CHAPTER III
lenin, bolshevism and religion
Lenin is one of the most realistic men I have ever met : he speaks straight out, quite indifferent to the effect his views may have on his hearers. Talking to me about religion he said : “ Do not class me as an agnostic, I am an atheist.” I smiled and replied: “ Very well, as you please : to me your idea of life is only the Christian way of living.” He believes superstition and the worship of what is called the unknowable is responsible for keeping people in ignorance and contentment. Outside the Kremlin, on a wall facing the most sacred shrine in all Russia, the following indictment of religion is written : “ Religion is the opium of the people.” This one act of the Soviet Government has earned for it the most severe condemnation from all sorts and conditions of people. Tolstoyans and other dissenting bodies think the statement much
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