Marxist Appraoch To Religion Flashcards
Karl Marx
Religion is a social construct to reinforce capitalism/inequality.
“Man makes religion, religion does not make man” - Ppl make religion how it is - capitalism/inequality self made.
Eg religion made gender roles E&I = inequality/ oppression.
A03- feminist = religion reinforces patriarchy/man dominant/accepting subordination of women = feeds capitalism
Karl Marx = religion justifies unequal social order + offers false hope
Religion is ideological State Apparatus Insures ruling class dominant in all aspects.
“Religion is the opium of the people” = False consciousness/creates addiction/justifies capitalism/religion alters our perception/like a hallucination distracting us from capitalism.
A03- Functionalists = religion necessary maintains value consensus/social solidarity to keep cohesion so everything runs accordingly
Althusser
Religion and ideological weapon used by ruling class – legitimises suffering of poor/alienation of the people
Eg Under capitalism proletariat alienate it – don’t own the means of production/have no control/exploited = use religion to justify their position.
A03- criticised doesn’t regard positive function of religion e.g. psychological function beneficial in time crisis or need/people unite/share the same beliefs and values = avoiding alienation and create social solidarity
Neo Marxist Gramsci
Religion is two-faced eg Maintains ruling class power through capitalism but religion helps build rebellion/protest against them.
E.g. Martin Luther King led civil right movement/fight against racism and segregation through Christianity.
Oppressed by bible teachings but tool to revolt through unity and faith.
A03- Functionalist = diversity fragments society and collective conscience = weakens SS and VC. Religion supposed to help this but by creating revolts undermines capitalism and disrupts society.
Maduro liberation theory
Religion can be a revolutionary force /Create social change and bring democracy.
E.g. Latin America (El Salvador/Nicaragua) priests speak up for Paul – fight military dictatorship. The church a protective field/educated poor/sided with them. Stopped oppression religion gave hope/unity/people to support them
Functionalists = focus on positive functions however disagree with revolts - threatens capitalism/fails to recognise religion as oppressive for Poor/women/but despite this religion exists in Communist countries
A03 postmodern
Post modern society = media saturated society/ideas become this embedded/media lifts beliefs out of context so religion is deinstitutionalised
Can now pick and mix elements of different face and make independent identities
Cast systems
The untouchables - can’t have wealth and money
Whatever cast your in you can’t escape it it’s your life dictated for you
A03- not that common in India anymore as there’s now globalisation/postmodernism as they see inequality
