Beliefs In Society- Marxism & Religion Flashcards
What is Marxism in sociology?
Marxism is a conflict perspective that focuses on social class division and power, stemming from Karl Marx’s work. It argues that society consists of an economic base (infrastructure) and social institutions (superstructure), with capitalism creating inequality and exploitation between the bourgeoisie (ruling class) and the proletariat (working class).
What is the role of the superstructure in Marxism?
The superstructure, including religion, spreads ruling class ideology, maintaining false class consciousness and preventing the working class from realizing their exploitation.
What is Marx’s vision of a communist society?
Marx envisioned a communist society based on equality, ending alienation and exploitation, with wealth and property distributed equally, achieved through revolution.
What is the Marxist view of religion?
Marxists view religion negatively, arguing it maintains capitalism and benefits the ruling class by acting as a tool of ideological control, legitimating ruling class power, and consoling the exploited.
How does religion function as ideological control?
Religion distorts reality by promoting beliefs like predetermination, suggesting people’s lives are controlled by supernatural forces, which maintains false class consciousness and prevents revolution.
What did Lenin call religion?
Lenin referred to religion as “spiritual gin,” an intoxicant given to the working class by the ruling class to confuse and control them.
How does religion legitimate ruling class power?
Religion justifies the ruling class’s power as divinely ordained, such as feudal kings being seen as God’s representatives or Hinduism’s caste system legitimizing higher castes’ power.
How does religion console the exploited, according to Marx?
Religion acts as “the opium of the people,” lessening the pain of oppression and alienation by promising rewards in the afterlife, distracting the working class from the true cause of their suffering.
What are criticisms of Marxist theory on religion?
Criticisms include ignoring secularization, religion’s role in driving social change (e.g., the Civil Rights Movement), and the persistence of religion in communist societies despite Marx’s predictions.
What is an example of religion driving social change?
Christian religious leaders, like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., were central to the Civil Rights Movement, challenging the idea that religion only maintains ruling class power.
What happened under Pol Pot’s regime in Cambodia?
Pol Pot led the Khmer Rouge, a radical communist regime that imposed severe hardships, including mass evacuations, killings, and displacement, leaving a legacy of brutality and impoverishment.
Did the Soviet Union allow Christianity?
The Soviet Union persecuted Christians at various times, suppressing religious practices to align with state interests, though the extent of persecution varied.
What caused the Sudan genocide?
Tensions in Darfur escalated due to land disputes and marginalization by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum, leading to genocide as the government ignored Darfur’s needs.
What were the Crusades?
The Crusades were military campaigns organized by Western European Christians from the late 11th century to check Islamic expansion, retake the Holy Land, conquer pagan areas, and recapture Christian territories, seen as acts of redemption and sin compensation.
