1.2 Marxism Perspective on Religion Flashcards
Religion as an ideology
Distorts peoples vision, way to control society, by producing a false consciousness
Hindu Caste System. Untouchables did bad things in a past life. Must be good in the present life to be rewarded in their next life.
What is a false consciousness
Distorted view of reality that prevents the poor from acting to change their reality.
Theory of disprivileged?
explanation of why society is unfair, justifying inequalities by promising of a better afterlife. distracting attention from exploitation caused by capitalism.
How is religion a product of alienation?
Religion acts as an opiate to dull out the exploitation the masses face blinding people from their true position
Religion seperates people and has no solution to suffering so promise a better afterlife.
Religion legitimises suffering of the poor and privileges of ruling class
Althusser
Religion promotes acceptance of ruling class so that proletariat believe classes within society are inevitable and unchangeable it transmits the dominant ideology and maintains false class consciousness.
Criticisms
Marx argues religion will disappear if we get rid of capitalism however the Soviet Union = communist but religion still existed Rise of Secularisation = religion cannot possess as much power anymore. Argument is now outdated. Religion can be used as social change to overthrow ruling class ie Liberation Theology in Latin America Ignores religious inequalities against women.
Who argues Religion is the opium of the masses?
Marx
How is religion the opium of the masses?
Acts as drug to distort reality by promising salvation in the afterlife with the injustices being rewarded. This allows the bourgeoisie to continue ruling reproducing class inequalities and capitalism.
- Religion acts like a drug.
- Religion dulls the pain of w/c oppression, making them feel better.
- Religion cushions the effects of oppression.
e. g. attending church service numbs their oppression; enjoy singing hymns and listening to bible readings, which provide hope and comfort.
- suffering is seen as virtuous and they will be rewarded in heaven.
Dual consciousness?
Gramsci argues religion has a dual character by challenging as well as supporting ruling class’ hegemony
Evaluation
WC should still be supported despite a rise in secularisation and drop in religious followers
Ignores patriarchy of religion and how it oppreses women
Can be used for social change ie MLK jr and civil rights
Evidence to support Marxism
such as Ronald Regan in 1984 and George Bush in 2004 – when the later was elected, an exit
poll found that two thirds of voters who attended church more than once a week had voted for
him
Evidence tosupport Marxism
The traditional caste system in India was
supported by Hindu religious believes (in reincarnation for example);
Europe Kings ruled by the ‘divine right of God
Christian right supported right wing (neo) liberal candidates – Ronald Regan in 1984 + George Bush in 2004 – later was elected, an exit poll found that two thirds of voters who attended church more than once a week had voted for him
Criticisms of the Marxist perspective on religion
• Firstly, it is clear that religion does not always prevent social change by creating false class consciousness. There are plenty of examples of where oppressed groups have used religion to attempt (whether successful or not is moot here) to bring about social change, as we will see in the neo-Marxist perspective on religion
• Secondly, religion still exists where there is (arguably) no oppression: the USSR communist state
placed limits on the practice of religion, including banning religious instruction to children, however, religious belief remained stronger in the 20th century in Russia and Eastern Europe than it did in the capitalist west.
• Thirdly, just because religion can be used as a tool of manipulation and oppression, this does not explain its existence: religion seems to be more or
less universal in all societies, so it is likely that it fulfils other individual and social needs, possibly in a more positive way as suggested by Functionalist theorists
Religion as the ‘opium of the people
prevent people making demands
for social change by dulling pain of oppression
Promise of an afterlife = misery now if you believe you have a life of ‘eternal bliss’ to look forward to after death.
Religion makes a virtue out of suffering – = as if the poor are more ‘Godly’ than the rich.
=in the bible: ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Religion can justify the social order and people’s position within that order, as in the line in the Victorian hymn ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’: The rich man in his castle The poor man at his gate God made them high and lowly
=‘God’s will’ an thus unchangeable
Marxist Perspective, religion does not only ameliorate the sufferings of life, it also
effectively creates false consciousness
Marx= ‘objective’ truth was that the proletariat suffer deprivations because of their exploitation by the Bourgeois = however, people fail to realise this because
religion teaches them that all of the misery in life is God’s will
illustrations e poor are more ‘Godly’ than the rich = Bible
‘It is easier for a camel to pass
through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven’
