Marxist Theories Of Religion

Question 1

Marx

Answer 1

Religion = opium of the people

Religion hides, reproduces and maintains class inequality

Reproduces: f.c.c through religious teaching

Maintains: religion offers rewards for suffering in the next life

Question 2

Hides

Answer 2

Obscures origins of class inequality. God made society as it is

Question 3

Halvey

Answer 3

Methodism possibly prevented c19th revolution in the uk

Tokenistic power through trade union

Question 4

Neo-Marxism

Answer 4

Hegemony: whoever controls ideas, controls society

Gramsci and maduro:
Liberation theology in Latin America.
Priests nearly started revolution against government but failed

Question 5

Althussers

Answer 5

Religion = ideological state apparatus

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

It failed as religion stopped acting as an ideological state apparatus, so god sent in army, repressive state apparatus

If uk is religious but still capitalist, could religion be defined as a tool for capitalism