Marxist theories of religion

Question 1

Marxist theory

Answer 1

Society has capitalist class (own means of production and exploit the-) working class
Always potential for class conflict, Marx predict working overthrow capitalist, bring classless society with no exploitation
Religion is feature only of class-divided society

Question 2

Religion as ideology (Marx)

Answer 2

Ideology is belief system that distorts peoples perception of reality in way that serves ruling class
Class that controls economic production control distribution of ideas e.g. through church and school
Religion operates as ideological weapon to legitimate suffering of poor, makes believe will be rewarded in afterlife “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”
Creates false consciousness- stop poor from changing situation

Question 3

Religion as ideology (Lenin)

Answer 3

Religion is “spiritual gin”, intoxicant given to masses by ruling class to confuse and keep them in place
Use religion cynically to manipulate masses and stop overthrow, creates “mystical fog” that obscures reality

Question 4

Divinely ordained positions

Answer 4

16th century idea of Diving right of Kings, king is gods representative on earth and is owed obedience, disobedience sinful challenge to gods authority

Question 5

Religion and alienation (Marx)

Answer 5

Religion product of alienation (separated from something you’ve created), extreme under capitalism
Workers no freedom to express true nature as creative people
Alienation at highest in capitalist factory as repeats same minute task so turn to religion for consolation, “religion is the opium of the people”
Only distorts doesn’t fix problem, offers no solution, distracts from source of suffering with idea of afterlife

Question 6

Marxism evaluation

Answer 6

Marx shows religion tool of oppression that masks exploitation and creates false consciousness
Ignores positive functions of religion such as psychological adjustment
Neo-Marxists see some religions as helping class-consciousness not hindering
Althusser (marxist)- reject alienation as unscientific and based on idea of humans having “true self”, inadequate basis for theory of religion