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THE CRIMES AND EVILS OF ATHEISM Atheists are quick to point out that throughout history large numbers of people were killed in the name of religion, but they fail to mention the countless who were killed by leaders who worshipped themselves or by atheist-Communists who were driven in part by hatred for God and Religion. "The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression, published by Harvard University Press, is the work of eleven scholars that ignited a continental firestorm when it first hit bookstores in France in 1997. The authors estimate the century's death toll at the hands of Communist governments (excluding wars) at 100 million people. Country by country, deaths by the state in China stand at 65 million, in the USSR 20 million, Vietnam 1 million, North Korea 2 million, Cambodia 2 million, Eastern Europe 1 million, Latin America 150,000, Africa 1.7 million, and Afghanistan 1.5 million. Additionally, the international Communist movement murdered about 10,000 people throughout the world." (Author's emphasis). Daniel J Flynn, "Ideas Have Consequences... Like Murder, Tyranny, and Repression," Accuracy in Academia, <http://www.academia.org/campus_reports/2000/March_2000_4.html> (9 July, 2008). For an in-depth analysis of atheistic-communist casualties in China see the following site: <http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat1.htm> (3 July, 2008). WAS ATHEISM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIMES OF COMMUNISM? A major atheist (Richard Dawkins, I believe) was interviewed not long ago. During the interview, he was asked to justify the evils perpetrated on tens of millions by the atheist leader, Stalin. The atheist’s response was that the connection between Stalin’s atheism and his great crimes is unfounded. Stalin, he said, had mustaches; could you not use the same logic, he added, and conclude that he killed people because he had mustaches? The atheist’s response is glaringly foolish to such a magnitude that it is not deserving of an answer; nonetheless for the sake of fairness, we will endeavor to assess his objection. Was the philosophy of atheism espoused by communists responsible for the mass murders perpetrated by communist leaders such as Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and Ceausescu? Lets look at some enlightening facts that militant atheists prefer not to acknowledge. 1. Communists leaders were motivated by a strong desire to impose an ideological "package" over the whole world. The package included the eradication of religion, defined by arch-atheist, Karl Marx as, “The opium of the people.” According to Marx, religion helped keep the masses passive before the abuse of the wealthy and powerful, and the only way to free them from the “stupor” they were slaves to, God and religion had to be eradicated. Atheism was a “critical” requirement for Communism’s success, and it had to be implemented at all costs, if communism was to succeed. This meant oppressive measures such as brainwashing, the closing of houses of worship and abolishing the priesthood. 2. Karl Marx’s extremist followers were not in any way impeded in their blood-thirsty global quest by any fear of a Higher Power. Atheism took very efficient care of this “limiting Force.” Since the end justified the means, as Machiavelli had instructed, they could do whatever was necessary to bring about a workers’ paradise. Because the opposition in some cases proved to be powerful and resilient, drastic means were used and tens of millions were mercilessly butchered. 3. Since they believed that God does not exist, atheist leaders became supreme, all-knowing, all-wise and all powerful gods. They had total control over people’s lives and over who lived and who died. Being god in their own eyes, they asserted their evil schemes over the masses with brutal and merciless means. 4. People like Stalin were interested in propagating an ideology, not a look. Nobody was persecuted in the Soviet Union for not having a mustache like Stalin, or for not wearing a uniform similar to his, or for not liking the same food, music, or sports. Large numbers were persecuted and killed for practicing religion, and for being interferences to atheist-communist expansion. The atheist’s assertion was therefore inane and totally illogical. Atheism, therefore was a major factor in the murder of countless millions during the past century. Unfortunately, atheism is alive and well today and a segment of it, known as "militant atheism," is still driven by some of the same extremist views reminiscent of communist regimes of old. They, like their predecessors, do not hesitate to admit that they hate God, religion and that they would like to see both disappear forever. Furthermore, they are driven by a hatred for the unborn, and a blind support for common-law living, sexual immorality, euthanasia, etc. The concern of many is that a propagation of their philosophy of meaninglessness and their blind allegiance to atheistic evolution would lead, in the long run, to a return to a cold-hearted devaluing of the worth of the weak and the needy in society, though they assure us that that is not in their agenda. We believe that their cold-heartiness toward millions of unborn babies, and their total support of euthanasia indicates otherwise. Theist author, Dinesh D'Souza expresses some of these concerns quite eloquently in the following quote. “The crimes of atheism have generally been perpetrated through a hubristic ideology that sees man, not God, as the creator of values. Using the latest techniques of science and technology, man seeks to displace God and create a secular utopia here on earth. Of course if some people - the Jews, the landowners, the unfit, or the handicapped - have to be eliminated in order to achieve this utopia, this is a price the atheist tyrants and their apologists have shown themselves quite willing to pay. Thus they confirm the truth of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's dictum, "If God is not, everything is permitted." That is the kind of world we must strive to prevent. That is the kind of world this site and many others like it are meant to combat. ___________ [1] D’Souza, Dinesh, “Atheism, Not Religion is the Real Force Behind the Mass Murders of History.” The Christian Science Monitor. (November 21, 2006 edition). < http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1121/p09s01-coop.html> (9 July, 2008). OTHER RELATED QUOTES "Sadly, the specter of Communism still haunts the world. In Russia, one-third of the people believe that Stalin "did more good than bad for the country," according to a recent poll. In China, thousands of dissidents are imprisoned in the slave labor camps known as the laogai. In North Korea, masses starve as the leadership threatens to unleash nuclear war. In Cuba, dissidents are routinely imprisoned for peacefully petitioning for democratic reform." Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation,. <http://www.victimsofcommunism.org/history_communism.php> (5 Jan., 2007). "Whatever the motives for atheist bloodthirstiness, the indisputable fact is that all the religions of the world put together have in 2,000 years not managed to kill as many people as have been killed in the name of atheism in the past few decades. It's time to abandon the mindlessly repeated mantra that religious belief has been the greatest source of human conflict and violence. Atheism, not religion, is the real force behind the mass murders of history.” D’Souza, Dinesh, “Atheism, Not Religion is the Real Force Behind the Mass Murders of History.” The Christian Science Monitor. (November 21, 2006 edition). < http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1121/p09s01-coop.html> (9 July, 2008).
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