Was atheism the cause of 20th century atrocities? (no)

[moobu2]

Introduction


It’s a frequent rejoinder and polemic utilized by theistic apologists. Yes, certain murderous excesses like crusades, inquisitions, and witch hunts may have been committed by the religious, but they pale in comparison to those done in the cause of atheism. Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot–strident atheists all whose famines, wars, genocides, and purges created magnitudes more dead. Consider, for example, these words from militant Christian cheerleader, Dinesh D’Souza:

"These figures are tragic, and of course population levels were much lower at the time. But even so, they are minuscule compared with the death tolls produced by the atheist despotisms of the 20th century. In the name of creating their version of a religion-free utopia, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong produced the kind of mass slaughter that no Inquisitor could possibly match. Collectively these atheist tyrants murdered more than 100 million people."



As a student of Soviet history and communist ideology (MA in Russian Studies, Georgetown University), I was surprised to encounter such accusations when I first heard them. Never in my studies had I come across this view, neither in the literature nor in the classroom. Some might dismiss this as simply evidence of the university’s deep liberal and secular bias, yet conservative-minded scholars such as Hannah Arendt and Richard Pipes were a fundamental part of my curriculum. My graduate studies were also completed at a university founded and run by Jesuits, not exactly cheerleaders of skepticism.

It’s not difficult to see why today’s religious apologists are so eager to impugn atheism in this way. Skepticism and secularism are growing in popularity among nations and regions where age-old religious traditions have kept them employed. Mass terror attacks, suicide bombings, and intractable religious strife have coalesced to focus hard attention, once again, on the seamier side of faith. Theists are thus on the defensive. Unable to wholly reject the skeptics’ barbs, they curiously respond with a type of moral equivalency argument. Bad things have been done in God’s name, they acknowledge, but worse have been done by those who reject Him. Apparently, theism is to be preferred because it has produced fewer horrors than the alternative.

Behind all the noise generated by theism’s apologists, is there perhaps a grain of truth? If there is, I have not uncovered it. In fact, I know of no reputable historian of the communist experience who believes atheism plays any meaningful role, much less the actual basis. Arendt’s Totalitarianism, which stands as “the definitive account of the philosophical origins of the totalitarian mind,” never once mentions atheism. I have frequently challenged theists to produce a single historian who agrees with their thesis, but not one has been able. It seems they are again engaging in historical revisionism, which is part of their long-practiced tradition of pious fraud.

More christian propaganda debunkation

[hobbit709]

1. Hitler was not an atheist so that blows that idea.

[LeftinOH]

2. Look at this old German military belt buckle!

[trotsky]

3. Fascinating, especially this:

Ignored by the theists is the critique of private property put forward by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. His What is Property? was the key work in convincing Marx that private property should be abolished, which, as I showed above, is the central pillar of communist ideology. And where did Proudhon himself get his ideas? As he wrote, “My real masters, those who have caused fertile ideas to spring up in my mind, are three in number: first, the Bible; next, Adam Smith; and last, Hegel.” (emphasis mine) Understandably, Christian apologists fail to mention Proudhon’s influence on the development of communism, if they are even aware of it at all.

From observations in this forum, the writer is correct - Christian apologists completely fail to be aware of this tidbit. Heck, I didn't know it.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. If you want the specific verses

There are two, both from Acts:

And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.

Acts 2:44-45

Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need. Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But a man named Anani'as with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

When Anani'as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."

But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.

Acts 4:32-5:11

[trotsky]

5. Oh yeah, I've used those verses to point out communistic ideas in the NT.

Apologists generally try to dismiss the obvious, and claim anywhere from "it wasn't really communism enforced by the death penalty" to "that kind of system was needed by the first Christians but no longer."

What was news to me was the work of Proudhon specifically crediting the Bible for his ideas.

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. Socialism has long been a part of the Christian ideal

The New Testament is very clear in saying that early Christian communities held everything in common and engaged in many social programs, and not just the one led directly by the Apostles. Monastaries have almost always followed that example. And remember that Jews became Europe's bankers because Christians were long forbidden by Church law to engage in usury: for more than a thousand years, it was considered a mortal sin to charge interest on a loan.

Also, note how many of the socialist movements in North America and Europe were based on Christian ideals. Most European countries have a Christian Socialist party or similar, and these parties can be pretty strong.

[varkam]

7. Interesting. Thanks for pointing that out.

Things that make you go 'Hmmmm...'

[Occam Bandage]

8. I'd agree. "Atheism" was not the cause of 20th-century atrocities any more

than "Theism" was the cause of medieval atrocities.

[Jim__]

9. Did 20th century atrocities have a single cause?

No.

So, the question in the OP can be re-phrased citing any single cause and get an answer of "No".

[kwassa]

10. Bingo

the thesis in the OP is quite old, tired and weak.