Religious Critiques

Question 1

What are the two broad types of critiques? Why are they this? Examples of who?

Answer 1

Sociological: Critiques religion and its role in society. Often how it stunts societal development. Marx.

Psychological: Critiques personal use of religion and how the belief in it is formed. Freud.

Question 2

A good way to introduce/summarise Freud?

Answer 2

• Freud’s ideas focus around the belief that religion is an illusion created by the mind to deal with human wishes.
• He says religion is a construction of the mind to help us deal with inner conflict, stress and our fear of natural dangers.

Question 3

How does Freud utilise the notion of Primal Hordes?

Answer 3

• Attacks the idea that religion was created through God, but instead, claims that religion is seen to be created by man.
• Freud saw religion as originating from primitive tribes through the tension between the dominant male (father) and the subordinate male (son).
• This cumulated in the overthrow of the father as the son wanted to have power.

Question 4

What does guilt and totems have to do with Freud’s critique of religion?

Answer 4

• Freud also uses the concept of guilt through primal hordes and the oedipus complex to critique religious belief.
• The murder of the father creates guilt which ultimately causes them to elevate his memory and to worship him.
• Over generations this figure becomes an illusion to many and takes form of a totem.
• Freud claims that the ritual of holy communion was originally used by primal hordes also. This again takes the creation of these religion rituals away from God and back onto mankind.

Question 5

Why do Freud’s psych. theories and research cause problems for his critiques?

Answer 5

• A lot of his psychological theories have been discredited therefore surely his critiques of religion using them should also be as well.
• Furthermore, lots of his research regarding religion is mostly considered now to be incredibly biased due to his methods used which would now be seen as not professional

Question 6

Outline Marx’s general critique? Who also supports Marx?

Answer 6

• Marx attacks religion and its implementation in society as he argues it is used as a tool of oppression. Religion = ‘opium of the people’.
• Believes that oppression will keep on happening regardless if standards seem to improve if religion is still followed because it justifies both oppression and the acts that cause it.
• A similar view was held by Nietzsche who felt religion caused mankind’s ‘slave mentality’.

Question 7

What religious quote can you use to back up Marx?

Answer 7

‘Blessed are the meek, for they are impoverished’.

Question 8

Elaborate on Marx’s future

Answer 8

• Marx believes that it was in fact Man who created God in his own image, not vice versa. This then becomes embroiled in society and now man has lost the control over his own destiny thanks to this widespread use of God. Sim to PoE - how does God allow oppression to happy?
• Therefore, religion must be abolished as the illusory happiness of people so that a true happiness can be realised. Men will then control society and thus not be controlled by it.
• In an secular utopia, state would be communist where everyone has a defined role which contributes and fulfilling. This removes the need for religion and highlights what mankind can achieve when religion is devalued or fully removed

Question 9

How does Liberation Theology work against Marx?

Answer 9

• Gives strength to the oppressed (Latin America), following Christian teaching about concern for the poor. Contrasts what Marx said about religion = oppressive.

Question 10

How can you argue against L.T weakening Marx?

Answer 10

• Officially rejected by the Catholic Church as a line of thought due to what the Vatican saw as the politicisation of the Bible
• Arguably only actually highlights the oppressive nature of the Vatican state and church for disagreeing with its use as an aid for the needy

Question 11

Elaborate on AO2 point ‘Origins of Oppression’?

Answer 11

• Some may argue that this acceptance of oppression may actually come from capitalism in society, as in many believe that the struggle one experiences initially will be resolved once they have ‘made it big’.
• This is particularly relevant for a society such as the UK where secularism is increasingly the norm. However, such a viewpoint is often sourced back to teachings of Protestantism which tell followers to work hard/suffer now to experience all that is good in the afterlife. Actually only further proves his argument on the oppressive nature of religion.