Marxism Flashcards
1
Q
Traditional Marxism: Religion is the Opium of the People, Alienation
A
- Religion helps the WC cope with alienation, they have no power and control over their lives because they are exploited by the RC
- Opium is a drug and painkiller, religion acts like opium by offering an imaginary escape from problems, gives an illusion of happiness, and dulls the pain of life’s burdens (exploitation by the RC)
- Dulls the pain of exploitation - offers comfort and a way to make their suffering more bearable, knowledge that their perseverance will be rewarded in the afterlife (gospel singing offers hope for better things to come)
- Maintains a false class consciousness, ensures the WC don’t revolt against the RC due to exploitation , finds comfort in religion
2
Q
Criticism of Traditional Marxism: Neo-Marxism
A
- Reverand Martin Luther King challenges the view that religion maintains a false class consciousness -
- He protested against racial discrimination, led to the American government passing civil rights laws, declared racial discrimination illegal
3
Q
Traditional Marxism: Religion Justifies Exploitation
A
- Marx argues religion is man-made and used by the ruling class to justify the exploitation of the WC
- Religion teaches people that a person’s position is God-given
- WC believe that if they behave (follow the rules of the RC), then they will be rewarded in the afterlife
- WC don’t challenge the position of the RC, would be as if they were challenging God (a sin)
4
Q
Traditional Marxism: Religion is an Ideology
A
- Religion is an ideology that serves the interests of the RC
- Justifies the dominance of the RC by spreading the idea of an existing social hierarchy (RC at the top, WC at the bottom) decided by God, so positions should not be challenged
- Example: Hindu caste system - caste ascribed at birth, Brahman at the top (have the highest status, most pure), Untouchables at the bottom (lowest status, karma for doing bad in a previous life), do not challenge this so the unequal system continues
- Religion is a conservative force
5
Q
Evaluation of Traditional Marxism
A
- Neo-Marxists argue religion can be a radical force to challenge capitalism
- Religion did not die out in many communist countries (Catholicism in Poland)
- Functionalist argue they ignore the position functions of religion (relieve anxiety, life crises)
- Postmodernistst argue that religious diversity exists, makes it hard for religion to maintain a false class consciousness
6
Q
Neo-Marxism: Gramsci
A
- Religion can maintain a RC hegemony (dominant capitalist beliefs and values)
- This hegemony is never complete because the RC are a minority and the WC have a dual consciousness (RC ideology and their own experiences - poverty)
- WC must produce their own organic intellectuals (e.g. religious leaders) who can make the mass of the of WC aware of their exploitation and organise them to challenge the RC
- Example: Reverend Martin Luther King - a religious leader who led marches and demonstrations to end racial discrimination - convinced the government to introduce civil rights laws that makes racial discrimination illegal, public were no longer in a state of false class consciousness
- Supports religion being a radical force of change, does not keep society the same
7
Q
Neo-Marxism: Maduro - Liberation Theology
A
- It is a combination of Christian and Marxist ideas that religion can be used to fight back against the powerful
- Individual Latin American Catholic priests fought against military dictatorships, poverty and exploitation (against the powerful on behalf of the powerless) - belief that Jesus would aid the powerless influenced their actions
- Made the WC aware of their exploitation, supported them in overthrowing the government - shows that religion does not keep the WC in a FCC
- Religion is a radical force of change
AO3 - Did not get rid of capitalism, secularisation (religion cannot encourage change if people are not religious)
