The role of religion

Question 1

One statement about Marxism and the Role of Religion

Answer 1

Religion is seen to benefit capitalism and the bourgeoisie.

Question 2

What is the Marxist view on the Role of Religion.

Answer 2

Marxists argue that religion acted as a form of social control, used by the ruling classes to keep the masses in their place. Marx called religion the ‘opium of the people’, a drug that lessens the pain of hardship experienced by the working class by promising rewards in later life. For example, Christianity teaches: ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get to heaven.’

Religion is an ideological apparatus (tool) that serves to reflect the interests, ideas and values of the ruling class.

Question 3

Marxism sees that Religion socialises the Working Class into three false ideas.

List these ideas

Answer 3

1. Promotes material success as a sign of God’s favour, whereas poverty is seen as a sign of wickedness, sin and immortality (therefore, having money benefits the ruling class).
2. Religious teachings emphasise a blind faith. This serves to distract the poor and powerless from understanding the true exploitation they face and the reasons behind it.
3. Religion makes exploitation, poverty and inequality bearable by promising reward in the afterlife.