Political ideologies and religions may share many things in common, but that does not make them the same things. A car has an engine and wheels, so does a plane, but that does not make a car a plane, because to be a plane it also needs wings.

A political ideology is not a religion, because to be a religion you also need to have a belief in supernatural authority behind the ideas.

“Not being that different “.... it’s the degrees of difference that do make them different. Total obedience to a deity, and total obedience to a political system or regime, do seem similar, but in the case of religion the individual can, by use of reason, free themself and leave that religion. Those who live under Communism, or any other totalitarian regime or dictatorship do not have that ability as individuals, necessitating an uprising or mass insurrection to free themselves of it.

No.

We don't have any good examples of communism to base an informed opinion. So far all attempts we're able to witness have been stuck in the transitory phases, which are somewhat indistinguishable from dictatorships.

Marx intended for the transitory power structures to give in to actual socialism, and then finally to communism, but the power structures that institute and carry out the revolution never seem to want to give up that power once they have it - hence Stalin, hence Castro, hence Ho Chi Minh, hence Mao.

And of course capitalism is scared to death of the whole idea. Wealthy people ruling over the means of production don't want to give up power either.

I guess power corrupts absolutely.

Both are authoritarian ways of controlling individuals. Some authority says it knows better than you and tells you what to do, and you're expected to conform and obey under threat of force. In christianity the authority is god(well, an imaginary person in the mind of the believer that they think is real) and church people; in communism it is the government.

Nope, because communism is an ideal system, the same as free market capitalism.
They are like "final targets" but anyone that really studies it know that this final target is probably impossible but in thesis we can get always closer to it.
The problem is when people start to harm each other trying to push closer to it.

Religions are the same but with one difference. There is a divine and Unquestionable authority on it.
Lets give a real example. (they might not equivalent or as harmful, but they are there just to see the difference of a "human" system and a "divine" system)

Stalin did horrible things trying to push for a better world.
Even if you believe the final objective was good and the sacrifices were worthy, you can't deny (and be honest at the same time) that he did bad things. So you can question the authority, you can morally judge the leader.

Now religion:
The inquisition burnt witches to clean the world from sin.

We can say that was terrible but from the perspective of the religion they were not needed sacrifices, they were good deeds, even if entire villages were killed due to heresy. This happens because contrary to the "ideological system" where moral still applies, the religions system the moral definition is the divine authority. If god says you should commit a genocide, so to go against it is the bad action, is evil. Because you changed the definition of good and evil from a moral point to a divine will point.
No matter what is the will of the divinity, this will is good.
Helping the poor is not good because it is moral, it is good because god said so. Genocide a village because it is heretic, is not evil because god told you to do it, so it is good by definition.

So on the human system you can justify the action by a "greater good" but you still know that it is evil and in thesis a god leader would try to avoid it. On a religious system, you do it regardless your moral feelings, it is not for the greater good, the action is good by definition.

And see, even for communists they are trying to build a better world, they can be wrong, their actions might result in worse conditions, but the objective is good they just get things wrong (and it also apply to ANCAPs of the ones that believe in absolute free market). In religious systems the improvement of conditions is not a worry. To do the divinity will is.

Of course I am talking about the real system, if someone treats a communist leader as a god or a leader uses communism to pose as "divine ruler" this is a distortion of the system, not the system itself (again any trial will be a distortion because the system is built as an ideal final target, so saying it is a distortion means nothing because it will always be a distortion).

Acts 2:44-46
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Doesn't this sound like Communism?

No, why? I would say instead the same for capitalism an how all religions have profited immensely, some more than others but all inordinately. Example, the Vatican for just one.

Religion, communism (of the Soviet style - NOT to be confused with democratic socialism), trumpism - all systems where individuals are expected to set aside their own thought, their own rationality, and flood themselves with blind, unquestioning devotion to the 'great leader'.

In other words - cults.

Soviet Russia wasn't 'free of religion', even though it was atheist - the communist party became the new church, Stalin etc. became the new god. Still religion, just with different icons.

Then you have Trumpists wearing their 'magic, red hats' and celebrating 'god's chosen president' who screws them, lies to them, allows their rivers to flow with polution, strips their social protections - all while telling them how much he's on their side, and how all their problems are due to those evil immigrants and plotting liberals.

Shit. SO many people are SO thick.

Yes. Especially when I was raised as a Moron (oops, Mormon). The early Morons lived in communistic communities, everyone being assigned their duty by the church leader.

I was always taught that early Christians tried communism according to the book of Acts but it did not work and they abandoned it. I suppose it was put to us that way so believers would continue to be against communism. Keep in mind this was in the days of Sputnik.

The similarities are obvious.

Communism has its roots in Christianity. I've thought this myself for a long time, but here's a more thorough essay on the subject:

[zingcreed.wordpress.com]

Both ar total system ideologies. That is, they both purport to explain and include everything. They are both fatally flawed in reasoning, if fully accepted, are totalitarian in effect.

All ideology can attain the attributes of religion, in that they are all a form of shared beliefs.

My friend, I have doubts that you're Communist enough... (trying to sound like
Uncle Josef)

Ummm, Communists sure thought so...starting with Stalin trying to stamp out religion using widespread murder, , followed by Russia's brutal suppression for Decades?

Interesting comparison. No, I never thought about it, but in thinking it over I see definite similarities:

Surrender of individual freedom and autonomy to higher authority. Value of the group over individuals.

Deification of founders.

Priestly classes with special powers that interpret doctrine and act as an interfaces with the masses.

Esteemed writings thought to be absolutely true and accepted without question.

Hostility toward competing ideas and systems.

One is usually the antithesis of the other

Any idea can become an obsession to the point of being cultlike. Micheal Shermer wrote about Ayn Rand in his book Why People Believe Weird Things. Her concept of objectivism became cult of personality with her followers worshiping her as if she could do no wrong. In my view, religions are only ways people view the world and try to make sense of it - at least, that would be how the started out. For the most part, communism is pretty much the same.

There are some similarities. Both top-down attempts to force society into a certain path for its own good. However, because it claims no divinity, communism can be adapted to suit. You can take some parts and use them without adapting to the whole package. For example FDRs new deal. You cannot be a little bit catholic.

I presume that you mean both extreme religion and extreme communism. The former has a God that is not on earth, while the latter has a God that is on earth.

Both subjugate the masses to terror at the whim of an individual. Think of Ferdinand and Isabella, and Pol Pot.