Marxists on beliefs in society

Question 1

What is social class inequality?

Answer 1

Social class inequality is the way the bourgeoise exploits the proletariats.

Question 2

How is society divided according to Marx?

Answer 2

Society is divided into 2 parts:

• the superstructure
• the base

Question 3

What is the superstructure?

Answer 3

The superstructure is everything not directly related to the economy e.g. media, politics, family,religion

Question 4

What is the base?

Answer 4

The base is everything related to the economy e.g. means of production- factories and raw materials
relations of production-social classes.

Question 5

What is the role of the base?

Answer 5

The base shapes the superstructure.

Question 6

What is the role of superstructure?

Answer 6

The superstructure spreads ideologies that justify the base e.g. meritocracy.

Question 7

What is the Marxists view of religion?

Answer 7

Marx argued that
religion is part of the ideological superstructure in society
 religion performs ideological functions which maintain capitalism.
religion is a feature of a class divided society

Question 8

What is a negative function of religion according to Marx?

Answer 8

Marx argues that the bourgeoise use religion to legitimise class inequality and justify their power and wealth.

Question 9

How does religion legitimise class inequality?

Answer 9

Religion legitimises class inequalities through religious ideologies. This is because religion presents the idea that wealth and power is God given. Questioning someone’s wealth would be seen as questioning God , which is a sin.

Question 10

How did the ideology of Protestant religion benefit the bourgeoise?

Answer 10

This ideology of protestant emphasised individualism and meritocracy. This allowed the bourgeoise to spread the idea that :

• material wealth is a sign of Gods’ favour
• whilst poverty is due to laziness and sin

Question 11

How does the hymn ‘all things bright and beautiful’ support Marx’s view on religion?

Answer 11

This supports Marx’s view as this shows that God ordains whether someone will be rich or poor but at the end of the day they should aim to get to heaven. This shows that the poor will be rewarded and that this life is temporary so they should accept their positions.

Question 12

Criticisms of Marx’s view on religion legitamising class inequality

Answer 12

Marx neglects how religion can be a force for social change e.g. pastor dr. martin luther king

Question 13

What is the traditional Marxist view on religion?

Answer 13

Traditional Marxists argue that religion perform the ideological function of -keeping the proletariats passive.

Question 14

How does religion keep the proletariats passive according to Marx?

Answer 14

Religion brainwashes the poor by allowing them to believe that their poverty and suffering is ordained by God .

Question 15

What is an example of how the proletariats are kept passive?

Answer 15

In the Russian revolution (Lenin), religion was viewed as a ‘spiritual gin’ that confuses the proletariat and prevents a revolution.

Question 16

What are the evaluations of religion fulfiling the ideological function of keeping the proletariats passive?

Answer 16

\+this view is reflects how religion is used to maintain a false class consciousness.
-Durkheim argues that religion allows collective conscience.

Question 17

What is another ideological function that religion fulfils according to Marx?

Answer 17

Religion eases the pain of exploitation that proletariats experience in capitalist societies.

Question 18

How does religion ease the pain of exploitation according to Marx?

Answer 18

Marx refers to religion as ‘opium of the people’ as it:

• dulls the proletariat, distracting them of the pain
• offers false hope of happiness and salvation
  e. g. people drawing closer to God in times of trouble.

Question 19

What are the evaluations of religion easing the pain of exploitation, according to Marx?

Answer 19

-Marx ignores positive psychological impact religion has which are identified by functionalists.