Marxism and Religion

religion is an illusion which eases the pain of oppression. It is a series of myths which legitimate subordination and distort reality 

• helps make life more bearable and dilutes demand for change
• promises a paradise after death, Engels argues the appeal of Christianity is the 'salvation from misery' it offers
• suffering is made a virtue of 'camel through the eye of a needle', makes living in poverty more tolerable by offering later rewards
• offers hope of supernatural intervention 
• justifies the social order
• God creates and ordains the classes 

• Religion is an instrument for oppression
• maintains the current social class system
• prevents revolt of the working class 
• offers an illusion of hope 
• false class consciousness diverts the working class away from their real pain
• it allows the ruling class to justify their position 

Hindu Caste system

Medieval kings and queens

Egyptian Pharoahs 

• Halvey (1927) Methodism played a role in preventing a working class revolution in the 19th century, w/c dissatisaction with the church was shown by creating a new church 
• Class tension was channelled into spiritual healing 
• Hook (1990) the pope has very conservative views on contraception, women bishops and homosexuality which causes problems in the developing world 
• Bruce suggests that the New Christian Right consistently support the Republican party 
• They may have limited influence but they have tended to defend the interests of the rich and powerful

• Althusser (1971) suggests that the concept of alienation is unscientific and relys on true self too havily 
• Religion was important in pre capitalist society 
• doesnt consider secularisation
• has little ideological power anymore 
• some religious movements have helped to bring about social change 

• Maduro (1982) places emphaiss on religion have some independence from the bourgeoisie
• denies that relgious is always a conservative force
• claims it can be revolutionary