Mark Bjorkbe
New member
influenced by any form of religion? As stated, has any current or former culture or civilization existed without influence of any type of religion or belief?
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Has there been any culture or civilization in the history of the world not
- Thread starter Mark Bjorkbe
- Start date
There have been conscious attempts. The first I know of was the French Revolution which closed churches and persecuted priests - but there was as well (though not universally acknowledged) a revolutionary cult of the 'supreme being.' This never developed into an organised religion.
The Communist rulers of Russia and China have at various times tried to extirpate religion without replacing it with any other metaphysical doctrine. The same was tried in the Communist revolution in Mexico. None of these attempts was really successful.
Hope this helps.
The Communist rulers of Russia and China have at various times tried to extirpate religion without replacing it with any other metaphysical doctrine. The same was tried in the Communist revolution in Mexico. None of these attempts was really successful.
Hope this helps.
Religion is essential not only to form the new civilization, but to maintain existing one as well.
There is simply too many vital things in the civilized society which would fall apart without its member being on a same page during cooperation on a daily basis.
Traditions provide such coherence.
Traditions are arbitrary (different cultures have different incompatible traditions each of them is OK by itself) and the religion re-enforces one particular tradition and moral values for the whole nation.
When you destroy religion, you stop this re-enforcement of traditions in the next generation. Soon traditions dissolve and society got teared apart by violence and anarchy. Often terror comes immediately after religion is dismissed. Google French Revolution and Dr.Guillotine or Russian revolution and GULAG.
There is simply too many vital things in the civilized society which would fall apart without its member being on a same page during cooperation on a daily basis.
Traditions provide such coherence.
Traditions are arbitrary (different cultures have different incompatible traditions each of them is OK by itself) and the religion re-enforces one particular tradition and moral values for the whole nation.
When you destroy religion, you stop this re-enforcement of traditions in the next generation. Soon traditions dissolve and society got teared apart by violence and anarchy. Often terror comes immediately after religion is dismissed. Google French Revolution and Dr.Guillotine or Russian revolution and GULAG.
Michael B's answer is pretty good, except for a few things:
1) The French Revolution did try to do away with religion, but to say France was "not influenced" by not really correct.
2) the socialist revolutions of the U.S.S.R. and other countries were officially atheist, but again, to say they "weren't influenced" by religion is not totally correct.
3) Mexico has never had a "communist revolution." At least one of the leaders of the revolution that began in 1910 (Emiliano Zapata) was an anarchist. And it's true that churches were closed for a few years in the 1920s, but this was a decision of the Catholic Church (as a reaction to some anti-Church policies of the government).
Going back in history, China owes much of its history to Confucianism, which is a philosophy, not a religion. Buddhism and other religions have also influenced China, but Confucianism stands out head and shoulders above the rest.
1) The French Revolution did try to do away with religion, but to say France was "not influenced" by not really correct.
2) the socialist revolutions of the U.S.S.R. and other countries were officially atheist, but again, to say they "weren't influenced" by religion is not totally correct.
3) Mexico has never had a "communist revolution." At least one of the leaders of the revolution that began in 1910 (Emiliano Zapata) was an anarchist. And it's true that churches were closed for a few years in the 1920s, but this was a decision of the Catholic Church (as a reaction to some anti-Church policies of the government).
Going back in history, China owes much of its history to Confucianism, which is a philosophy, not a religion. Buddhism and other religions have also influenced China, but Confucianism stands out head and shoulders above the rest.