Three Centuries Of Christian Atrocities

[Szuchow]

I would say that marxism-leninism was simply substitute religion, both gnostic (as marxists claimed to know the objective laws governing history) and millenarian (as communism was supposed to materialize soon, at least before Brezhnev decreed that what exists now [then] is sufficient]. Obviously it is minority position but apart from aforementioned article one can also check Raymond Aron The Opium of the Intellectuals  which is calling it political religion.

Lenin authority was bedrock of Stalin own, one could say that Stalin showed himself as faithful disciple of late prophet.

No argument in essence. Minority position it may be, but it's one I share too. It contained all the social trappings of religious faith, and grew its own fanatics and apostates. Speaking as someone who deconverted from Christianity, the similarities are very clear.

It is sad however that such position is quite often dismissed without much thought, even among atheists who shouldn't be quick to defend religion.