Marxist theories of religion.

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Marxism – Ideology

Marxist theorists believe that religion is the ‘opiate’ of the people; they claim it provides an illusion to dull the pains of real life. This is because religion offers the eternal paradise of heaven in the afterlife. Religion promotes suffering, giving it a virtuous status, and justifies this through the use of deferred reward (e.g. suffering now will mean you go to heaven). Religion also offers the hope of supernatural intervention to solve the problems of earth (demonstrated through prayer etc.). However, Marxism also believes that these things can also be used as an instrument of oppression for the working class; this provides the link back to core Marxist beliefs. Marxism claims that religion uses the idea that ‘god put people in the correct places in society and this cannot be

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