Marxism

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

Religion is a conservative force and a force of social control:

In capitalist society, the ruling class need to impose control.
The function of religion in capitalist society is to control the workers and to prevent revolution. 

Marxists say religion is a series of myths that justify and legitimate the domination of the ruling class. This makes religion a conservative force as it helps to maintain the status quo of society in the interests of the ruling capitalist class.

Question 2

control over society

Answer 2

Control over society can be achieved in two main ways:

i. Violence or the threat of violence can be used by the police/army as a means of social control, but this is not satisfactory as it is difficult to maintain in the long-term and it also weakens the legitimacy of the ruling class to govern.
ii. The most effective form of social control is to gain control over society’s values, so that what benefits the ruling class is regarded as benefiting the whole of society. A number of state institutions (education, media, and the legal system) are used to promote ruling class values and to maintain the power of the ruling class. In the 19th century, the main propagator of values was the church.

Question 3

A03

Answer 3

Neo- Marxist argument - Gramsci argued religion can help the interests of the poor by providing a way to challenge the dominant ideology of the ruling class. Religion can stand for the oppressed and defend them