Marxist Flashcards
How do marxists see society?
Marxism see religion in society as a feature of class divided society.
What will happen to religion in a classless society?
It will disappear and there is no need for it.
Define alienation.
Involved becoming separated from or losing control over something that no one had created or produced. It exists mostly under extreme capitalism
How is religion a product of alienation according to MARX.
They do not own what they produce and have no control over production process and so no freedom to express their true nature as creative beings. It arises as suffering and acts as consolation for it and fails to deal with cause- class exploitation.
Define ideology.
It is a belief system that diapers people’s perception of reality in ways that serve the interests of ruling class.
How does religion act as an ideology weapon.
Used by ruling class to justify the suffering of the poor as something inevitable and god given. It misleads the poor into believing that their suffering is virtuous and they will be favorited in after life.
Example of ideal logical weapon.
According to Christianity, it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
It created false consciousness - distorted view of reality that prevents poor from acting to change in situation.
What did LENIN mean by claim that religion is a “spiritual gin”?
An intoxicant doled out to masses by ruling class to confuse them and keep them in their place.
Explain how religion legitimated the power and privilege of dominant class.
By making position appear to be divinely ordained. For example, in 16th century idea of divine right of kings was the belief that king is Gods representative on earth and owed total obedience, it’s a sinful challenge to Gods authority if disobeyed.
1- criticism of Marxism.
Religion is a tool of oppression that masks exploitation and creates false consciousness and ignores positive functions - psychological adjustment to misfortune.
2- criticism of Marxism.
ALTHUSSER, rejects concept of alienation as unscientific and based on a idea that human beings have a ‘true self’. This makes the concept of inadequate basis for a theory of religion.
3- Criticism of Marxism.
Religion does not function effectively as an ideology to control population eg AMBERCROMBIE, TILL and TURNER argue in a pre-capitalist society, while Christianity was a major element of ruling class ideology, it had only limited impact on peasantry.
