"The new soft totalitarianism that is advancing on the left wants to have a state religion It is an atheist, nihilistic religion - but it is a religion that is obligatory for all"

Rocco Buttiglione offers a provocative observation about the direction of political and cultural authority in contemporary society, particularly within factions he associates with the left. He draws attention to what he calls a "soft totalitarianism", conveying the sense that a controlling power is subtly but powerfully shaping norms and behaviors. Unlike older or more traditional forms of totalitarianism, which might have relied on overt coercion, this new system is described as soft, operating through cultural pressures, social ostracism, and institutional norms rather than outright violence or explicit legal compulsion.

Buttiglione accuses this movement of seeking to establish a "state religion". However, the term is not used in its classical sense, where the state imposes a specific set of theological beliefs or practices. Rather, he points to a secular or post-religious system of values, characterized as "atheist" and "nihilistic", that is expected to be embraced by all citizens. The accusation of nihilism suggests that the values being promoted lack ultimate meaning or transcendent foundation, undercutting traditional sources of moral authority such as religion, heritage, or natural law. Atheism in this context refers to the absence of acknowledgment for any divine or metaphysical dimension to human life within the public sphere.

Crucially, the character of this new "state religion" is its obligatory nature. Buttiglione implies that one cannot simply dissent quietly or privately; there is social, institutional, and perhaps even legal pressure to publicly adhere to the prescribed worldview. Practices such as compelled speech, enforced inclusivity policies, institutional codes of conduct, or required sensitivity training could be seen as examples. This enforced consensus, critics argue, stifles individual conscience and pluralism, and replaces open debate with dogmatic adherence. By framing contemporary secular orthodoxy as a form of religion, Buttiglione warns of the dangers of ideological conformity, drawing a parallel between enforced faith of the past and enforced unbelief or relativism of today.