Marxist theory on religion

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Marxist theory on religion

Advantages

  • It is a contributing figure to the divide of the WC (Proletariat)  and MC and upper classes (Bourgeoisie).
  • Marx - Religion is the "Opium of the people." - Sense numbing drug - WC turn to religion to numb the pain of oppression.
  • Lenin (1870- 1924) - "Spiritual Gin" - intoxicates the WC into not rebelling. - Religion creates a "Mystical Fog"
  • Leach - 80% of bishops attended public school = The church is loosing contact with ordinary people.
  • Hook - The church is wealthy, but chooses not to help the poor
  • Religion is an ideology that legitimises suffering of the poor and dis-privileged.
  • Religion is a product of alienation - It comes from suffering and offers 'help'.
  • Religion legitimises the position of the poor - It is God given and you will be rewarded in the afterlife.
  • 16th Centuary - The King was seen as God's representative and disobeying the king would mean you were disobeying God. This shows how the ruling class had power

Disadvantages

  • Functionalist - Marxist forget the positive functions of religion. eg It helps with psychological stress.
  • It can only be the opium of the people when people take the 'drug'.
  • Religion can in fact be a force for social change. eg Liberation theory, Iranian revolution. Also Islamic fundamentalist reject Americanisation. Lastly early Christian sects rejected Roman rule.
  • Liberation Theory in the 1960's and 70's in South America
  • Abercrombie and Turner (1978) - Religion does not always function as an ideology to control. eg In pre-capitalist society Christianity had a huge impact on the ruling class, but had little impact on the poor.

Evaluation

The Marxist believe that religion is an ideological weapon that is used by the ruling class to oppress the working class. Through the thought that suffering is God given it legitimises inequality in society and the idea creates a false class conciousness that the working class can not act upon or change. Religion is then thought to act as the "Opium of the masses", which helps to dull the pain of oppression for the working class. 

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