makes you wonder what’s so threatening about religion that they want to ban it… maybe because in totalitarian systems, the state is the source of moral truth?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiping_Rebellion
Oh, and this 'rebellion' cost up to 1000x the lives (50m) as the much more talked about Opium Wars (<50k)
* It's the worst war/unrest in human history up to the world wars.
* It was the straw that broke Qing China's back. The empire never recovered. The loss of Manchu officials led to local Han authorities raising armies directly, permanently weakening imperial authority.
* It really was led by a man who proclaimed himself the brother of Christ. Hong was probably schizophrenic. Unfortunately he was also charismatic and a gifted military commander. A fascinating person on his own.
* The Heavenly Kingdom was a semi-functional theocratic state that lasted over a decade and ruled tens of millions at one point. They issued stamps, coins, and tried to establish foreign relations.
* The rebels went full zealot. Millenialist. Communal property. Group castrations.
* The rallying around ethnic Hakka identity by the rebels explains much of the modern insistence that the Han Chinese are one people with one language.
* It was so disruptive Western forces got involved in the conflict on the Qing side. They stayed after. It accelerated the unequal treaties process.
For comic relief:
* General Zuo Zongtang, who finally put the rebellion down, is one of the most celebrated and remembered generals in world history; General Tso's Chicken is named after him.
I still don't understand why there aren't many communist communities. Wouldn't it be better if you could opt in or out?
Not sure if you're serious or if this is expert level Socratic method questioning! The lack of choice is the defining characteristic of communism: many of the folks required to make communism work will _never_ go along with it.