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'''Communism''' is an economic system, social organization, and a political movement advocating the absence of personal ownership, and hence supporting a communal society. As a political movement, communism seeks to establish a classless society by prohibiting personal economic growth. It is frequently (incorrectly) equated with a [[socialist]] economy in which the state owns everything and the wealth is divided evenly among the citizens. Note that it is possible to operate a communist economic system under a variety of political systems including democracy, autocracy, and monarchy. The term communism has colloquially taken on several meanings and is often used to describe the doctrine developed by [[Karl Marx]] and [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin| Vladimir Lenin]] which advocated the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat (the social group which does not control the means of production), followed by close state control of all sectors of the economy.  

'''Communism''' is an economic system, social organization, and political movement advocating the absence of personal ownership and supporting a communal society. As a political movement, communism seeks to establish a classless society by prohibiting personal economic growth. It is frequently (incorrectly) equated with a [[socialist]] economy in which the public, whether the state or other group, owns everything and the wealth is divided fairly among the citizens. As an economic system, communism is possible under a variety of political systems including democracy, autocracy, and monarchy.

The most famous government to label itself "communist" was the [[USSR]] or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; the Communist Party controlled its government from 1922 to 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 term communism has taken on several meanings and is often used to describe Marxism, the doctrine developed by [[Karl Marx]], and the variations of Marxism, such as those developed by [[Vladimir Ilyich Lenin| Vladimir Lenin]], Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong. Marxism advocates the overthrow of capitalism by a revolution of the proletariat, the social group which does not control the means of production. The goal of Marxism is to create a society that is completely classless, including economic and political classes, which would result in an anarchist society. The difference between Marxism and communist-anarchism is the Marxist belief that a dictatorship of the proletariat is needed before transitioning to true communism. A socialist state would be created which would supervise the economy and unions to ensure the proletariat have the ability to sustain communism. True communism follows the dismantling of the socialist state.

A famous quote describing Communism, attributed to Karl Marx, is "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs". Another 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".

==Early Christian sharing==

==Early Christian sharing==