3 Review(s)

In the first part of the book, Bakunin strongly critiques organized religion, particularly Christianity, arguing that the concept of a divine ruler is used to justify the subjugation of human beings. He posits that belief in God fosters passivity and submission, encouraging people to accept suffering and injustice in the world by promising them rewards in an afterlife. For Bakunin, the idea of a transcendent, omnipotent God who controls all aspects of life undermines human autonomy and agency.The second part of God and the State focuses on the state as an institution of domination. Bakunin criticizes the centralized, authoritarian nature of the state and its tendency to concentrate power in the hands of a few rulers. He argues that the state, like religion, enforces a system of inequality and oppression, and its abolition is necessary for the liberation of the working class. Bakunin advocates for a decentralized, stateless society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid, where individuals and communities govern themselves without the need for a coercive authority. Through God and the State, Bakunin provides a foundation for anarchist thought, challenging both theological and political systems that perpetuate oppression.