Religion reflects the ideas and
interests of the ruling class.
W/C lulled into a state of
false consciousness.
Religion is a form of social
control, keeping the rich,
rich and the poor, poor -
opium of the people (Marx)
Dulls the pain of oppression in 4 ways: 1.
Promises a life of eternal bliss in heaven.
2. You can be rewarded for suffering. 3.
Offers the hope of divine intervention will
solve problems. 4. Used to justify the
social class system and your place in it.
Halevy argued that the
Methodist religion played a key
role in preventing w/c revolution
in 19th century Britain. W/C
deserted CofE, which was seen as
the party of the landed masses.
Methodism distracted them,
focusing instead on
enlightenment in spirituality.