Marxist Theories

Question 1

Religion as Ideology

Answer 1

Ideology: a belief system that distorts people’s perception of reality in ways that serve the interests of the ruling class
Religion is an ideological weapon that legitimates the poor’s suffering as something inevitable and God-given
Christian Beliefs of camel and needle
False consciousness: a distorted view of reality that prevents the poor from acting to change their situation
Lenin: spiritual gin
Divine Right of Kings

Question 2

Religion and Alienation

Answer 2

Alienation: involves becoming separated from or losing control over something that one has produced or created
Workers are alienated under capitalism because they don’t own what they produce
Religion acts as an opiate to dull the pain of exploitation

Question 3

Evaluation

Answer 3

• Ignores positive functions of religion
• Neo-Marxists see certain forms of religion as assisting not hindering the development of class consciousness
• Althusser (1971): rejects the concept of alienation
• Abercrombie et al (2015): In a pre-capitalist society, Christianity only has limited impact on the peasantry