MARXISM

Question 1

How do marxists see society?

Answer 1

see society as divided into two classes. one of which exploits the labour of the other

Question 2

according to Marxists how will exploitation be overcome?

Answer 2

exploitation will be overcome when when the working class become conscious of their exploitation and unite to overthrow capitalism.

Question 3

what would happen if the working class overthrow capitalism?

Answer 3

this will bring a classless society. there will be no need for religion in a class less society as marxists see it as a feature of division.

Question 4

what is an ideology

Answer 4

is a belief system that distorts people’s perception of reality which is in favour of the ruling class

Question 5

what does Marx believe religion operates as?

Answer 5

an ideological weapon used by the ruling class to legitimate the suffering of the poor as something inevitable. religion misleads into believing their suffering is virtuous so it can’t be challenged without out questioning God

Question 6

what does Marx see religion is part of?

Answer 6

part of a dominant ideology which reinforces a false conscience (a distorted view of reality) of the WC this prevents the poor from trying to change their position

Question 7

what is a false conscience

Answer 7

a distorted view of reality

Question 8

what does lenin claim about religion

Answer 8

lenin claims that religion is like a “spiritual gin”- an intoxicant doled out to the masses to confuse them to keep them in their place . this means that religion is used to manipulate the masses because the spiritual gin acts as a fog to obscure reality

Question 9

how does religion legitimate the position of the dominant class?

Answer 9

makes their position seem divinely ordained. for example kings were seen as Gods representatives on earth they were owed total obedience. disobedience was seen as sinful

Question 10

what does Marx argue about alienation?

Answer 10

believes that religion is a product of alienation- (involves becoming separated from or losing control). arises out of suffering and and acts as consolidation for it but fails to deal with its cause class exploitation

Question 11

what is alienation?

Answer 11

involves becoming separated from or losing control

Question 12

how does Marx believe religion act as a opium (alienation)?

Answer 12

religion acts as an opium cushioning the pain of oppression and suffering by offering an afterlife.

Question 13

what does Althusser believe the bourgeoise use to maintain power?

Answer 13

bourgeoise use ISA to maintain power. ideological state apparatus maintain power by controlling people’s ideas, and beliefs such as manipulating people thoughts through religion.

Question 14

what are the two important parts of the ISA?

Answer 14

• legitimates class inequality: spreads an ideology that disguises capital exploiters by persuading workers to accept exploitation and to “know their place”
• reproduces class inequality: by transmitting ruling class ideology from generation to generation

Question 15

limitations of Marxist theory of religion

Answer 15

• ignores positive functions of religion. Neo Marxists see certain forms of religion as assisting not hindering the development of class conscious
• overlooked how religion creates class consensus and stability. e.g martin Luther king jr use religion for the civil rights movements. churches were places of sanctuary from the threat of white violence

Question 16

strengths of Marxist theory of religion

Answer 16

-gramsci “dual character of religion” in some circumstances it can challenge as well as support the working class