On Religion

On ReligionOn Religion is a selection from V. I. Lenin's works on the principles, strategies and tactics towards religion. Materialism is innately opposed to the religious, mystical idealist outlook, and the proletarian party's duty is to educate the working masses in new, enlightening thinking, Lenin outlines. Only in this way can the new man actually learn and understand that he is maker of the world, that relations are not innately imposed on him by some

On Religion is a selection from V.I. Lenin's works on the principles, strategies and tactics towards religion. Materialism is innately opposed to the religious, mystical idealist outlook, and the proletarian party's duty is to educate the working masses in new, enlightening thinking, Lenin outlines. Only in this way can the new man actually learn and understand that he is maker of the world, that relations are not innately imposed on him by some divine being but are the product of the social order man has made to sort out conflicts at various times. The solution to the problems facing man cannot be solved by telling man to pray god all his life, and maybe when he dies he will be able to go to heaven, as the church preaches to keep the working class down. This makes the question of religion of great importance to the proletarian party, keeping it as a matter of education.

However, Lenin also stresses that communists are not against the religious masses, that one has to work carefully and not offend them. In the end, when the class barricades are drawn and the class struggles enflame, the communists must work to win over the workers to the revolutionary side, regardless of religion. By bringing up religion in the midst of such a struggle or making it a focal point where it isn't, is to play into the desires of the church and state which want to make the question about religion. Communists, thus, must not make the question about religion when it is not already one of religion. Lenin's On Religion serves as a spectacular example of Marxist-Leninist flexibility in tactics and firmness in principle.