Critique of Religion | God is Power: Summarize these two videos

  This Blog task on Critique of religion given by Prof. Dilip barad sir, In 1984, Orwell replaces traditional religion with the worship of power, making Big Brother a god-like figure. The Party eliminates faith and enforces absolute authority, equating power with divinity and demanding unquestioning devotion, for more information Click here.

George Orwell’s 1984 is widely recognized as a critique of God, but it also reflects deep skepticism toward organized religion, particularly Catholicism. The Party in the novel functions much like a religious institution, demanding absolute faith, enforcing confessions, and punishing dissenters who stray from its doctrine. The world’s three superstates—Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia—can be seen as a reflection of the three major Abrahamic religions, each claiming sole truth and battling for dominance.

Big Brother serves as an all-seeing, god-like figure, watching over his followers and demanding unwavering devotion. Party members, especially O’Brien, act as high priests, guiding believers through rituals of submission and repentance. Even the Party’s strict rules on relationships and celibacy echo religious restrictions on personal freedom. The Ministry of Love, where Winston undergoes psychological torture, resembles a twisted version of spiritual purification, much like the torments of Dante’s Inferno, where sinners are purged of their faults.

Orwell’s personal views on religion further shape this theme. In Such, Such Were the Joys, he describes his childhood resentment of Christian teachings, and his experiences during the Spanish Civil War deepened his mistrust when he saw the Catholic Church siding with fascist powers. Scholars like John Rodden and Patricia Hill have analyzed how Orwell equated religious devotion with blind submission to authority, a theme also seen in Animal Farm, where Moses the raven comforts the oppressed with false promises of a better afterlife.

By drawing these parallels, 1984 goes beyond political criticism to expose how religious institutions, like oppressive governments, can manipulate belief to maintain power and control over people’s lives.

In 1984, George Orwell explores the phrase "God is power" to highlight the Party's total control over its citizens. Despite Oceania being an officially atheistic state, the concept of God appears multiple times, particularly during Winston’s torture and re-education. O’Brien introduces the phrase as part of Winston’s indoctrination, reinforcing the idea that in Oceania, power itself has taken the place of religious faith.

The Party positions itself as the ultimate authority, much like a deity demanding absolute devotion. It is not satisfied with obedience alone—it seeks love and unquestioning belief. By rewriting history and controlling reality, the Party establishes itself as the sole source of truth, much like religious institutions that define moral and spiritual doctrines.

Beyond physical dominance, the Party exerts psychological control, shaping thoughts and memories to eliminate independent thinking. Winston’s eventual acceptance of contradictions like “2 + 2 = 5” and “God is power” demonstrates the extent of this indoctrination. The Thought Police ensure that even the possibility of dissent is erased before it can take form.

Orwell draws a parallel between totalitarian regimes and religious systems, showing how both can demand blind faith and suppress individuality. Just as religious followers unquestioningly worship deities, the people of Oceania revere Big Brother. Historical examples of political leaders being elevated to god-like status further reinforce this idea.

Ultimately, Orwell critiques both totalitarianism and organized religion, arguing that when faith—whether in a deity or a political entity—is used as a tool of control, it leads to oppression. "God is power" reflects the Party’s belief that authority itself is divine, making submission not just necessary, but inevitable. 1984 serves as a warning against the dangers of absolute power, urging readers to question any system that demands total obedience.

Reference 

DoE-MKBU. (2023a, February 21). Critique of Religion | 1984 | George Orwell [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh41QghkCUA

DoE-MKBU. (2023, February 21). God is Power | 1984 | George Orwell [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj29I_MU3c