It's all the same

Richard Lucas (Letters, 31 May) fails to grasp that Communism is as much a religion as his Christianity, minus the supernatural content.

Communism merely replaces an omnipotent god with an omnipotent state; it has its holy books and revered texts (Mao's "Little Red Book"); its great prophets (Marx, Mao, Lenin) and rigid doctrines with an inquisition (secret police) to suppress heresy (dissent). It also indoctrinates children, declares itself the only true ideology with all others false, and advances a morality of the same type as religious morality – revealed morality based on authority. You do as Lenin, Mao or whoever says you should – or else.

This is not secular ethics at work, it is religious ethics. Atheism, meanwhile, offers a rational alternative to religion or communism, namely a philosophy of reason.

ALISTAIR McBAY

Lawmuirview

Methven, Perth

Richard Lucas tries to blame the millions of deaths under Communism on atheism, but this is false.

Quite simply, Communism is a religion that substitutes an omnipotent state for an omnipotent god and neither belief is justifiable in reason. Any belief that rejects reason thereby endorses brute force, and that is why so many have died under totalitarian rule.

BRUCE CRICHTON

Victoria Road

Falkirk