Marxist theories of religion

• Marxist theory of religion


  Religion is an ideology that distorts people's perception of reality in the interest of the ruling class
• Marxist view of religion


  • Religion operates as an ideological weapon used by the ruling class to legitimate the suffering of the poor as something inevitable and God-given
  • Religion misleads the poor into believing they will be rewarded in the afterlife
  • Religion legitimates the power and privilege of the dominant class by making their position appeared divinely ordained
• False consciousness


  A distorted view of reality preventing the poor from acting on their situation
• Alienation (in Marxist theory)


  Becoming separated from or losing control over something that one has produced or created
• Religion as a form of consolation (in Marxist theory)


  It is the opium of the masses, acting as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation and distracting attention from the true source of the suffering, namely capitalism
• Some Marxists, such as Althusser, reject the concept of alienation as unscientific