In On the History of Early Christianity (1895) Engels argued that far from acting in a conservative way the early Christian sects in the Roman Empire actually promoted social change as they challenged the oppression of the poor by the Romans.
Furthermore, religious fundamentalism can be understood in terms of Neo-Marxism, with groups such as ISIS offering a utopian vision for marginalised groups in European and global society.
Maduro argues that although the Catholic Church ordinarily supported the right wing dictatorships in Latin America, since the 1960s some Catholic priests have openly promoted social change and equality.
