MARXIST VIEWS ON RELIGION

What is the Marx quote on religion?

It is the Opium of the people

Does Marx think that religion is a conservative force or a force for change?

conservative force, disagrees with functionalists who argue that this makes religion positive and beneficial to society

What does Leech (1988) say about the church of England?

recruits from an upper class base (still does now), also extremely wealthy and as such the church has lost contact with ordinary people, should be doing more to tackle inequality

In what three ways is religion ideological?

1) legitimates social inequality

2) disguises the true nature of exploitation

3) keeps the working class passive and resigned to their fates

How is religion seen as an ISA (Althusser)?

Marx argues that the primary function of religion was to maintain, reproduce and justify class inequalities, and reflects the ruling class ideas and interests

What kind of Marxist is Althusser?

structural Marxist

What does Marx mean by the idea that religion is the ‘opium of the people’?

dulls the pain of existence without solving the problem, makes people more accepting of capitalism (preventing a communist revolution)

Why does Marx argue that most religions start in the oppressed classes?

as a means of comforting themselves with their situation in life - see it as God’s will

What is the Engels quote about religion as a means of social change?

the history of Christianity has notable points of resemblance with the modern working class movement. Like the latter Christianity was originally a movement of the oppressed people?

Which religious movement is contemporary to Engels?

Methodist churches

What is Engels’s controversial argument about religion?

he agreed with Marx that it was oppressive but argues that in the right conditions could be a force for change

Who backs up Marx’s claim that religion is a conservative force that legitimates inequalities?

Halvey (1927)

What does Halvey (1927) argue?

the methodist religion played a key role in preventing a working class revolution in the 19th century. Most other European nations experienced some attempt to bring about social change in this period but not Britain. Halvey argues that w/c dissatisfaction in Britain was instead expressed by deserting the CofE for methodism. The W/c were distracted from their class grievances and encouraged to see enlightenment in spirituality, inhibiting major social upheaval and change

What is an evaluation point for Halvey’s argument?

Britain had undergone mass social change at an earlier stage (civil war, glorious revolution) and the contemporary revolutions were not successful in bringing about class change, for example the French revolution ended with an emperor 

What does Hook (1990) say?

the Pope (at the time was John Paul II) had a very conservative stance on contraception, abortion, homosexuality and female priests which was shared by his predecessor. Hook argues that the Vatican stance on contraception is causing problems in less developed areas of the world, thus the church is doing very little to tackle world poverty

What is the evaluation point for Hook?

not all Popes/people act like this it depends on individual interpretation

What does Marxist theory fail to consider?

secularisation, ideological power of church is undermined when fewer than 10% of people attend church

What does Marxism fail to explain?

the existence of religion where it does not contribute to class oppression

What point about diversity does Marxism not consider?

lots of different denominations of religions, all with their own interpretations of ideas

What are some examples of the church not oppressing people?

food banks, street pastors, liberation theology, Martin Luther King

Which religion can it be argued that does not oppress a particular class?

Buddhism

How can religion be seen to be oppressive in America?

fundamentalism religions support conservative forces and anti-communist values, often see wealth and prosperity as a sign of favour from God whilst illness, poverty and homosexuality are indicators of sin

What is an example of an oppressive American religious group?

Westboro Baptist church

Which hymn legitimates inequality through its’ lyrics?

all things bright and beautiful

How do neo-marxists disagree with marxists?

recognised the way that religion can be the only way to oppress the ruling class

What is the Internal conflict with Engels?

he recognises that religion can be a tool for change, few rulers have tried to prevent mass participation in religion, religion often promotes helping the poor, religious leaders are not taken down easily

How does Lenin describe religion?

spiritual gin

What is the issue with the divine right of kings?

legitimates inequality as it implies that people are in the upper class because God chose them

What is lenin’s ‘mystical fog’?

religion can be seen to obscure reality

How does religion perpetuate false class consciousness?

arguing that by suffering they will be rewarded in the afterlife ‘it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man through the gates of heaven’

Who controls the production and distribution of ideas in society?

the class that control production

How can religion be seen to be alienating?

distorts life and thus religion rises out of suffering