Atheism and American ruling class

[rug]

25.09.2014
By V.M.Mohanraj

Being an atheist I am delighted that Atheist Alliance International has recently been accorded "consultative status" with the UN. As an NGO, therefore, it has now the right to participate in the UN Human Rights Council as well as in various other UN and human rights agencies. This, I may point out, is an indication of the wide acceptance of atheism among the many and varied peoples of the world. But the ruling class, the class that owns the means of production, in all countries, even those countries that claim to be secular as for example America, have never been at ease with atheism. The ruling class of America has always been trying to ensure that the people remained religious and naturally, as we shall see presently, even American Constitution was framed with that in view.

In fact, the increasing popularity of atheism in recent years has scared the ruling class all over the world as a law passed recently by Saudi Arabia shows. This phobia, however, is not a new phenomenon. Its genesis lies in the 19th century after the agrarian, handicraft economy changed to one dominated by industry and machine manufacture. In other words, it manifested itself when the capitalist system supplanted the feudal system.

Karl Marx who flourished in those times witnessed all around him the wretchedness of the class of industrial workers that this system had brought forth. They had no choice but to sell their labour to subsist under the prevailing social system while the ruling class lived in luxury. He also saw the role religion played in helping maintain this unjust social set up. Which prompted him to write "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." He wrote this in the introduction of his work, A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right. Incidentally, this critical study did not see the light of day during his life-time but the introduction was published in his journal, Deutsch-Franzosische Jahrbucher. In those two sentences, he succinctly brings home to the readers the fact that religion reflects the misery of the masses and at the same time acts as an opiate that creates an illusion of happiness, induces a euphoric drowsiness that would help them forget the sufferings they have in the world of reality. And that would preclude them from rising in revolt against their oppressors, which was the reason for the ruling class in propping up religion and instilling in them belief in god.

Capitalism had struck deep roots in Europe by the 18th century thanks to the Industrial Revolution of 1760 creating a class of workers whose living conditions were not very different from that of the slaves -- or at best serfs -- of olden days. In fact, they were mostly slaves in England until slavery was abolished by an act of parliament in 1833. The European colonists, especially the British that came to the New World as traders had settled there overcoming the violent opposition of the indigenous people. The British and those who came from mainland Europe massacred the indigenous tribal population, resulting in their near-total extermination that was nothing but systematic genocide.

http://english.pravda.ru/society/stories/25-09-2014/128617-atheism_american_ruling_class-0/

Yes, it's Pravda.

[oooooob]

1. BRAVO!!

It is my view that fundamentalist religion, of every kind and shape, is one of the biggest problems we have on our planet today. I hope this begins to change that!

[cbayer]

2. Welcome to du and to the religion group.

It is my view that fundamentalism of all stripes, including that shown by some non-believers, is one of the biggest problems we have on our planet today. I hope that this leads towards religious tolerance and understanding.

[truebrit71]

3. Fundamentalist atheism?.. please do go on...

I am pretty sure that the crimes against humanity perpetrated by religious fundamentalists far outweighs those committed by "fundamentalist" non-believers, but I'm willing to learn. Please enlighten me.

[cbayer]

5. I was't setting up a competition about who had done the most harm,

Just pointing out that there can be extreme and rigid positions on both ends.

But if you want to set up a competition, let's also look at the humanitarian work done by religious groups.

Willing to learn? Asking for enlightenment? Hardly.

See you around.

[AlbertCat]

4. How embarrassing!

That Pravda makes more sense than 95% of American news!