Theories of religion Flashcards
(10 cards)
Marx view on Religion
See religion as a feature only of class-dvidided society. As such there will be no need for religion in classless society and it will disappear.
Ideology
ideology is a belief system that distorts peoples perception of reality in ways that serve interests of ruling class.
Marx: Religion as Ideology
Class controls economic production and production and distribution of ideas through institutions such as religion
In Marx view religion operates as an ideological weapon used by ruling class to justify suffering of poor as inevitable. It misleads the poor into believing they are rewarded in the after life.
Ideas create a false consciousness-distorted view of reality. Lenin describes religion as “spiritual gin” that confuses the w/c and keeps them in place. Ruling class use religion to maipulate the masess and keep tehm from overthroing capitalism through a mystical fog that hides reality.
Application for marx false consicousness
support the false consciousness argument with examples such as the DROK in mediaeval europe and caste system in india
Relgion legitmates the power and prilege of the dominant class by making their position appear diivinely ordained. Disobedience is not just illegal but a sinful chalenge to God’s authority
Caste system: system of social stratification based on ascribed statu. you are born into same caste as your parents. Doctrine of karma eaches if you behave well through obedience you will reincarnate into higher caste. The doctrine of reincarnationa nd karma serves to maintain inequality by assuring those at bootm their obedience will be rewarded.
Marx:Religion and Alienation
Marx sees religion as the product of alienation(becoming seperated from or losing control over something one produced)
Under capitalism, workers are alienated because they do not own what they produce have no control over the production process and the workers endlessly repeat the same task.
in these dehumanising conditions religion is a form of consolation -“opium of people”-sigh of oppressed creature
acts an an opiate to dull pain of exploitation . Its promises of the afterlife distracts attention from true source of sufferings(capitalism
Criticisms: althusser reject the concept of alienation as unscientific this would make concept an inadequate basis for a theory of religion
application of religion and alienation
role of religion illustrates the maxist view of power. Religious iddeas maintain the existing distribution of pwoer and privelege in society by compensating the poor for their deprivation e.g promisng rewards in heaven.
Feminist theories of religion
Feminists see society as patriarchal-based on male domination
religious institutions are patriachal-reflect and perpetuate gneder inequality
religious beliefs are patriarchal ideologies that legitimate women’s subordination
examples of patriarchy in religion
religious organiation-male dominated–catholcism forbid women as priests armstrong sees womens exclusion from priesthoods of most religion as evidence of marginalisation
Places of worship-often segregate sexes and marginalise women in acts of wroship(not being allowed to preach or read from sacred texts)
sacred texts-largely feature the doings of male gods and prophets and often reflect anti-female stereotypes
religious laws and customs: give women fewer rights than men for instance in access to divorce. they may lead to unequal treatment
rather than describing point out they apply across a wide range of religions and come from all aspects of religion-beleifs ,texts , laws , places of worship
analysis for patriarchy in religion
el saadawi’s argument that religious patriarchy is the result of patriarchal forms of society coming into existence in the last thousand years and reshaping religion
Religious feminism :Feminist
Woodhead argues although much traditional religion is patriarchal that is not true for all religion. There are religious forms of feminism ways women use religion to gain greater freedom and respect
while western families see hijab by muslims as oppression it may symbolise liberation as they enable them to enter a public sphere without losing her culture and history
Rinaldo argues even in conservative religions women may use religion to gain status within home and family: evangelical christians is that men must respect women as it a strongly held belief
position of women in liberal protest organisation is often more equal since 1992 the COE has admitted women to the priesthood about a third of priests are now female.
this gives womens power to influence mens behaviour by using religion to insist that men refrain from macho behaviour
