Communism, like any other revealed religion, is largely made up of prophecies.
Interpretation
The quote compares communism to religion, suggesting that both rely on prophetic ideals.
H. L. Mencken's quote points out the similarities between communism and religion, emphasizing that both systems operate on prophetic beliefs and predictions about the future. By referring to communism as a 'revealed religion,' Mencken suggests that it has a faith-like quality, requiring adherence to ideologies that cannot always be empirically proven, much like religious doctrines. This highlights the interpretative nature of political philosophies and the human tendency to seek faith-based structures in varied domains of life.
In practice
In a debate on political systems, one might quote Mencken to illustrate the ideological nature of communism.
I know a good many men of great learning-that is, men born with an extraordinary eagerness and capacity to acquire knowledge. One and all, they tell me that they can't recall learning anything of any value in school. All that schoolmasters managed to accomplish with them was to test and determine the amount of knowledge that they had already acquired independently-and not infrequently the determination was made clumsily and inaccurately.
It takes a long while for a naturally trustful person to reconcile himself to the idea that after all God will not help him
It is the theory of all modern civilized governments that they protect and foster the liberty of the citizen; it is the practice of all of them to limit its exercise, and sometimes very narrowly.
The central belief of every moron is that he is the victim of a mysterious conspiracy against his common rights and true deserts.
The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy.
It is my conviction that no normal man ever fell in love, within the ordinary meaning of the term, after the age of thirty.
Politics is a science. You can demonstrate that you are right and that others are wrong.
Personally, when it comes to rights, I think one of two things is true. I think either we have unlimited rights, or we have no rights at all. Personally I lean towards unlimited rights, I feel for instance I have the right to do anything I please, BUT! If I do something you don't like I think you have the right to kill me.
I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always end up where I need to be.
Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
Depression is so treacherous - it can be so alluring as well as punishing. After all, it's yours and yours alone - no one else can interfere with it.
It is a dangerous thing to ask why someone else has been given more. It is humbling - and indeed healthy - to ask why you have been given so much.
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