an economic system based
on the exchange of goods
and services for profit
profit: surplus value
intensification
of production
economic crisis
capitalism is bound by it
workers have to buy products to maintain capitalism
less salary = less consuming
bourgeoisie
own the means of production
ruling class
exploiters
Marxism and
Beliefs in Society
"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature,
the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of
soulless conditions. It is the opium of the
people. The abolition of religion as the illusory
happiness of the people is required for their
real happiness” - Karl Marx (1844)
Opiate of the people/the masses
Religion is an illusion which eases the
pain of exploitation in capitalist
society. In a communist utopia
religion ceases to exist because there
is no need for it.
‘Religion is a kind of spiritual
gin in which slaves of capital
drown their human shape and
their claims to any decent life’
- Lenin
dominant ideology: : Religious beliefs are a form of
ideology that prevents revolutionary consciousness.
People are in a state of false consciousness.
religion contributes to social control through ideology.
alienation: self-delusion of individuals from themselves
and others. Religion represents a set of ideas that are
created by humanity, but which humanity lets rule over
them. This prevents revolutionary consciousness and
social change.
religion justifies social order
"all things bright at beautiful"
religion makes a virtue of suffering
religion promises heaven for the poor
camel through the eye of a needle
religion is a tool for the ruling class to
help provide a false consciousness
legitimises and maintains inequalities
through socialisation
diverts attention away from capitalism
prevents revolution
conflict theory
based on inequalities
inequalities lead to change
change leads to revolution
INSTITUTIONS promote an
ideological view of the world