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'''Communism''' is an economic system, social organization, and [[leftist]] political movement. Historian [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.]] has described how the "rise of fascism and communism illustrate vividly the fallacies of the linear conception of Right and Left. In certain basic respects - a [[totalitarian]] state structure, a single party, a leader, a secret police, a hatred of political, cultural and intellectual freedom - fascism and communism are clearly more like each other than they are like anything in between.<ref>[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/schlesinger-notrightleft.html Not Right, Not Left, But a Vital Center], [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.]], ''New York Times Magazine'', April 4, 1948.</ref>

'''Communism''' is an economic system, social organization, and [[leftist]] political movement. Historian [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.]] has described how the "rise of fascism and communism illustrate vividly the fallacies of the linear conception of Right and Left. In certain basic respects - a [[totalitarian]] state structure, a single party, a leader, a secret police, a hatred of political, cultural and intellectual freedom - fascism and communism are clearly more like each other than they are like anything in between.<ref>[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/schlesinger-notrightleft.html Not Right, Not Left, But a Vital Center], [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.]], ''New York Times Magazine'', April 4, 1948.</ref>

However, by the strict sense of communism, no truly communist society has ever existed as communism by definition is a classless [[society]]. Although countries has claimed to be a communist state, it was not true communism, for, in each "communist" state a class system eventually pervades. Thus it is not possible to strictly condemn communism based on examples, as none have ever existed.  

However, by the strict sense of communism, no truly communist society has ever existed as communism by definition is a stateless [[society]]. Although countries has claimed to be a communist state, it was not true communism, as the term "communist state" is in fact an oxymoron. Thus it is not possible to strictly condemn communism based on examples, as none have ever existed.  

While Communism calls for the absence of personal ownership and claims to support a communal society in the abstract, the practical reality of communism is strikingly different.  

While Communism calls for the absence of personal ownership and claims to support a communal society in the abstract, the practical reality of communism is strikingly different.  

In a famous quote, Marx described the core of communism: "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs". Another quote by Marx was, "The theory of the Communism may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property."  

In a famous quote, Marx described the core of communism: "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs". Another quote by Marx was, "The theory of the Communism may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property."  

== Communism and Atheism ==

== Communism and Atheism ==

Marx coined the saying "Religion is the opium of the people" expressing his view that religion, and in particular state-endorsed religion,is a comfort and a pain reliever. This has often been misunderstood as an attack on religion, however, one must remember that in Marx's time opium was commonly used as an anesthetic. However, it also expresses his belief that religion kept the lower class from recognizing that their lives were dismal, and from rebelling against the ruling class. Karl Marx wrote: "Communism begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction." <ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm</ref>  

Marx coined the saying "Religion is the opium of the people" expressing his view that religion, and in particular state-endorsed religion, has been used for centuries as a form of social control by promising the downtrodden a better life in a mythical hereafter to deter them from trying to build one here and now by removing the chains of their masters and overthrowing the capitalist system that oppressed them. Karl Marx wrote: "Communism begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction." <ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm</ref>  

Vladimir Lenin similarly wrote: "A Marxist must be a materialist, i. e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i. e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the class struggle which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm</ref>

Vladimir Lenin similarly wrote: "A Marxist must be a materialist, i. e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i. e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the class struggle which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm</ref>