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The word '''Communism''' means government in which the state owns everything and the wealth is divided evenly among the citizens. It usually refers specifically to the doctrine developed by Marx and Lenin, which advocated the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.  

The word '''Communism''' means government in which the state owns everything and the wealth is divided evenly among the citizens. The word has several meanings but is usually reserved for the doctrine developed by Marx and Lenin which advocated the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.  

The most famous government to label itself "communist" was the USSR or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; communism was its official government starting in 1922 and ending in 1991. This government was officially atheist and attempted to suppress all religion. Like many authoritarian regimes, it tried to cultivate reverence for the state as a psychological substitute for religion. (Left-wing critics of the USSR charged that it was communist in name only, and had betrayed the revolution which founded it. George Orwell expressed this viewpoint eloquently in his 1945 fable [[Animal Farm]]).  

The most famous government to label itself "communist" was the USSR or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; communism was its official government starting in 1922 and ending in 1991. This government was officially atheist and attempted to suppress all religion. Like many authoritarian regimes, it tried to cultivate reverence for the state as a psychological substitute for religion. (Left-wing critics of the USSR charged that it was communist in name only, and had betrayed the revolution which founded it. George Orwell expressed this viewpoint eloquently in his 1945 fable [[Animal Farm]]).  

Immediately following, we are told that Ananias and his wife cheated: they "sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet." When caught by Peter, Ananias "fell down, and gave up the ghost."

Immediately following, we are told that Ananias and his wife cheated: they "sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet." When caught by Peter, Ananias "fell down, and gave up the ghost."

This voluntary communitarian sharing among the early Christians is sometimes called "communism" and meets some definitions of the word. Some small Utopian experiments and intentional communities, notably the Shakers.<ref>officially: United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing</ref> have successfully practiced similar kinds of sharing, but rarely for long.

This voluntary communitarian sharing among the early Christians is sometimes called "communism" and meets some definitions of the word; but this use of the word is probably best avoided because of its many political overtones which do not apply to the early Christians.

 

Some small Utopian experiments and intentional communities, notably the Shakers.<ref>officially: United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing</ref> have successfully practiced similar kinds of sharing, but rarely for long.

==Notes and references==

==Notes and references==

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