Marxism Flashcards
(11 cards)
Introduction
- Focus on how religion benefits those in power and holds back the working class thereby acting as a CONSERVATIVE FORCE
- MARX: religion acted as a drug binding the working class to oppression they suffer in capitalist society whilst at the same time just to find the class system and inequality in it
KARL MARX: religion as an opiate (drug) intro
- religion is the ‘ opium of the people’ (drug for the working class to draw the pain of capitalist exploitation and oppression)
- Dehumanising conditions of early capital society that many turning into religion as a form of consolidation as they had been alienated from their true nature as creative humans
KARL MARX: 2 ways drug worked for the WC
- It provided a promise of eternal bliss
- Life is bearable due to promise of heaven which they look forward to - By promoting the virtue of suffering.
- Those suffering with poverty but deal with it with dignity and humility will be rewarded in afterlife
Virgin is there for Miss leading the working class to believe in that suffering is virtuous and they will be favoured in the afterlife?
KARL MARX: example for religion acting as an opium
Christianity ‘ it’s easier for a camel to pass through an eye of the needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’
This ideology creates a false consciousness, preventing the poor from acting to change their situation
KARL MARX: religion as a drug support
- LENIN:
- The ruling class use religion cynically to manipulate masses preventing the working class overthrowing the ruling class by creating a mystical fog obscuring reality - HALEVY:
- methodism was key in preventing working class revolution in the 19th century by encouraging its members to seek enlightenment through spiritually this acted as a drug pacifying the working class preventing revolution as in France.
A03: KARL MARX religion as a drug
It ignores positive functions of religion, for example how it helps with emotional stress as stated by functionalist
KARL MARX: justification of social order intro
Religion justifies a social order by legitimating the privilege and power of the dominant class by making that position appear to be divinely ordinated
Social arrangements begin to be seen as inevitable and those at the bottom use religion to help cope with their situation
Ruling class religious beliefs to justify their dominance
Poverty and misfortune is seen as a punishment for Sin
KARL MARX: justification of social order example
In the 16th century, the idea of the divide right kings held the belief that the king was the God representative on earth and is owed total obedience. disobedience was a sinful and illegal challenge to God‘s authority
KARL MARX: support for justification of social order
NEW CHRISTIAN RIGHT
- shows relationship developed between protestant fundamentalist religion and right wing political candidates from Republican Party
- Promote values for example individualism wealth creation and reject communist values and collectivism
- republican candidates for example Donald Trump are offered support by these groups as they promised to lower taxes and lift restrictions on trade
- Fundamentalists argue that wealth and prosperity are a sign of God’s favour and poverty ill illness and homosexuality are indicators a sin
- The new Christian rights help maintain social class inequality in America as the welfare state has shrunk and free healthcare is elusive
KARL MARX: justification of social order A03
assume working class Merely accepts religious explanations of class inequality and that it’s enough to trick them into subservience
Others argued that the working class is perfectly aware of the injustice and exploitation of the class system but they don’t challenge authority due to phases for example being fired or moved into the work house
