In how many ways is Organized religion like 1984?

[KebertX]

I think this is worth exploring, because there are actually quite a few connections to be made here.

in 1984  society there is a very defined societal structure.  The Outer Party is inside the respected organization and expected to believe anything the Inner Party told them. Above the Inner Party is a nonexistent man named Big Brother who is always watching you and making sure you didn't do or even think anything that's offensive to The Party.  The Inner Party rewrote history, and controls everything and everyone.  The Inner Party is given this privilege because they regard themselves as higher than everyone else, and closer to Big Brother.  Outside the Party are the Proles who were given no respect whatsoever, and not even regarded as human, because they are not embedded with the ideals that the Party demanded everyone subscribe to.

The Party has an obsession with destroying the Orgasm, to deprive people of sexual pleasure, and therefore take away anything other than The Party for one to be loyal to.

In 1984 society the central society is accompanied by two other societies of the exact same structure. These societies support each other in such a way that they exist in a state of perpetual war with each other, fighting over the same patches of land and control of few people who convert one way or another. The Party feeds their people constant propaganda to brainwash the people and make them believe that the other societies were evil and need to be destroyed.

The Party Gained it's power after a betrayed revolution. In the Post Revolution era, they systematically destroyed all information not supporting the ideals of the Party, and all evidence that what they were saying wasn't true.  They destroyed countless documents, and killed any and all people smart enough to realize that The Party was lying.  Scientific Progress was systematically repressed, and all forms of Human Development were brought to an absolute standstill.  Instead, people humbled themselves in fear and reverence of Big Brother, and everything that the Party stood for.

The people in 1984 society are made to employ the concept of Doublethink.  The ability to look at two completely contradictory pieces of information from the Party, and still totally believe both of them are true, because they know this information comes from Big Brother, and they love big brother, and fear that they will go to the Ministry of Love if they don't believe the Party.

The cornerstone of manipulating the public in 1984 society is brainwashing children in the educational system.  The Party is insistent on making sure the children of the generation are bombarded with official Party Dogma so they can make unquestioning followers of the young people. And no good Party member would dare question this, because they know it's what Big Brother would want, and they don't want to go to the Ministry of Love and be tortured for the rest of their lives.

Big Brother is the creator of the 1984 society, and everything that the Outer Party Members can ever see around them.  Even though he killed many people in the early days, he is regarded as infallible.  Benevolent.  Big Brother is everywhere, he is always watching you, and he can hear your thoughts.  Big Brother can do anything, and people are kept in line in 1984 society by constant reminders from the Party Members that BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.

Now read that again, and replace
"1984 society" with "Organized religion."
"Party" with "Church."
"Proles" with "Nonbelievers."
'Big Brother" with "God."
"Ministry of Love" with "Hell."
and "Post Revolution" with "Dark Ages."

I think the resemblance is staggering.  So what do you all think of this analogy, I'd love to see some new connections if you can think of any.

[NothingSacred]

Brilliantly put ! The concept of a thought crime is so hated by society yet they eagerly accept it in a diety. Could you imagine a country running a justice system that way?[youtube:1md1tqwk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTH4TxESMkU[/youtube:1md1tqwk]

[NearBr0ken]

I've considered 1984 to be a subtle attack on organized religion.  The belief without evidence (actually in spite of evidence), the worship of a godlike male figure, and the damnation of all who oppose the regime.  Whether he did it intentionally or not is open for speculation.

[Tank]

If one adds Orwell's Animal Farm to the equation as an illustration of his world view I would say that 1984 was much more anti-communism than anti-religion.  However, because of the similarities between between Stalinist communism and dogmatic religion a lot of the shots at communism are equally applicable to religion.

[Sophus]

If one adds Orwell's Animal Farm to the equation as an illustration of his world view I would say that 1984 was much more anti-communism than anti-religion.  However, because of the similarities between between Stalinist communism and dogmatic religion a lot of the shots at communism are equally applicable to religion.

Of course Orwell was known for expressing his political fears, but if there's one thing history teaches it's that politics and religion go hand in hand.

I don't know if he really intended this as an attack on religion but it's a great analogy nonetheless.

[skwurll]

I've considered 1984 to be a subtle attack on organized religion.  The belief without evidence (actually in spite of evidence), the worship of a godlike male figure, and the damnation of all who oppose the regime.  Whether he did it intentionally or not is open for speculation.

I wish I could've thought about the resemblance before I had to write an essay on the book last year.
It would've really stuck it to my overly-preachy teacher.

[Thumpalumpacus]

In literary history, 1984 is regarded as Orwell's kiss-off to Communism after his disiilusionment in Spain during that country's civil war.

eta: "proles" aren't really analogous to "nonbelievers", it seems to me, even if you're right; they would be more analogous to "tithers" -- they support the system, no matter their personal views.

[Tank]

'prols' = proletariat = the people