Marxist views

Question 1

Karl Marx

Answer 1

> religion keeps society stable, but this is an oppressive stability
religion helps to maintain “status quo” and prevent positive change.
religion misleads people in preventing them from seeing the truth about life.
the future, communist society will have no further place in society.
religions main function is to “dull the pain of oppression” Like a drug.
religion ensure inequality and suffering are justified.
e.g. sects appeal to the working class poor, they provide a religious explanation for the pain.
EVALUATION - religion can help make a real difference to the lives of the poor, they overlook how much effort the church makes to help the poor.

Question 2

neo marxism
Otto Maduro

Answer 2

Maduro disagreed with Marx and argued that, rather than always oppressing the poor.
> In South America during the 1960s, the Catholic Church introduced literacy programmes.
> the pope stepped in and out an end to liberation since it have the poor ideas “above their station”
EVALUATION - there is modern day support in Britain, many charities take control in trying to attack poverty, for example Tearfund is a Christian charity that is “passionate about ending poverty”.