religion as conservative force-Marxism Flashcards
What does Marx say religion is as well as classical Marxist?
“Opium of the masses”- religion acts like a hallucinatory drug dulling the pains of oppression, overcoming effects of working class exploitation
what are the three ways religion “eases oppression”- opium of the masses?
religion provides escape from suffering
supernatural intervention helps people
justification for equality
how does religion provide an escape from suffering?-opium of the masses
people believe that bad things that happen to them are a test of their faith to god
example- bible promises “Meek shall inherit the earth”
How does religion help people through supernatural intervention- opium of the masses?
Jehovah’s witnesses think god will eliminate evil in the battle of Armageddon and thus create paradise on earth
How does religion justify equality- opium of the masses?
Hindu caste system, there are strict rules that if you break them you will be on a lower level of wealth, the hierarchy of religion justifies hierarchy in society
What does Lenin say Religion does/ acts as ?
religion is a “spiritual gin” where people accept capitalist exploitation
ruling class create “Mystical fog” to keep the working class submissive
What does Althusser say religion is?
repressive state apparatus- something physically stopping people from rebelling societies rules
religion as an RSA- religion has consequences for breaking moral precepts, rules on clothing, diet etc. Some countries, religion is the law, blasphemy
How is the crowning of the monarch in the church supportive of the Marxist view of religion?
ideas of hierarchy, religion as granting ultimate power to the leader
How is the justification of slavery supportive of the Marxist view of religion?
Christians went to countries and told people they did not have Christianity, justified slavery seen as acceptable due to connection to religion
How is the Hindu caste system supportive of the Marxist view of religion?
a system of inequality, people were categorised into levels of wealth, the level they were assigned seen as inevitable and was a part of gods plan.
how can we criticise the classical Marxist view of religion?
NAM’s are not about controlling people- for example, Wicca and spirituality
Functionalists- religion promotes social order and stability
What is Turners economic control- neo-Marxism?
economic control- giving someone real life consequences like telling them to do their job or they’ll get fired, poses more of a threat than biblical consequences like going to hell
What does Turner say about the nature of capitalism- neo-Marxism?
The nature of capitalism has changed, now business corporations dominate capital, people can buy shares and get rich which is more egalitarian, people don’t need to turn to religion as opium.
What does Turner say to criticise the influence of state controlled religion- neo-Marxism?
in the period of the middle ages, peasants practiced older religions like Catholicism and not Christianity, this shows that state controlled religion has less impact than thought.
What does Marcuse say has replaced religion-neo-Marxism?
“Gods of consumerism” has replaced religion
What are Marcuse “Cathedrals of consumerism”-neo-Marxism?
in consumeristic society we experience “Commodity fetishism”- idea that we are obsessed with buying things.
“Cathedrals of consumerism”- shopping centres have replaced religion, give consumers happiness when they consume
What’s an example of Marcuse idea that consumerism has replaced religion-neo Marxism?
macheads- group of people obsessed with apple products, saw apple and apple products as highly redeemed.
