quote:

---

All obviously religious architecture is to be demolished (some modern churches don't "look" like religious buildings...they can be taken over for secular purposes). Knock down the most "famous" cathedrals first...it sends the message that we're serious. The "little churches" can be the last to go.

All public religious ceremonies, processionals, holidays, etc. are to be abolished. Religious symbols to be removed from all public buildings.

All building names, street names, place names, city names, names of geographical features, etc. with religious connotations to be re-named.

All religious schools to be converted to secular use or torn down.

No new religious texts to be published...let the ones that exist gradually go out of circulation.

No further manufacture or distribution of religious paraphernalia; artifacts from demolished churches to be recycled into useful stuff or destroyed.

Cemeteries to be replaced with crematoriums; eventually to be cleared and the land used for some secular purpose, like a park for example.

Street-preaching is "disturbing the peace"...30 days on the back of a sanitation truck would seem appropriate.

As part of the transition, it might be appropriate to allow the temporary use of secular buildings for religious ceremonies...but nothing decent: something like an unused warehouse would be about right.

Demoralizing believers is very important; especially "holy" sites need to be profaned in an emphatic way...to demonstrate that the old ways are finished.

Note that there's nothing here that directly involves persecuting believers for believing (unless they make a public nuisance of themselves).

And, mind you, even with these steps, I still think it likely to take a couple of centuries to rid ourselves of this blight...it took Christianity that long to destroy the old religions in the Roman Empire.

---

quote:

---

We could take the authoritarian path and silence the church, destroy it, force our atheism upon all, etc.

---

quote:

---

A moral code -- e.g., the 10 commandments. Surely teaching morals and ethics to a population is an essential aspect of building a society based upon equality?

---

quote:

---

A belief as to what happens after death. the "great mystery", and surely one that any inquisitive mind will touch upon.

---

quote:

---

A belief in a "supreme" being. While I don't believe in an interventional god (my own belief system would equate most closely to Buddhism), I am constantly frustrated by arrogant "scientists" who, while being unable to disprove existence (a crucial aspect of scientific experimentation) of god, look down their noses at this "unscientific" view, dismissing even well structured arguments e.g., creationism (this should get a rise) coupled with guided evolution--as superstitious nonsense.

---

quote:

---

I would envision a society that focuses on arts, on leisure, and upon political and philosophical debate; life after death, the existence of god, etc., these are questions that science can not answer, yet burn in the heart of every man. Surely this new society would encourage discussion and philosophical thought?

---

quote:

---

...surely freedom of speech--which implies freedom of belief--is a crucial part of any democratic system?

---

quote:

---

All you say sounds so nice and easy. But we are humans and as much as you try, you cannot predict what will happen, and how we will react.

---

quote:

---

What happens if people don't want to give up on religion? What if they still believe in a god even when you start that little eradication process?

---

quote:

---

...but what if they want to practice their religion in the open? Have a place to worship, you will deny that?

---

quote:

---

Also taking children away from their parents, thats just barbaric!...How do you think the parents would feel if their children were taken from them? That's quite disturbing.

---

quote:

---

...but who are you to decide what they will believe in or not? I mean by you teaching them in school and whatever else you said, that there are no gods, and to not have religions and all that other garbage, you are forcing an idea in them, you too are brainwashing them.

---

quote:

---

I mean is your objective to turn people communist or just do what's best for them?

---

quote:

---

...but wouldn't it be a better idea to leave all the old "churches" and "holy sites" intact? I mean you could just have them there for people to look at, not really to practice anything. I mean if you think those building aren't beautiful then that's your business but I'm sure many people disagree, I mean it's history.

---

quote:

---

I think the kind of society you are trying to make is one like in the book The Giver. And that's creepy.

---

quote:

---

Christians will not be content with simply being allowed(!) to believe in "god" because a part of Christian belief is attending church; if the Christians cannot attend church, they will be extremely displeased, that is, as long as they are Christians.

---

quote:

---

Multiple Partners = AIDS, that is official WHO advice, the sooner people realise that the sooner people stop dying...

---

quote:

---

I think you enjoy seeing others become shocked by your unconventional ways, am I right, comrade? You rebellious teenager...er, elderly man!

---

quote:

---

What Redstar and others are advocating is bordering on the "Bolshevisation" programs instituted by Stalin just after his ascendancy to the head of the Party.

---

quote:

---

What you are talking about is oppression, plain and simple.

---

quote:

---

All too often, revolutionaries aren't motivated by a feeling for the necessity of a truly egalitarian society. Instead, they are motivated by greed for the power to oppress those whom they hated before the seizure of power.

---

quote:

---

I ask you this simple question. Are you motivated by a love for the people or the lust to destroy those you hate?

---

quote:

---

This is exactly what you will be doing if you set out to demolish all the world's religious institutions. Criminalizing one type of ideology in order to foster the furtherance of another.

---

quote:

---

You people, as well as Marx, never acknowledged the various Eastern belief systems (Sikh, Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Ruhani Satsang, etc.). None of these systems are oppressive. On the contrary, they stress that peace and liberation of body and spirit in this lifetime...please differentiate between Eastern and Western religions, as the two are light years apart.

---

quote:

---

I'm sickened by the fact that some people, would consider abstinence a purely religious idea. Uganda is proof of how abstinence and being monogamous is actually beneficial to humankind; if this doesn't fit some of your "high and mighty" communist values, that's too bad. What works, works.

---

quote:

---

The Japanese and Vietnamese are not the only Buddhists on the planet. I was raised Tibetan Buddhist...

---

quote:

---

I have a sneaking suspicion that you were probably turned off by Christianity at a young age and through either laziness or ignorance haven't bothered to investigate any of the alternatives.

---

quote:

---

I have however had certain experiences during what science knows as transcendental meditation and what I know as Sharadt Shabda Yoga that can not be effectively explained by science.

---

quote:

---

I was referring to your lack of investigation of alternative religions as an adult. This doesn't just include reading sacred texts or scholarly works, try actually visiting a monastery or temple.

---

quote:

---

And just for the record, when I was 18 months old I was asking my parents questions like "Where is God, mommy?" and "Where did we all come from, daddy?"

---

quote:

---

I was merely pointing out things might not come out how you plan. Yet you sound so convinced that it will....

---

quote:

---

Yes, I bet there will be a struggle, but what if people don't want to give it up? Why wouldn't you let it be. I mean if they give you this really big struggle wouldn't you understand they're happy like that?

---

quote:

---

I don't think that the only purpose of "religious architecture" is to propagandize, I doubt my sister or mother or anyone from my family see it as that. Just how I doubt they see other religious buildings as propaganda. I mean if the point of having buildings is for people to come in them because they are attracted, it certainly hasn't worked on my family...

---

quote:

---

And about the brainwashing, it is the parents' job to raise the kids how they want. If they want to raise ignorant fools, fine...

---

quote:

---

Yeah maybe it seems superstitious to you, but you have to respect if the others believe in that.

---

quote:

---

And just don't look at them [churches] when you leave...

---

quote:

---

If those buildings important to organized religion's dominance were converted to museums that document their history of oppression, the people would rightfully see this as an effort to strip away systems of control and simultaneously a method to educate them. They would then, not see it as an attack on community structure and progress but a step toward free thinking and a secular interactions in society.

---

quote:

---

One must always remember, MARXISM IS NOT COMMUNISM, marxism is a form of socialism. Marx did not invent communism, nor did he invent socialism. Religion has nothing to do with communism or socialism, these are political, social and economic; religion is religious. I don't know how many times this topic has come up but it is starting to piss me off.

(PS: hundreds of years before Marx Christians were practicing communism!)

---

quote:

---

You seem to be much more opposed to religion in practice than in concept.

---

quote:

---

Were there not Christian socialists?

---

quote:

---

you're probably not going to, but read Acts 2 and 4. This is communism.

---

quote:

---

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.--Acts 2:44-45.

---

quote:

---

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.--Acts 4:32

---

quote:

---

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.--Acts 4:34-35

---

quote:

---

I am not a marxist at all, of any type.

---