Marxism (beliefs)

Question 1

Marx

Answer 1

• people’s religious beliefs reflect their alienation- religion arises as a response protest to the lack of control
• religion is an opium of the masses- acts as a distortion of reality with ruling class ideology part of the superstructure to maintain false class consciousness- Divine Rights of Kings- upper class gifted by God
• studied Hindu Caste System- divided into rigid hierarchal based on karma and dharma
• religion as a conservative force maintaining unequal class divide

Question 2

Lenin

Answer 2

• religion acts as a spiritual gin (distortion of reality) to confuse w/c and keep them in their place
• keeps w/c from overthrowing capitalism by creating a fog that obscures reality

Question 3

Althusser

Answer 3

• religion acts as an ideological state apparatus, force that transmits capitalist norms, values and beliefs
• legitimisation/ reinforcing of w/c suffering