Marxists

Question 1

Marxist criticisms

Answer 1

Ignores positive functions of religion
Some Marxists - Althusser - rejects concept of alienation as unscientific + based on romantic idea that human beings have a true-self. This would make the concept an inadequate basis for a theory of religion.
Religion does not necessarily function effectively as an ideology to control the population.

Question 2

Religion + Alienation

Answer 2

Religion product of alienation (involves being separated from or losing control over something that one has produced or created). Alienation exists in all class societies - more extreme under capitalism - the exploited turn to religion as form of consolidation. Religion acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation - promises of the afterlife create an illusory happiness that distracts attention from the true source of suffering.

Question 3

Religion as an ideology

Answer 3

Ideology belief system that distorts people’s perception of reality in ways that serve the interests of the R-C. Religion operates as ideological weapon to legitimate suffering of poor as something inevitable + God-given. Religion misleads poor into believing that their suffering is virtuous + that they will be favoured in the afterlife - create false consciousness. Also legitimates power/privileges of dominant class by making their position appear to be divinely ordained.

Question 4

Marxists main assumptions

Answer 4

Religion feature only of class-divided society, as such there will be no need for religion in classless society + it will disappear

Question 5

Neo Marxists

Answer 5

Gramsci religion + hegemony - interested in how R-C maintain their control over society through ideas rather than force. Uses hegemony (ideological domination or leadership of society) to refer to way the R-C able to use ideas e.g. Religion to maintain control - when hegemony established the R-C can rely in popular consent to their rule less need for force