Antireleegion

Antireleegion is opposition tae releegion. Antireleegion is distinct frae atheism an antitheism (opposition tae belief in deities), awtho antireligionists mey be atheists or antitheists. The term mey be uised tae describe opposition tae organized religion, or tae describe a broader opposition tae ony form o belief in the supernatural or the divine.

History

Accordin tae historian Michael Burleigh, antireleegion foond its first mass expression in revolutionary Fraunce in response tae organised resistance tae "organised ... irreleegion...an 'anti-clerical' an self-styled 'non-releegious' state.

The Soviet Union directit antireeeigious campaigns at aw faiths, includin Christian, Buddhist an Shamanist releegions. The govrenment destroyed kirk buildings or put them intae secular uise (as clubs or storage facilities), executit clergy, prohibitit the publication o maist releegious material an persecutit members o releegious groups. The result o this varies bi soorce, wi some determining the daith o 21 million Roushie Orthodox Christians bi the Soviet govrenment, no includin torture or ither releegious ethnicities killed, an ithers statin that up tae 500,000 Roushie Orthodox Christians wur persecutit bi the Soviet govrenment, no includin ither releegious groups.

The atheist state o Communist Albanie haed an objective for the eventual destruction o aw releegion in Albanie, includin a constitutional ban on releegious activity an propaganda. The govrenment naitionalised maist property o releegious institutions an releegious literature wis banned. Mony clergy an theists wur tried, tortured, an executit. Aw foreign Roman Catholic clergy wur expelled in 1946.