Marxist Views On Religion Flashcards
(14 cards)
Marx on ideology
For Marx, religion is part of the ideological superstructure—a set of ideas used by the ruling class to maintain their dominance.
Marx on opium of the people
suggests that religion soothes the pain of exploitation but doesn’t solve its root causes. Like a drug, it provides comfort but masks reality
Marx on alienation
Workers are alienated from their labor under capitalism, and religion reflects this alienation—projecting human needs and hopes onto an imaginary divine realm.
Lenin on spiritual gin
described religion as a kind of “spiritual gin”, dulling the masses’ awareness and preventing them from challenging oppression.
Marx on religion and hierarchy
Religion legitimizes inequality (e.g., “God-given hierarchies”), encouraging passivity and obedience.
Engels on religion
Engels mostly agreed with Marx but was more open to religion’s radical potential. He acknowledged that religion can inspire rebellion and social change
Engels example of his theory
Hinduism- Caste system which teaches to accept your place in society even if it’s difficult.
However Hinduism also acted for social change in Ghandis salt march.
Gramsci on hegemony
Religion is a key part of cultural hegemony—the ruling class’s ability to shape norms, beliefs, and values so that domination appears natural.
Gramsci on organic intellectuals
Revolutionary leaders must act as “organic intellectuals,” helping the working class articulate its true interests and resist religious narratives that justify suffering.
Gramsci on counter hegemony
Religion can potentially become a site of resistance, forming part of a counter-hegemonic movement that challenges ruling-class dominance.
Bloch on the principle of hope
Bloch argued that religion contains utopian, anticipatory dreams of a better future. Though often misdirected, these can be harnessed by socialists.
Bloch on religion as revolutionary
He saw religious myths and symbols as sources of hope that could be reinterpreted in radical, emancipatory ways.
Althusser on the ideological state apparatus
Althusser viewed religion as an Ideological State Apparatus—one of the institutions (like schools or media) that reproduce capitalist ideology and social norms.
This turns people into obedient subjects preventing reform.
Maduro on liberation theology
A movement where Christian teachings are interpreted through the lens of social justice, aligning with the struggles of the poor against oppression.
Maduro argued that religion can mobilize the oppressed, becoming a tool for class struggle, not just pacification.
