| More specifically they worship the state.
The government didn't replace religion, but they do control it. There's an PRC sanctioned sect of Christianity. Buddhist monks in Tibet need to be registered Communist party members.
| it's questionable how much of that style
| of Communism still exists in China
> There's an PRC sanctioned sect of Christianity. Buddhist monks in Tibet need to be registered Communist party members.
You can, and a lot of people are buddhist in china without any interference from the state.
> It's questionable how much Marxism actually existed from the beginning. I don't think that Marx envisioned famines starving the poor in his "worker's paradise."
That's like saying "It's questionable how democractic USA is/was given they had slavery."
And to nitpick, they starved the rich as well ;-) (which is a bit more marxist)
Communism is a mystical collectivist ideology, that proclaims the magic will of the people can make the impossible, possible. It pretends to bring reality under the rule of the subjective whim, such that if enough people believe something then it will be so. That's classic doctrine however, and it's questionable how much of that style of Communism still exists in China, they seem to be far more practical in their application.