Marxist view of religion

Question 1

View of religion from

Answer 1

Base superstructure- class conflict shapes religion

Question 2

religion is used to maintain dominance of the ruling class

Answer 2

-rich people made up religion
-religion has justified class inequality through feudalism
-god supports the rich and monarchy

Question 3

religion is used to fight back against the ruling class

Answer 3

-religion has inspired rebellion
-Voodoo inspired the subordinate class to rebel but voodoo became oppression

Question 4

Marx

Answer 4

-not asking for religion to help but asking for a better life
-its the opium of the people

Question 5

Lenin

Answer 5

described religion as ‘spiritual gin’ - an intoxicant doled out to the masses by the ruling class to confuse them and to keep them in their place

Question 6

alienation

Answer 6

-religion is a product of this
-argues that religion acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation
-masks the pain with the promise of the afterlife

Question 7

Althusser: alienation

Answer 7

-rejects the concept of alienation as it’s unscientific and based on romantic idea that human beings have a ‘true self’
-religion doesn’t necessarily function effectively as an ideology to control the population

Question 8

evaluation : positive

Answer 8

shows how religion is used to exploit the subordinate and creates a flase consciousness

Question 9

evaluation : negative

Answer 9

ignores the positive outcomes of religion: psychological, adjustment to misfortune