ABSTRACT

Nazism, fascism and romantic nationalism all made decisive contributions to the 'sacralization of politics'; but democracy, socialism and communism have also contributed to the birth of new secular cults. Fascist religion placed itself alongside traditional religion, and tried to syncretize it within its own sphere of values as an ally in the subjection of the masses to the state, although it did stress the primacy of politics. Gentile viewed fascism as a religion because it had 'a religious feeling, in that it takes life seriously', and that 'as a movement it has arisen from the entire soul of the nation'. National Secretaries of the National Fascist Party (PNF) played an important role in the institutionalization of the 'fascist religion', and in the growth of the cult of the leader. Roberto Farinacci, secretary in 1925–6, employed fascism's 'Dominican faith' to justify the party's all-embracing policy, which had helped to establish the regime.