I'm not a "you shouldn't say this because optics" person, because for the most part idc what conservatives think of us, but uh, no, I don't think there is a fundamental religious component to communism, nor does it require faith. I get the urge but I think it's mislaid and does not lead anywhere productive. No shade on any religious or spiritual comrades at all, I just don't think communism should be the religion, unless you want a cult. You can have community gatherings without it being a religion if that's what you want, and you can have compassionate religious beliefs that are fully compatible with communism without turning communism into a religion.

If anything this idea that being a communist requires religious faith is just a reflection of how little practical organizing is being done. Communism is a megaproject sure, like a cathedral that will take lifetimes to build, but we can all work towards it in small localized ways, it's not completely abstract, and it's not just going to show up one day like the return of christ.