Summary of two videos

 "God is Power": Orwell’s Critique of Religion and Authority in 1984

Hello everyone, this blog is responding to a task assigned by Dr.Dilip.Barad. Which is related to George Orwell’s novel 1984. For Thorough understanding must watching these two videos, God is Power, Critique of Religion

  

George Orwell's 1984 is commonly interpreted as a political satire of totalitarian governments, yet within its science fiction setting is a deep study of religion, faith, and power. Among the most harrowing statements made in the book—"God is Power"—are spoken during Winston Smith's merciless re-education at the Ministry of Love, where O'Brien deconstructs Winston's grasp of reality and compels him to accept the omnipotence of Big Brother.

This sentence has deeper implications than purely political; it is a point-blank indictment of the connection between power and divinity within totalitarian states as well as structured religion. Orwell is implying that, throughout history, the concept of God has been employed not just as a source of morality but also as a tool for control, compliance, and oppression. This blog delves into the meanings of the words "God is Power" when placed in the context of 1984, using comparisons between the rule of the Party and religious power.

Big Brother as a Divine Being: The Political Theocracy of Oceania

Big Brother, in 1984, serves as an uncontested, omnipresent deity—a supreme being who is omnipotent, omniscient, and infinite. The Party makes sure everyone does not catch a glimpse of Big Brother but his face dominates everywhere via propaganda, and every part of one's life follows his dictates. This reflects religious belief in God, whose visibility is rarely expected through direct observability but sensed through faith, dogma, and institutional structure.

Big Brother and Religious Qualities

Omnipresence: As religious traditions portray God as all-seeing, so Big Brother watches all the time through telescreens and the Thought Police.

Unquestionable Authority: Scepticism regarding Big Brother amounts to heresy, just as scepticism of religious dogma in past theocracies.

Worship and Devotion: Citizens must love Big Brother, just like religious followers are supposed to love God. Non-compliance is punished, as religious heretics were persecuted throughout history.

By this paradigm, Orwell satirizes how religious fervor may be co-opted into sheer political compliance, supporting the perception that power and not religion is the real end of institutionalized belief systems.

"God is Power": The Party's Tyranny over Reality

In 1984, O'Brien's declaration that "God is Power" is merely an extension of the Party's larger plan to dominate not only actions, but also thoughts and beliefs. The statement perverts the conventional religious notion that God embodies justice, morality, and righteousness and instead offers a brutal, totalitarian view of divinity as raw force.

The Meaning of "God is Power" in Oceania

Power is the Ultimate Reality: The Party makes reality itself obey—if the Party decrees that 2+2=5, it has to be believed. Similarly, in religious denominations, total faith is sometimes demanded, even in the presence of contradictions.

God as a Tool of Terror: Most religions employ fear of punishment from God to enforce obedience, as the Party employs torture and Room 101 to force ideological submission.

Submission as Salvation: Just as religious believers attempt salvation by submitting to the will of God, Winston must discover "redemption" by submitting absolutely to Big Brother.

Orwell then implies that both political and theocratic systems apply the concept of God as a means to fix authority, where belief is not so much about one's own belief but is more about promoting submission.

The Parallels of Confession in 1984 and Religious Theology:- Confession is an important theme throughout 1984, paralleling religious rituals—particularly Catholic confession. In Oceania, confession is neither moral redemption but rather the breaking of the will of the individual and the achievement of complete compliance with Party orthodoxy.

Similarities Between Religious and Party Confession

Coerced Confessions: Like the Spanish Inquisition, the Party coerces confessions out of political prisoners for crimes that they never actually committed.

Purging Sin Through Torture: Suffering is usually depicted in religion as a means to spiritual purification. In 1984, torture in Room 101 is a way to attain "spiritual purification" not through divine grace, but through complete submission to the Party.

Public Atonement: Religious confessions usually demand public repentance, as do Party members such as Winston who must publicly betray their beliefs to be "saved".

Orwell's use of confession demonstrates how religion and political frameworks utilize guilt, fear, and self-incrimination as controls, supporting that the real role of religion within oppressive regimes is not spiritual revelation, but control.

The Pyramid of Power: Party Hierarchy and Religious Structure. The Party's strict hierarchical organization is very similar to the organization of religious institutions, especially the Catholic Church.

The Party vs. Religious Hierarchy

• Big Brother = God (Supreme Leader, Unseen but Adored)

• Inner Party = Clergy (Enforcers of Doctrine, Privileged Class)

• Outer Party = Believers (Controlled Followers, Discouraged from Critical Thinking)

• Proles = The Masses (Kept in Ignorance, Excluded from Higher Knowledge)

Orwell criticizes religion and politics both for utilizing hierarchy to hold on to power so that a few hold control over knowledge, truth, and authority while the rest are kept docile and submissive.

"God is Power" and the Historical Abuse of Religion

Orwell's criticism is not merely abstract—history is full of examples of religious institutions joining forces with totalitarian governments to keep people in line.

Examples of Religion as a Tool of Power

The Divine Right of Kings: Medieval European monarchs ruled by asserting that their power was directly from God, dissent being labeled as heresy.

The Inquisition: The Catholic Church employed torture and killings to suppress political and religious resistance.

Religious Fascism: Orwell saw firsthand the Catholic Church's backing of Francisco Franco's fascist government in Spain, supporting his contention that religion can be an instrument of oppression.

In stating that "God is Power", Orwell condemns not just the Party in 1984 but also the historical pattern of religion to put authority ahead of true spiritual development.

Orwell's Warning

The words "God is Power" summarize one of Orwell's most serious admonitions: when religion is turned into a weapon of control, it loses its concern with spirituality or morality and becomes an instrument of oppression. As the Party distorts reality to gain unconditional obedience, religious institutions—when joined with political power—can exact blind faith, stifle critical thinking, and employ terror to compel obedience.

Orwell does not criticize belief in itself, but the manner in which faith can be commandeered by institutions to reinforce power. In either a totalitarian state such as Oceania or actual theocracies, the threat is to conflate faith with compliance, spirituality with control, and God with authority.

References:

DoE-MKBU. “God Is Power | 1984 | George Orwell.” YouTube, 27 Feb. 2025. https://youtu.be/cj29I_MU3cA?si=wdzfZtKegMzlsTOM

DoE-MKBU. “Critique of Religion | 1984 | George Orwell.” YouTube, 27 feb,2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh41QghkCUA .