marxist views on beliefs in society Flashcards
KARL MARX on religion
- “religion is the opium of the people” - it acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation caused by capitalism
- it is used to control the working class by justifying their suffering
- it offers them the hope that they will be rewarded in the afterlife
- if they are obedient they will go to heaven/paradise
- religion creates a belief in supernatural power which man has no control over
- religion gives sacred support to the current social order - tis is the way god intended it to be. it legitimises inequality
false consciousness
- a term used by marxists that describes a particular state of mind that prevents a person from recognizing the injustice of their current situation
- this distorted view of reality stops the working class from trying to change their situation
religious examples to support marxism:
- christianity, judaism and islam are religions which offer the escape of heavenly rewards
- hinduism and buddhism teaches its followers life may be better in later reincarnations
the communist utopia
- MARX believed religion would eventually disappear
- the social conditions that create the need for it would eventually be overturned (communism)
- truly liberated individuals have no need for religion
LOUIS ALTHUSSER: religion as an ideological apparatus
saw religion as an ideological apparatus used by the ruling class as a way of protecting their ideas and interest.
this is done by:
- legitimises power and privilege = making it seem normal e.g. devine right of kings = justifies power of monarchs
- discourages people from attempting to change their situation e.g. hindu caste system
- inequalities can’t be challenged by the proletariat without challenge to god
- religion is also a mechanism of social control - keeps people in their place
functionalism compared with marxism:
- both see religion as a conservative force, which maintains the status quo
- functionalists see religion as a unifying force that strengthens the value consensus, however Marxists view religion as an ideological tool used to serve the interests of the ruling class
what is hegemony?
marxist concept to explain how the ruling class holds leadership by using ideas and values to win over the lower classes
what is counter-hegemony?
popularising ideas that ran counter to those of the ruling class and helping to being rebellion and protest
ANTONIO GRAMSCI: counter-hegemony
- believed in the same way religion could be useful for building the bourgeoise hegemony, it could also be useful in creating a counter-hegemony
- religious leaders could build a counter hegemony, popularizing ideas that ran counter to those of the ruling class and help to build protest and rebellion
- e.g. martin luther king and malcom x
functionalist: criticism of marxism
marxism ignores the positive benefits of religion to society, such as the way it creates stability and shared values, which are necessary for society to function effectively. religion benefits everyone, not just the ruling class.
religion under communism: criticism of marxism
attempts to destroy religion in communist countries were not successful. religion survived in the USSR and catholicism thrived in communist poland.
the narrow focus of communism: criticism of marxism
by concentrating on just one possible role of religion in society it ignores the much broader range of effects that religion may have
feminists: criticism of marxism
religion acts to preserve male, patriarchal power, not ruling class power. marxists ignore gender inequality
religion as a radical force: criticism of marxism
religion does not always support the status quo and the preservation of ruling class power. some radical religions such as liberation theory challenge ruling class power
secularization: criticism of marxism
religion seems to have declined in many western societies, suggesting it is no longer needed to reinforce ruling class power
