Is Communism possible in a strongly-religious State?

This is indeed a good question, a question that holds a relevance even nowadays. Throughout the Globe there are still several States which are directly active in religious matters, i.e, actively connected with religion and religious Institutes. Practically, every Country that finds itself, in this era of "democratic values", governed by religious considerations, and which has its state apparatus linked with Religious authorities, inevitably can be called "a strongly-religious state". As for examples, we have Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and mostly every country from the Arabian Peninsula.

The very first paragraph was to clarify the meaning and concept of a "strongly-religious state", before we could procceed with the question. Having said that, it is the time for us to turn back to the question: Is Communism Possible in a Strongly-Religious State?

First of all, to implement Communism (More specifically, we are talking about it's prime phase here, Socialism) would mean a nearly total overhaul of the respective society, and its transition to the Socialist principles. Consequently, this means that the traditions, habits, and practically all the forms specifical to the old way of organisation that represent a barrier in the path of transition to Communism, must be vanquished.

Generally, in a strongly-religious state, the roots of traditions and superstitions are deeply entagled in the collective mentality of the Population, which therefore makes the civil society look with skepticism and strong repulsion towards the principles of Communism, principles which promote a radical change of the society.

In his work, entitled "Socialism and Religion", Lenin said the following, "Religion must be of no concern to the state, and religious societies must have no connection with governmental authority. Everyone must be absolutely free to profess any religion he pleases, or no religion whatever, i.e., to be an atheist, which every socialist is, as a rule. Discrimination among citizens on account of their religious convictions is wholly intolerable. Even the bare mention of a citizen’s religion in official documents should unquestionably be eliminated. No subsidies should be granted to the established church nor state allowances made to ecclesiastical and religious societies. These should become absolutely free associations of like-minded citizens, associations independent of the state."

Practically, in a strongly-religious State, it is a task and challenge of utmost difficulty to implement Communism, for that it means a radical change of the foundations of the State, and consequently a radical change of the Society, and the collective mentality.

Undoubtely, the measures to force a transition into Socialism would result in a strong opposition of the habitants, and as for example, I would remind the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union and the stubborn resistence of the Mujahideen.

However, Communism would be possible in a strongly-religious state only if it benefits from a popular support, i.e, only if the civil society has realised that the "old ways" are no longer bearable, and that the state needs to take the path of Secularization. But ofcourse, let us not fall into the swamp of Idealism and Utopianism. Aslong as the State controls the mass-media and there is a constant propaganda (wheter it comes from the State/Religious Institutions or is spread from parent to child) in the favor of Religion and in the favor of the "Old Ways", low are the odds for such a belief. I would like to remind that it took more than 1000 Years for the People of Western and Central Europe to escape from the Yoke of the Papality and from religious Terror.

In conclusion, if we are to analyse the question through a realistic perspective, undoubtely we will get to the point where we give the following verdict.

Communism is possible in a strongly-religious State only if it is implemented by a foreign Country, and if there will be no restraint from using force.