Theories Of Religion - Marxism Flashcards
Develop the Marxist view that religion provides comfort
-Marx sees religion as a product of alienation
-This is when you become separated from something you’ve created
-This exist in all societies but is more extreme and capitalism
-This is as they have no control over the production process and therefore no freedom to express their true nature as creative beings
-In these dehumanising conditions, wc turn to religion as a form of consolidation
-‘ religion is opium of the people’
-It dulls the pain of exploitation
-promises after life and creates an illusory happiness that distracts attention from the cause of unhappiness, capitalism.
Evaluation of the Marxist view religion provides comfort comfort
Secularisation -people are no longer religious so no longer look for comfort in religion therefore like contemporary relevance and instead they might look for comfort in consumerism
Develop the view that religion maintains inequality
For Marx, ideology is a belief system that distort peoples perception of reality
-He argues it controls the production and distribution of ideas in society through institutions such as a church and therefore is an ideal logical state operators
-He also suggest religion is an ideology which operates as an ideological weapon
-For example, according to Christianity, ‘ the meek shall inherit the Earth’
-Religion miss leads the poor into believing their suffering is virtuous
-Such ideas create a false class consciousness
-Similarly Lenin describe religion as a spiritual gin
-Confusing wc and creating a mystical fog that obscure reality and keep them in the place
Evaluation of the view that religion maintains inequality
It’s gender blind-Marxists ignore how religion may also maintain patriarchy according to feminist. Therefore lacked explanatory reach.
Develop the views that religion legitimises inequality
-Religion legitimate is the power and privilege of the dominant class
-It makes their position appear divinely ordained
-For example, the 16th century idea of the divine right of Kings was the belief that the king was God’s representative on earth and his total obedience
-Disobedience is not just illegal but a simple challenge to cut authority
-Therefore promoting the acceptance of hierarchy as god given
-Another example of this is the Hindu caste system
Evaluation of the view that religion legitimate inequality
Neo- Marxists like gramsci see religion as capable of assisting social change and challenging the hierarchy, rather than always maintaining the status quo.
