Marxism and Religion
- Created by: BWards18
- Created on: 24-05-17 18:07
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- Marxism and Religion
- General Views of Religion - Marx
- An illusion/opiate to ease the pain produced by exploitation and oppression
- Religion is part of the superstructure and its a series off myths which justify and legitimate W/C and M/C social positions.
- Religion is a form of ruling class ideology maintaining 'false calls conciosness'
- 'Divine Rights of Kings'
- LENIN - Religion is a 'spiritual gin', confusing the W/C and keeping them in their place. Creates a 'fog' that obscures reality.
- Religion as a conservative force - Keeping classes in their place and maintaining inequality
- Hindu Caste System - suffering justified by Hindu religious beliefs
- 'Divine Rights of Kings' in Medieval Europe
- Christian Fundamentalism is very conservative reinforcing social order
- Slave owners supporting the conversion of slaves to Christianity - believed to be a controlling and pacifying force
- Therefore, Marx sees religion as .......
- False Class Conciousness -distorting the reality and oppression W/C's face
- A product of alienation - helps W/C's cope with dissatisfication
- Ideological - Passes on ruling class ideologies
- Legitmating W/C suffering - suffering is 'God given'
- Religion as a force for social change
- WEBER - His work on Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism
- Martin Luther King appealing for black rights
- MADURO (Liberation Theology) - The clergy have revolutionary potential
- Desmond Tutu and the Reverend B oesak in South Africa
- Neo Marxism
- Engels
- Religion can be a response to exploitation and become a source of resistance and change
- E.g. Early Christian sects opposing Roman rule comparing them to communism and socialist political movements
- Blouch
- Religion has a 'DUAL CHARACTER' - it can play a positive and negative effect
- Its an expression of 'the principle of hope', our dreams of a better life (Utopia)
- This c an help them see the rewards in heaven or show them what needs changing
- Billings
- Studied two different societies of mine workers and textile workers in the USA
- The key features he found in the militant miners society was .....
- Leadership
- Organisation - had a church space which created solidarity
- Support - morale for. miners condiment for the textile workers
- Engels
- General Views of Religion - Marx
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