marx

• Karl Marx's view on religion


  Religion is a conservative force that maintains the status quo of ruling class oppression
• How religion maintains ruling class oppression

  1. Used by ruling class to pass on their ideology to the masses

  2. Helps control the masses
• Marx's view of society

  • Organized into infrastructure (economic base) and superstructure
  • Infrastructure controlled by ruling class
  • Superstructure controlled by ruling class to maintain inequality
• Relationship between ruling class and proletariat

  • Ruling class owns means of production, proletariat sell their labor for wages
  • This generates inequality as ruling class dictates wages
• Role of religion


  • Promotes idea that society's unequal hierarchy is due to God's will
  • Promotes ideas that fit capitalist ethos like individualism, meritocracy, rewards in afterlife
  • Provides temporary relief from oppression, offers hope of future rewards
  • Inhibits social change by ostracizing challengers of religious doctrines
• Marx famously described religion as the "opium of the people"
• Marx viewed religion as a conservative force that offers little aid to the poor and maintains the unequal structure of capitalist society
• Marx's focus is on religion in Western society, neglecting the functions of Eastern religions
• Marx ignores the positive aspects of religion celebrated by functionalists, such as social cohesion and collectivism
• Marx ignores the spiritual aspects of religion and the role of individuals in rejecting religious ideology