious" activities and
"secular" activities will diminish.  Which of us now, as we go to work, mow
our lawns, socialize with friends, consider that we are furthering some
great cause?

While I am not suggesting that every Cuban feels at each and every moment
that their work, however trivial, is furthering a great cause, there is a
palpable sense of pride and purpose when meeting many Cubans that is absent
among Americans.

I had the good fortune to attend a large rally in Havana, with many young
Cubans, proudly waving their flags, cheeering and singing, not in the
cynical way that is endemic to US political rallies, but in a way that
conveyed true heart and deep resolve, a "faith" if you will, in the goals of
their society.

So it strikes me that, given the deep cynicism of the US, the need to escape
and somehow come to terms with a human need to feel that our daily endeavors
are of intrinsic value, finds its expression in weekend religious
activities, and that the need to do so would diminish if one's daily
activities were experienced as "sacred."

Maggie


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