[rzeznikj at stout]

I would say no. Socialism is a political system, and "common socialism"--what we think of as socialism is an economic and political movement.

Stalin exemplified the personality cult--it wasn't so much about the state as it was about him personally. And while personality cults and State worship are all too common in Socialist systems, they are not a defining criterion--a system need not display the premise of the State taking the place of God to be defined as Socialist.

Not all Socialist systems put the state on the throne as God, for example, religious (Christian, Islamic) socialisms don't, and personality cults that develop don't put the State as a god, but the dictator. The dictator is the head of state, but he is not necessarily the complete embodiment of the State (e.g. Saddam, Stalin).

Therefore, it cannot be said that Socialism is a spirit or a God.

[Californiajones]

I like how you broke it all down; would only add that "altruistic" sounding socialistic ideals are the bait, tyrannical dictatorship is the sinker. Like what's happening in Venezuela right now.