Marxist on religion

What did Mark argue about religion?

• It is an ‘opium of the masses’ It acted like a drug, cushioning the workers from the true misery of being exploited in capitalist society.

• Operates as an ideological weapon to legitimate class inequality

• Justifies the suffering of the poor and is inevitable and God given 

• suffering is a virtue and will be rewarded in the afterlife

• creates a false class conscientiousness so the working class won’t revolt

What is false class conscienceness?

This is the idea that the working class fail to understand their exploitation under capitalism due to transmissions of the ruling class ideologies.

What did Lenin argue about religion + example

That it is a spiritual gin. It is an intoxicant given to the masses by the ruling class to confuse them and keep them in their places. A ‘mystical fog’.

On the 16th centaury, the Divine Right of Kings suggested that kings were chosen by God so were obeyed. Disobedience was not just illegal but also a sin. - ISA - Althusser

What did Althusser argue?

Religion is a part of the ideological state apparatus. Along with education and the media, it transmits the dominant ideology and maintains false class consciousness.

What traditional Marxist disagreed with Marx?

Engels who suggested that religion had a dual character, performing this conservative function but also having the potential to drive social change.

Evaluate Marxist theory

1. Similarity Between Marxist and Functionalist Views:
   Both perspectives see religion serving a similar social function, but functionalists view it positively (promoting stability), while Marxists see it negatively (maintaining oppression).

2. Criticism in Modern Contexts:
   In societies where religion is less influential (like many Western democracies), its role in controlling or uniting people is reduced. Other social phenomena like sport or celebrity culture now play that role instead.

3. Religious Teachings vs Capitalist Values:
   Many religious teachings conflict with capitalist ideals, criticizing greed and praising humility. This means religion might not always support the status quo—it can also inspire opposition to inequality, which is why neo-Marxists argue religion can both preserve and challenge existing power structures.