Three items appear below:
Communism = Atheism? H. Edwards
Look at the
Stars
Anonymous
Edwards to Mr
A.
H. Edwards
Communism
= Atheism ?
Harry
Edwards
(Investigator
127, 2009
July)
Once again in #126 Anonymous in his criticism of
De Kretser's article
(#125) equates Communism with Atheism.
My understanding of Communism is that it is a political ideology
whereas Atheism simply questions the existence of a supernatural being.
Being a communist doesn't automatically make you an atheist or vice
versa.
Mr A refers to "the atheist rule of Russia, China, Cambodia and North
Korea", implying that they are all atheists because they are Communist.
He should stop and think a little harder before he indulges in such
generalisations.
In the former Communist Soviet Russia less than 2% of the population of
150 million (1990 est.) were members of the Communist Party. According
to Mr A's tarbrush however, all 150 million were atheists. Since the
collapse of the Soviet neither Russia or any of the newly formed
autonomous republics have had communist governments. So does that mean
that they are no longer atheists?
As for the Far Eastern countries he names, the religions are
principally Buddhism and Confucianism, therefore, with no allegiance to
the Christian god and Christianity, the political persuasion of their
regimes is quite irrelevant.
Mr A doesn't mention Europe where many countries over the past 60 years
have seen Communist governments come and go. Does that mean that
atheism waxes and wanes accordingly and that the population becomes
alternatively Christian and atheist?
Anonymous seems to blame communism for everything when he refers to
"the evil results of Communist rule." I suggest that the "evil results"
manifested by God-fearing, right wing Christians would be on a par.
Surely Mr A is being very selective by not mentioning George W Bush and
his "command" from God to invade Iraq or the carpet bombing of Cambodia
by a predecessor. And what about the 20-year plunder of the Philippines
by the late President Marcos?
Mr A's praise for the Christian Ministries fails to
mention that they pay no income or property taxes, are
allowed carry on tax exempt businesses, receive government (tax payer)
support, receive donations from those buying salvation for their souls
and are the richest real estate owners in the world. They can
well afford their charity works. However, charities are not the sole
province of Christians. Non-Christian and non-church based charities
also exist and no doubt atheists are among their members.
Finally, Mr A claims that "Modern
Science" began in Christianity. Does he mean chronologically at the
time of the Copernican revolution, which followed Christianity's "Dark
Ages?" Regardless of its time frame, its nascence was not the result or
product of Christianity but the observations and calculations of free
thinkers – many of whom suffered at the hands of Christianity for their
contribution.
Harry Edwards
LOOK AT
THE STARS
(Investigator
128, 2009
September)
Mr Edwards ($127) thinks I "equate Communism with
atheism".
In #126 I wrote of "atheist rule" and "atheistic Communism" without
estimating how many atheists were Communists and vice versa. Time,
in 1990, reported: "disenchanted atheists are flocking to the old
faith…" (October 15, p. 55) But precise figures on who was what are
lacking.
Communism and atheism were, however, closely linked. In 1922 Lenin, who
founded the Soviet state, wrote: "We must engage in a most decisive
battle against reactionary clergy and suppress their resistance with
such cruelty that they will remember it for several decades."
Decades-long anti-religion programs followed. Communists confiscated
tens of thousands of churches, and the KGB enforced the following:
•
Religious education of children by religions
prohibited;
•
Religious groups had no property rights;
•
Pastoral/charitable works outside of churches
forbidden.
The
Great Sex Swindle (Drakeford, J.W. 1966) describes the
abandonment
of religious teaching on sex, marriage and family life and the
decriminalization of abortion, bigamy, adultery and incest. This free
sex "paradise", however, led to chaos – women became property,
family
relations were destroyed, and hordes of bastards roamed the cities. In
the mid 1930s the regime reversed itself – abortion was outlawed,
divorce was made difficult, and large families received tax exemptions.
In 1990 Soviet Parliament passed the "Law on Freedom of Conscience"
which scrapped most of the anti-religion laws.
Edwards looks to Marcos of the Philippines as reason to reject
Christianity. The Bible, however, foretold that many "imposters" will
bring disrepute. (II Peter 3; Jude)
An old rhyme says: "Two men look out through the same bars; One sees
mud and one sees stars." Edwards can examine the "mud" and feel
depressed, or face the "stars" and feel inspired:
- Judy
Steel established
Uganda Australia Christian Outreach which provides medical clinics,
literacy classes, immunizations, and mosquito nets in Uganda.
- Beachy
Head on the
British coast has had 500 suicides since the 1960s but Christians now
patrol there 100 hours/week.
- Uniting
World fights
water shortage and water-borne diseases in Uganda, India and other
countries by installing "boreholes, wells, pumps, taps and toilets."
Some
ministries get tax relief but to complain about that is simply
sour grapes. Others get no support.
Regarding the Bible's role in science – I'll write on that another
time. Investigator has already published several lists of
Bible-believers who founded scientific disciplines.
Finally regarding "Christianity's dark ages": The Roman Empire
collapsed leaving Europe crisscrossed by rampaging, plundering
"barbarian" tribes for 800 years starting with Goths, Vandals and Huns,
and continued by Saxons, Muslims, Vikings and Mongols. Christians
provided islands of stability and preservation of learning through
Monasticism when the world was in chaos. Again look for the "stars" and
see them shine (Daniel 12:3), not the mud.
Anonymous
Edwards to Mr A.
(Investigator
129, 2009 November)
Oh dear, oh dear, why does Anonymous not read the
letters before he
responds?
In Communism = Atheism I made two points.
1. That because the powers that be are
communist/atheist it doesn't automatically follow that the entire
population is also communist/atheist.
2. That the governments of some countries
diametrically opposed to those ideologies are equally guilty of "evil
results."
In addition to obfuscating the above Mr A ignores a basic question –
that regarding "modern science." His examples could hardly be
classified as "modern."
As for seeing the stars, if he would stop muddying the waters maybe I
could.
Harry Edwards
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