Karl Marxdiscussed some of his ideas about religion in his writings. He understood that religion served a purpose in society but disagreed with the basis of that function.
Marx had difficulty believing in unseen truths such as those that religions offer. Since he was young, he refused religion and expressed himself as an atheist (Latief, 2011).
A black and white portrait of Karl Marx
Marx’s Key Ideas on Religion
In his 1844 essay ‘A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right,’ Marx stated that ‘religion is the opium of the people.’
While opium is now known to be an addictive narcotic drug, it is essential to remember that opium was mostly legal during the period in which Marx wrote and was primarily thought of as having medicinal properties.
What can be inferred from Marx’s claim is that if religion is opium, then it provides temporary relief from the oppression that the working class (or proletariat) experiences from capitalism. It protects the workers from the misery of exploitation in a capitalist society.
Marx suggested there were two structures in society. Firstly, there is the infrastructure which is the economic base of society, meaning the unequal relationship between thebourgeoisie and the proletariat.
Thus, he believed that religion justifies the unequal social order in society. The unequal hierarchy in society is believed to be god’s will. The poor are poor because they are sinners, whereas the wealthy are righteous.
Marx posits that religion is a tool of the ruling class to maintain power and reproduce inequality. They justify the principles of capitalism and prevent the proletariat revolution.
Marx believed that religion created a false consciousness for the proletariat. It distorts the proletariat’s view of reality, so they do not realize their true exploitation.
He believed that the proletariat suffers because of their exploitation, but they fail to realize this because religion teaches them that their misery is God”s will. Religion is thought to hide the bourgeoisie’s role in the proletariat’s exploitation.
Religion, according to Marx, makes a virtue out of suffering and offers a false hope that the afterlife is something to look forward to after death.
Religion also offers a false hope of some supernatural intervention that can be prayed to in order to fix problems or to comfort them. This belief is something that can prevent people from trying to do anything practical to improve their own living conditions. It can also increase the feeling ofalienation from the self.
Marx argued that religion was one of the ways in which the ruling class maintained control of society. He argued that religion is a form of ideology that controls the masses.The rewards for the proletariat’s hard work would come in the afterlife, which will motivate the poor to continue working.Religion, according to Marx, inhibits social change because if workers are promised rewards in the afterlife believe that they cannot change their position because it is God’s will, they are not likely to try to change their conditions. Ultimately, religion prevents a revolution from the working class.
Marx argued that religion was one of the ways in which the ruling class maintained control of society. He argued that religion is a form of ideology that controls the masses.
The rewards for the proletariat’s hard work would come in the afterlife, which will motivate the poor to continue working.
Religion, according to Marx, inhibits social change because if workers are promised rewards in the afterlife believe that they cannot change their position because it is God’s will, they are not likely to try to change their conditions. Ultimately, religion prevents a revolution from the working class.
Karl Marx’s Quotes On Religion
The following quotes are from Marx’s writing,Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right(1844):
‘Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.’
‘The foundation of religious criticism is: Man makes religion, religion does not make man. Religion is indeed the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either not yet won through to himself or has already lost himself again… This state and this society produce religion, which is an inverted consciousness of the world, because they are an inverted world.’
‘To sublate religion as the illusory happiness of the people is to demand their real happiness. The demand to give up illusions about the existing state of affairs is the demand to give up a state of affairs which needs illusions. The criticism of religion is therefore in embryo the criticism of the vale of tears, the halo of which is religion.’
Strengths And Limitations Of Marx’s Analysis Of Religion
Despite Marx’s ideas about religion being present in capitalist societies, religion seems almost universal in all types of societies, not just in capitalistic ones. Because of this, religion likely serves other functions to individuals, some of which are positive.
In fact, many teachings of some religions appear to contradict the values of capitalism. Some even criticize the greedy and praise the frugal. Marx ignores many other positive aspects of religion, such as promoting a sense of belonging, kindness, self-fulfillment, and charity-giving.
Marx’s criticism of religion is focused on western societies and religions while ignoring the functions of other religions, such as those in eastern societies.
He also missed the spiritual elements of religion and how many religious aspects focus on the individual becoming a better person.
What Is The Neo-Marxist View On Religion?
Neo-Marxists are Marxists who have revised traditional Marxist thinking. When it comes to religion, neo-Marxist thinkers tend to agree with Karl Marx most of the time.
For instance, they often agree that many religions act conservatively and that hierarchies of religions tend to support the interests of thebourgeoisie.
A significant difference with the neo-Marxists’ view on religion is that they believe religion can evolve, specifically into a source of resistance that can bring about social change.
Neo-Marxists also point out that religion can oftentimes take the side of the poor and oppressed against the powerful ruling class.
Friedrich Engels recognized that, in some circumstances, religion could bring about radical social change. He focused on how the early Christian sects opposed Roman rule. While Christianity may have been initially practiced to cope with exploitation, it became a force for social change.
Otto Maduro was a neo-Marxist who criticized Marx’s approach to religion as being reductionist. Instead, he argued for a more complex understanding of religion and social change (Sabet, 1996).
He further stated that religion might be the only institution through which people can organize for radical social change in some societies.
References
Boer, R. (2013). Spiritual Booze and Freedom: Lenin on Religion.New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry, 6(1-2), 100-113.
Latief, J. A. (2011).Karl Marx’s Criticism on Religion.Al-Ulum, 11(2), 257-266.
Maduro, O. (1977). New Marxist approaches to the relative autonomy of religion.Sociological Analysis, 38(4), 359-367.
Marx, K. (1844). Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right.Deutsch-Französische Jahrbücher, 7(10), 261-271.
Sabet, A. (1996). Religion, politics and social change: A theoretical framework.Religion, State and Society: The Keston Journal, 24(2-3), 241-268.
Yue, P. (2002). Marxist view of religion must keep up with the times.China Study Journal, 18,5-18.
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
