Secular Thinkers on God Flashcards
meaning of ideology:
a set of ideas that serve a purpose
meaning of social control:
functions on behalf of the ruling class and defends the status quo
meaning of ‘false class consciousness’:
conditioned into thinking certain ways
what does Marx argue about religion?
- religion functions in the interest of the ruling class
- justifies social inequality so people accept it
- opium of the people, offers illusory compensation for the inequalities that exist
- therefore people have less reason to revolt
- creates a promise of a better life in heaven, so no need to make things better on earth
Durkheim and religion:
- religion he argued, was not only a social creation, but society divinized
- religion gives society social cohesion, collective consciousness, and values and norms
Freud and religion:
- religion is wishful thinking
- a stage in human development
- the mind creates the illusion as a way to deal with the outside world
- religion addresses fears about the world and society
- religion is a form of neurotic illness associated with repressed sexual memories
what does Freud think religion does to people?
- religion provides comfort
- religion has been used to suppress people
why does Freud think religion started?
- Oedipus complex, children feel sexually towards the parent of the opposite sex, so in the case of the mother, the father becomes a rival, but yet he is also protector, therefore feelings of guilt arise
- a person will humanize the threats imposed by nature as a way to cope with them
- give them the character of a father, and create a God
stages of human history according to Marx:
- primitive societies dominated by religion
- master economies, production depended on slavery, polytheism was the main religion
- feudal societies, Catholicism
- capitalism, where the bourgeoisie own the means of production and exploit the less well off to do the work, Protestant Christianity is dominant with its work ethic
- Marx thought that the proletariat (the less well off) would take over and religion would cease to exist however that hasn’t happened yet
what did Marx believe about religion and its foundations
- created by society
- no historical foundation
Marx and Jesus:
it doesn’t matter whether Jesus existed or not but whether he is divine or not, if he isn’t God, then the movement named after him is purely secular
what does Marx believe happens when a person believes in a religion
- give up control of their lives and destinies
- in the hope of a better afterlife they tolerate misery in this one
why did Marx believe religion played an important role in society?
- helps people cope with difficulties
- promises a better future life
what did Marx mean by ‘religion is the opium of the people’?
- it drugs them out of the reality of their current lives
- softens the pain of suffering from hunger, work, abuse
what is liberation theology?
- elements of Marxism, plea for liberation of the poor from oppressive employers
- joined with teachings of Christ
arguments against Marxism:
- isn’t genuine knowledge as it can’t be falsified according to the falsification principle (if something can’t be proved wrong then it is meaningless)
- Marx only saw religion as a drug for the oppressed, and a means of oppression, however religion is much more than that
what did Freud see God as?
- a psychological concept
- a neurosis: what happens after trauma or repression of memories of fear and guily
what are the 3 parts of the mind Freud analysed and in which one was religion created in?
- the conscious ego
- the super ego
- the id (the unconscious) this is where relious belief and worship
why did we create religion according to Freud?
- out of a need to worship a father figure
- out of a fear of death
link between sexuality (neuroses) and religion:
- repression of sexuality is prominent in many forms of Christianity
- Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden created sexual awareness
Durkheim and functionalism:
- in society there are features and institutions which have a function for the working of a society
- he compared society to the human body who’s organs are vital for the body to continue to exist
Durkheim’s beliefs about God and religion:
- religion is real
- religion is a functional institution
- God is a concept that has been created in the context of a functioning society
- God is not real, God is society
what are religions functions according to Durkheim:
- is a unifier, brings people together as they share a moral code
- this moral code from society working out that things such as dishonesty and theft don’t allow society to work
- so the ten commandments instead of coming from a divine being are a product of society’s awareness to what it requires to continue existing
Durkheim’s views on ritual:
- when people take part in rites and ceremonies it strengthens their moral and social feelings
- the difference between rituals betweens religions is unimportant
Durkheim’s views on the soul:
- it’s real
- its the social aspects of a human being
- society is external to the individual, but it is also internalised within each person
- it’s immortal because the idea of society is immortal
what does Durkheim think the most important part of religion is? and how did this affect his methods of research?
- the important part of religion is not the beliefs but the practises
- analyse what people do not what they believe
Durkheim’s views on taboos:
-social order is only possible when individuals give up some of their wishes and desires
what is the view that Durkheim and Marx share?
that as society progresses religion would become insignificant
how is religion explained for Durkheim? rather than theological ideas
religion is explained in terms of its rituals, what people do together when practising their faith rather than theological ideas
did Durkheim look at religion in terms of a society or the individual?
society
why can’t Durkheim’s arguments not be generalised?
because he only looked at primitive societies so generalising to modern societies as well is flawed
overview of religion and its effect on society: (8)
- maintains moral order
- maintains social order
- tool of oppression
- separates people from their true selves
- makes life tolerable
- encourages and justifies rebellion against harsh regimes
- can’t know God’s purpose-justification of suffering
- claims of religious experience-justification of war
