MARXIST THEORIES OF RELIGION

MARXIST THEORIES OF RELIGION

Marxism sees religion as a feature only of class-divided society.

RELIGION AS AN IDEOLOGY

• Ideology is a belief system that distorts people's perception of reality in ways that serve the interests of the ruling class
• Class controls economic production also controls the production and distribution of ideas in socity through insutuions such as the chuch and the education system and the media.
• Religion operates as an ideology weapon used by the ruling class to justify the suffering of the poor as something inevitable and god-given.
• Religion gives poor people false consciousness as it makes them believe their suffering is virtuous and they will be favoured in the afterlife
• "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" - creates a distorted view of reality that prevents the poor from acting to change their situation
• LENIN describes religion as 'spiritual gin' which is an intoxicant doled out to the masses by the RC to confuse them, keeping them in their place.
• Ruling class use religion cynically to manipulate…