Karl Marxs Views on Religion - 1903 Words

Karl Marx has greatly influenced the creation of the modern world and was one of the first revolutionary communist. Through his literary works and philosophies he helped to inspire many 20th century communist regimes including the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, and North Korea. Marx’s ideas did not end at communism; his religious ideology also helped shape and mold the 20th century world. Karl Marx was born in 1818 in Trier, Germany and died in 1883. He was a philosopher who turned to economics and politics in his mid 20’s. His family was Jewish but they converted to Christianity so that Marx’s father might pursue his career as a lawyer. Marx studied law in Berlin and then wrote a thesis for his doctorate in philosophy. Marx had†¦show more content†¦In the preface to his doctoral dissertation, Marx adopted as his motto the words of the Greek hero Prometheus who defied the gods to bring fire to humanity: â€Å"I hate all gods,† with addition tha t they â€Å"do not recognize man’s self-consciousness as the highest divinity (Marx).† Third, religion is hypocritical. Although it might profess valuable principles, it sides with the oppressors. Jesus advocated helping the poor, but the Christian church merged with the oppressive Roman state, taking part in the enslavement of people for centuries. In the Middle Ages the Catholic Church preached about heaven, but acquired as much property and power as possible. Martin Luther preached the ability of each individual to interpret the Bible, but sided with aristocratic rulers and against peasants who fought against economic and social oppression. According to Marx, this new form of Christianity, Protestantism, was a production of new economic forces as early capitalism developed. New economic realities required a new religious superstructure by which it could be justified and defended. In addition to critiquing religion, Karl Marx wrote about the basic ideologies and principles on socialism and communism. In The Communist Manifesto, Marx discusses the problems facing society and how the government is responsible for this. According to Marx, the East-Indian and Chinese markets, the colonization of America, and trade with theShow MoreRelatedMarxs Claim on Religion: Explanation, Analysis, and Problem1088 Words   |  4 PagesMarxs Claim on Religion: In the past few years, Karl Marx has been increasingly incorporated in general sociology though his ideas are briefly mentioned or totally ignored in certain specialties in the sociological field. One of the major sociological specialties where Marxs ideas have been briefly mentioned is the sociology of religion. The sociology of religion only consists of few references to Marxs concepts and views though he accorded much significance to religion. Regardless of the minimalRead MoreKarl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim offered differing perspectives on the role of religion. Choose the theorist whose insights you prefer and theorists views over the others.991 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim offered differing perspectives on the role of religion. Choose the theorist whose insights you prefer and outline how they perceived religion operating socially. Discuss why you chose your preferred theorists views over the others. Marx, Durkheim and Weber each had different sociological views of the role and function of Religion. My preferred theorists view’s on Religion is Karl Marx’s as I feel his ideas are more relevantRead MoreEmile Durkheim And Karl Marx746 Words   |  3 PagesEmile Durkheim and Karl Marx are considered the founding fathers of sociology. Both men had an influence on the development of sociology. Marx and Durkheim differed in their idea of what alienation consisted of. For Marx, the issue was class conflict. While, for Durkheim, it was a disordered society trying to adapt. Although they both had different concepts of alienation, both men believed that alienation lead to a man’s disconnectedness with society and their natural state of mind. Durkheim andRead MoreComparing the Ideologies of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber1327 Words   |  6 PagesComparing the Ideologies of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber were three historical sociologists. Their views have become world renown and have shaped many ways of interpreting the social structure of many modern societies. This essay will take a glimpse into the three sociologists’ ideals and expose the similarities and differences they may have. Karl Marx’s view of society was based around the economy. All other social structures according toRead MoreEssay on The Goal of Functionalism in Religion1748 Words   |  7 PagesThe goal of functionalism, with regards to religion, is to analyze religion and explain its purpose by showing what role it plays for humans within society. Sigmund Freud, Emile Durkheim, and Karl Marx were all functionalist who developed theories as to why religion was such a major part of their society. Their views are very different from the two theorists E.B. Tylor and James Frazer, as they believed humans were using religion to try and explain the unknowns in the world. Though all three of theRead MoreThe Views of Marx Weber, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim on Religion 1475 Words   |  6 PagesMarx Weber, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim Ordinarily, religion is one of the rationales of social orientations, that in one way or another influences the society’s social stability. This is because religion is the impelling force for regulations in the society as well as a destabilizing drive for transformation. Marx Weber together with Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim were very influential personalities in the course of the 19th century, and even now. In one way or another, these persons attempted toRead MoreKarl Marx and Emile Durkeim on Religion1280 Words   |  5 PagesThrough looking at Karl Marx’s application of religion as well as Emile Durkheim’s concepts of religion, it is shown that religion is an ideology that is seen throughout modern society. Although there are many different views surrounding religion, my main objective in this essay is to assess Marx’s claim that Religion is an ideology by focusing primarily on Marx and Durkheim’s views on religion. In order to establish religio n as an ideology, we must start by looking at what makes something an ideologyRead MoreMarx: The Economic Basis of Human Societies 1093 Words   |  5 Pages(Collins English Dictionary, 1994: 959). In this assignment the worldview of Karl Marx will be discovered and the crux of Marxism will be uncovered. Marx’s Life and Work Karl Marx was born in 1818 in Germany during an oppressive time. His Jewish father who; under the discriminatory laws had to convert to Christianity in order to become a lawyer. Although Karl Marx was raised as a Protestant he soon abandoned religion. He ventured on to the University of Berlin as a law student. With an upheavalRead MoreKarl Marx s Influence On Society1149 Words   |  5 PagesKarl Marx emphasized conflict in the society due to consumerism, religion, intersectionality. He saw this conflict and determined that hidden structures can benefit him and others by using the term of ideology which can rely on true or false consciousness. Marx was a unique sociologist who expressed his own ideas in various ways. Applying to Marx’s Theory towards slavery, it showed how the society use to be and how it impacted the slaves to be part of their culture to manifest the society. Read MoreKarl Marx; (C)Eddie Babors the Human Person; Not Real, but Existing1663 Words   |  7 PagesKarl Marx –Report by Ma. Trixia F. Espiritu Santo DKI God bless you who’s reading this ï Å  Karl Marx (1818-1883) Marx’s views about human nature lies in his ideas of society and labor, both linked by his concept of matter that serves as the fundamental argument in Marxism. If man is greatly affected by the material conditions in his surroundings then man’s nature lies within the heart of society and labor which forms man. Two contending camps offering an understanding of human nature