WI: The League of the Just remains Christian

[The Red]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_communism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_the_Just

At the time when Marxism first emerged on the political scene, the concept of secular or atheistic communism did not yet exist. All communism was rooted in religious principles. During the mid-to-late 1840s, the largest organization espousing communist ideas in Europe was the League of the Just, whose motto was "All Men are Brothers" and whose aim was to establish a new society "based on the ideals of love of one's neighbor, equality and justice". Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels joined the League of the Just in 1847. Under their influence, the organization became secular and atheistic and changed its name to the Communist League. The League invited Marx and Engels to write a programmatic document that would express communist principles, and they obliged, producing the Communist Manifesto.

However what if Marx and Engels continued to work with the laeague but did not try to change it's religious beliefs. Instead producing a manifeso that called for an communist society under God?

[Jord839]

Originally Posted by The Red

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_communism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_the_Just

At the time when Marxism first emerged on the political scene, the concept of secular or atheistic communism did not yet exist. All communism was rooted in religious principles. During the mid-to-late 1840s, the largest organization espousing communist ideas in Europe was the League of the Just, whose motto was "All Men are Brothers" and whose aim was to establish a new society "based on the ideals of love of one's neighbor, equality and justice". Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels joined the League of the Just in 1847. Under their influence, the organization became secular and atheistic and changed its name to the Communist League. The League invited Marx and Engels to write a programmatic document that would express communist principles, and they obliged, producing the Communist Manifesto.

However what if Marx and Engels continued to work with the laeague but did not try to change it's religious beliefs. Instead producing a manifeso that called for an communist society under God?

It's hard to guess exactly what the results would be, I think. However, my guess would be that communism is a decent bit more palatable in Europe(probably not with the higher ups though, no Junker or the like is going to look kindly on a group that wants to overthrow the nobility, religious or no) at the cost of probably being less useful to other cultures(vietnam, china, etc. probably not keen on a clearly christian ideology. Especially China what with the Taiping and all.) because it would seem even more culturally european. I'm honestly not sure how the religious authorities of that time would have reacted though anybody have any info on that?

It should be noted, however, that this does not preclude atheistic communism even if Marx stays with the League of the Just and doesn't espouse his views. Someone could come up with that as well, but the question is would they be as influential and able to spread the ideology as Marx and his compatriots were when they're going head to head with the League.

I would love to see a TL of this, myself.

[The Red]

Originally Posted by Jord839

I would love to see a TL of this, myself.

I'm reading up on it. Might take a while though, any help would be greatly appreciated.

[theReturner]

It probably makes communism more acceptable, and maybe more people become communist than in OTL, but I can't see to much being different. Like Jord said, the people with power still won't like it, so they will still do their best to stop any revolution fro happening.

Of course, that didn't really work out in OTL either, so maybe if a revolution takes place (and it might not be in Russia), more of the leaders will be Christian. Lenin for example was born into the Russian Orthodox Church.

Also, communist might be more acceptable In America, since it's not athiest, but again, it all really depends on what the people with the power at the time chose to do with them.