Topic 1 - Marxist theories of religion

Marx - belief system distorts perception of reality - serves interests of ruling class. Class controls econ production + production + distribution of ideas in society through institutions eg church.

R operates as ideological weapon, used by r/c to legitimate suffering of poor as inevitable - god-given.

Lenin - 'spiritual gin' - intoxicant doled out to masses to confuse them + keep them in their place. Creates 'mystical fog', obsures reality.

Legitimates power + privilege of dom class, position appears divinely ordained.

Alienation - becomes separated from/losing control over smth produced/created. Exists in all class societies, more in extreme capitalism. Workers alienated b/c don't own what produce, no control over production process, no freedom to express true nature. Reaches peak in detailed DOL - no meaning/skill. Exploitation becomes form of consolation.

R acts as opiate, dulls pain of exploitation - masks pain, doesn't treat cause. R distorted view of world, no sollution, primises of afterlife creates fake happiness, distracts from true source of suffering - capitalism.

Ignores positive functions.

Some M's eg Althusser (1971) reject alienation as unscientific, based on romantic idea of true self - inadequate basis for theory of religion.

R doesn't necessarily function effectively as ideology to control pop. Abercrombie, Hill + Turner (2015) - pre-cap society, Christianity only limited impact on peasantry.