Evaluation of Marxist theories of religion

Ignores positive functions of religion, such as psychological adjustment to misfortune. Neo-Marxists see certian forms of religion as assisting, as opposed to developing class conciousness.

Althusser (1971)

based on romantic idea that humans have 'true self'. This conept is an inadequate basis for a theory of religion

Abercrombie and Turner (1978)

In a pre-capitalist society, Christianity was a major element of ruling class ideology only had a limited impact on the peasantry.