Religion in Europe During the Life of Karl Marx
analytical Essay
1498 words
Religion in Europe During the Life of Karl Marx
Religion as an institution has evolved throughout human history. When it began during the primitive stages of human existence, religion was concerned with society rather than the individual. Its role was to better society as a whole. At a later time religion began to take a greater interest in the individual, changing its role as a social institution.[1] This change in the role of religion led to the institution as a whole supporting personal growth and success, including wealth. In the Manifesto of the Communist Party, the authors denounce the separation of classes and the upper class in general, saying, “Society can no longer live under this bourgeoisie”.[2] As a result, the authors also denounced religion because by supporting wealth and encouraging capitalism it served to promote the upper class.
Marx and other Communists felt that the evolution of religion throughout history was spurred on by changing economic and social conditions.[3] These two factors are very similar, and a change in one usually leads to a change in the other. At the time that Marx and Engels were formulating their ideas concerning Communism, radical changes were sweeping across the better part of Europe. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing with new inventions and industries growing rapidly. The demand for products increased dramatically and the entire lifestyle of many Europeans, especially the English, changed.
The Revolution led people away from the rural farm life to the mass production of the urban scene. Workers were needed in booming industries such as cotton, iron production, and coal mining. As a result, people flocked to the cities to meet the need. These industries were controlled by the bourgeoisie, the wealthy upper class. They wanted to take advantage of the new technology and the intense demand for new products, which translated into money. These owners sent the poor farmers straight to work, and exploited them from the start. The workers received low pay and worked long hours in extremely unfavorable, and even dangerous, conditions.[4] This continued and the bourgeoisie prospered at the expense of the oppressed proletariat. Once the Industrial Revolution started it became rather efficient.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that marx felt that social changes, along with changes in the economy, resulted in change in religion as an institution. the bourgeoisie recognized it as a tool through which they could maintain their authority.
- Analyzes how the church supported the class system that marx detested. the bourgeoisie's money helped the church build bigger places of worship and update its facilities and programs.
- Analyzes how marx's religion was influenced by the industrial revolution, which led to a clash between the working class and the bourgeoisie.
- Explains that bociurkiw, bohdan r., and strong, john w. religion and atheism in the u.s.
- Cites salisbury, joyce, and sherman, dennis. the west in the world.
- Describes dennis sherman and joyce salisbury's the west in the world.
- Cites bohdan r. bociurkiw and john w. strong, religion and atheism in the u.s.
- Analyzes how religion evolved throughout human history. it was concerned with society rather than the individual, and supported personal growth and success.
Related
- analytical
- opinion
- argumentative
- explanatory
- Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Religionanalytical essayKarl Marx (1818-1883) was the most influential revolutionary socialist thinker of the 19th century. Marx’s key interests were in establishing a revolutionary party for the working classes and analysing capitalist society in order to find its strengths and weaknesses and so plan its demise. With his friend and colleague, Friedrich Engels (1820-1895), he created “The Communist Manifesto” in which they described the communist society which would be created as a result of the revolutionary overthrow of the capitalists by the working classes. This essay will discuss the view held by Marx and Engels with regard to religion and consider this perspective in its relevance to contemporary society. Although, in Marx and Engels’ opinion, religion is “the opium of the people” (Marx and Engels 1955:41-2), by this they did not only suggest that religion was an invention of the ruling classes to keep the working classes contented, they also considered the deeper implications of religion and that is the theme of this essay.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes marx's key interests in establishing a revolutionary party for the working classes and analysing capitalist society in order to find its strengths and weaknesses and plan its demise.
- Argues that marx and engels disagreed with feuerbach's critique of hegel and his belief that inversion and alienation were key concepts in the examination of religion and its power
- Explains that marx and engels believed religion distracts the proletariat from their life of oppression under capitalism, keeping them away from materialistic ideas. this led to marx's idea of commodity fetishism.
- Analyzes how marx and engels saw religion as an ideology for the proletariat, creating a false consciousness.
- Explains that marx's ideology behind religion was used as an explanation for divisions between classes and associated unequal division of wealth. the myths provided by religion assisted in exploitation of the working class
- Explains that religion also caused alienation, resulting in individuals becoming separated from the society they created. marx considered religion as an example of self-alienation.
- Explains that marx and engels believed that religion, especially christianity, was effective in a capitalist society.
- Explains that marx and engels knew that the proletariat were the least educated class, without resources and creative capabilities necessary for exchanging opinions and ideals. they were easily manipulated by capitalists who did not want their conceptions challenged.
- Explains that marx and engels believed that if religion ceased to exist, people would be able to see society as it really was.
- Argues that marx and engels believed that while society was an unequal chaotic world, an independent abstract individual could not survive, "man is the world of man, state, society."
- Explains that marx's idea of "religious suffering is at the same time the expression of real suffering" shows that his ideas are relevant today.
- Explains why the proletariat have not revolted and overthrown capitalist society.
- Argues that capitalism remains strong in the austere world of today, despite the recent banking crises and economic crisis. veblen's (1934) opinions support these capitalist ideals.
- Argues that the arguments of marx and engels are relevant to contemporary society and will remain relevant until the proletariat can see the socioeconomic climate in which they live, in its true colours.
- Cites marsh, i, keating, m, punch, s, and harden, j. eds. sociology making sense of society.
- Explains marx's contribution to the critique of hegel’s philosophy of right and engels' manifesto of the communist party.
- Explains that marx, k. 1867. capital volume one, available from http://www.marxists.org/archive/mar x.
- Explains veblen's the theory of the leisure class. chase, s., and desfor edles' the scientific study of religion.
- Describes calhoun, gerteis, moody, pfaff, and virk, i. eds. classical sociological theory.
- Explains marx, k., and engels, f. (2010). the communist manifesto.
- Explains marx, k. and engels, f. 1848. manifesto of the communist party.
- Explains the communist party's manifesto and german ideology.
2253 wordsRead More - The Influence Of Religion By Karl Marxopinion essayAccording to Karl Marx, religion is society’s main crutch. He believed that religion uses “persuasion and…distraction” (Pals, Introducing, 145) in order to distract the poor from their real problems. Religion, to Marx, was a way to “suffocate” (Pals, Introducing, 145) the possibility of revolt among the people and “’God’ is a fantasy” (Pals, Introducing, 145) for humans that emulates their own standards and “ideals” (Pals, Introducing, 145). Any god that humans created was for the purpose of man to have an idea of the next life, and the church was created in order to steal from the poor. Religion and “God” were only used as a distraction from the everyday toils and oppression that was in front of them. The constant oppression of the poor was too much for the people to handle in their day-to-day lives, and so they turned to religion, believed by Marx to be the “sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world” (Pals, Critique: Intro, 146). Through religion, they could escape
In this essay, the author
- Compares karl marx's view of religion to the iconic "opium of the people."
- Explains that marx believed that religion was purely man-made and that it was only a way to escape the hardships of everyday life.
- Explains friedrich nietzsche's belief that religion is based in the foolishness of humankind and that christianity is founded on the sacrifice of freedom, pride, and self-confidence.
- Explains that religion was the source of people's unhappiness. the priests of the church convinced the people that the only way to get to heaven was through them.
- Explains that marx and nietzsche believed religion was the oppression of the people. they believed that religion could and should be reduced and eliminated.
- Opines that religion is a way for those who feel like they have no chance in this life to have an opportunity in the next.
1029 wordsRead More - Marx View Of Religion Essayargumentative essayMarx views religion as a drug that gives the people temporary relief from their unhappiness, which inhibits them from conducting social change. To better understand Marx’ view of religion one must question, why is it so important that human beings stop looking to a metaphysical world for happiness? What is real happiness? And why does social change depend upon abandoning religion?
In this essay, the author
- Explains that marx views religion as a drug that gives people temporary relief from their unhappiness, which inhibits them from conducting social change.
- Analyzes how marx views religion as a "universal source of consolation and justification."
- Explains that real happiness can only come from our material world rather than the metaphysical world. marx claims that the reason people turn to religion is to gain relief from what is oppressing them
- Explains that marx questions why social change depends upon abandoning religion. he believes that for society to work properly everyone should be viewed as equal.
- Concludes that marx views religion as the "opium of the people" due to its powerlessness. for social change to occur, people must recognize the urgency of abandoning religion.
960 wordsRead More - Marxism and Religionanalytical essayMarxism and Religion Throughout Karl Marx’s life he was not thought to be anything special, just a regular working man, but in reality Marx was a “philosopher, a journalist, an economist, a historian, and a moralist. ”[1] Even with all of this hard work most people did not think that he would amount to much. Little did most of the people who lived during Marx’s lifetime know how big of an impact he would have on the world within the next century. Karl Marx, the philosopher, had to have one of the biggest impacts on the world to this day. Marx’s most well known following came from the Communist nation the Soviet Union.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the differences between marxism and religion on the individual level.
- Explains that many of the major contradictions between marxists and religious believers occur within the realm of family.
- Explains that marxists and religious people agree on a few ideas, but the means to achieve the goals are different.
- Explains that marxist and religious beliefs clash when dealing with individuals, family and society.
- Explains that karl marx was a philosopher, journalist, economist, historian, and moralist. the soviets believed in his philosophical writings and thoughts of religion.
1329 wordsRead More - Marx and Engels' View and Purpose of Religionanalytical essayThroughout history, religion has played a significant function in society as a medium through which people connect, via various rituals and symbols (Marsh et al. 2009). When the subject of Marx, Engels and religion is discussed, the famous quote ‘Religion is the opiate of the masses’ (Marx as cited in Raines 2002, p.5) is one that is for the most part, at the forefront of people’s minds. It is often a misconception that Marx and Engels viewed religion in a predominantly negative light and saw it as something that human beings had no use for. On the contrary, as this essay will endeavour to show, Marx and Engels not only saw religion as a force used by the elite to control the repressed and justify their actions, but it is also an ‘active moral agency’ (Raines 2002, p.5) for the proletariat and an outlet through which their suffering can be channelled. In order to achieve this, this essay will look at Marx’ and Engels ideology, false consciousness and what that means, base and superstructures according to Marx, the Hegelian philosophy and Marx’ interpretation of this, and alienation. In addition, this essay will look at whether Marx’s views on religion are still relevant in today’s society.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that marx and engels viewed religion as a force used by the elite to control the repressed and justify their actions.
- Explains that marx was influenced by g.w.f. hegel, an esteemed philosopher of the time, who used dialectic to explain historical movements within society.
- Analyzes how marx contradicted hegel's view of the state being in place to create a safe environment, rather than validate the laws and belief systems that restrain the majority of human beings, the proletariat, for the benefit of bourgeoisie.
- Explains that marx and engels used the term ‘ideology’ to convey how the winners of the capitalist society used certain ideas and beliefs in order to mould society for their benefit.
- Analyzes how marx and engels perceived religion as part of the base-superstructure model, which comes second to the ‘base’ structure of society.
- Analyzes how karl marx introduces and develops one of his key concepts, alienation, in the manuscripts of 1844.
- Argues that marx and engels' ideas are still relevant in today's society. religion is an outlet that people rely on to assist them in the trial and tribulations of life.
- Concludes that marx and engels view religion as a man-made entity to assist the bourgeoisie and blur the true picture of the world.
- States that appelrouth, a., and edles, l.d. 2008. classical and contemporary sociological theory.
- Explains that forte, j.m., weber, marx, and the materialist controversy. philosophy & social criticism.
1956 wordsRead More - Religious Controversy During the Time of Karl Marxexplanatory essayReligion in Europe before and during 1848, the year the Communist Manifesto was written, was full of trials and tribulations. This is not a new thing for religion, ever since the creation of religion there has been problems. Religion is the one uncertainty that has caused disputes even wars in the past and in the present. Religion is discussed briefly in the Communist Manifesto. However, There is enough content about religion to see Karl Marx’s views on the matter but he does not go into depth on those views. Religion around the time of the Communist Manifesto was very unstable; two events prior to this time that contributed to this instability are the Separation of Christianity into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, and the Protestant reformations that took place.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the church reformation was a response to all three of the protestant reformations. the council of trent was supposed to be an important turning point in the catholic religion.
- Explains that the separation of the eastern and western religions and reformation were significant events leading up to the nineteenth century.
- Explains that karl marx believed that religion was being used as a tool by the bourgeoisie to gain more control of the working class.
- Explains that religion in europe before and during 1848, the year the communist manifesto was written, was full of trials and tribulations.
- Explains that the church needed the financial support of the bourgeoisie to go along with them. the separation of christianity into the eastern orthodox and the roman catholic is one of them, while the protestant reforms divided the catholic church.
1366 wordsRead More - The Effects on the Industrial Revolutionexplanatory essayThe Industrial Revolution did a lot of harm on society and damage to the citizens of the working class. People’s lives were ruined and others were ended due to the fact that this was just generally hard on the people of this time. Citizens had it rough when this era was around and people who lived and survived in this time had a strong will to keep pushing and just work on. Not all jobs at this time were terrible, but speaking for the majority of the workers, it was a really hard time.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the effects on society due to the industrial revolution varied on the person. people who liked their work didn't usually have to do that job, but people forced to work had a bad job overall.
- Explains that the industrial revolution was a time when people were stuck with dangerous jobs and the way they worked was worse. lewis hine took pictures to show how children worked in industries and factories.
- Explains that the hours of the workers were ridiculous and crazy. they could not quit because they didn't like their job or spend enough time with their families.
- Explains that many people had gotten injured due to work or work related tasks and some people even died. bad working conditions, illnesses, working long hours, and loss of family stability played a big role in these injuries and deaths.
- Opines that the industrial revolution did a lot of harm on society and damage to the citizens of the working class.
- Cites the parliamentary committee on the bill to regulate the labor of children in mills and factories, 1832.
679 wordsRead More - Industrial Revolution Essayanalytical essayLife was drastically changed during the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a period of time where machinery was used for manufacturing massive production of goods that began in England in the middle 1700s. This revolution was significant because machinery now changed the way nations produced and distributed goods; therefore, it increased the availability and affordability of goods for all people. To understand the Industrialization Revolution, it is necessary to take a closer look at the Pre-Industrialization. During the Pre-Industrialization, most people belonged to either high or low-class not middle class, and many were farmers who lived in the countryside. Also, goods were made by hand thus the products were not readily affordable or available. However, agricultural revolution, population growth, natural resources, factors of production,inventions and transportation all contributed to the growth of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution resulted in positive and negative changes that paved the way for the working condition and wages, living condition and reform of social class.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the industrial revolution was a period of time where machinery was used for manufacturing massive production of goods.
- Analyzes how the enclosure movement forced many farmers to move into cities and become factory workers. the evidence suggests that factory owners had no policy or law to protect workers' rights.
- Explains how the dirty factory air caused throat or lung infections, poor lighting, and eye problems. low wages and harsh treatment caused unhealthy working conditions and air pollution.
- Analyzes how the growth of the factory system led to urbanization. poor housing, diseases, and hard work caused harsh living conditions and short lifespan.
- Analyzes how the growing middle class reformed the social structure of england.
1007 wordsRead More - The Transformation of theIndustrial Revolutionexplanatory essayThe Industrial Revolution was the transformation from agricultural to an industrial nation. During the 1780's, the Industrial Revolution first began in England. The Industrial Revolution took place when people migrated from rural areas to urban areas to work in factories. As a result of increased population and trade, Great Britain rose to be the Mother country of the Industrial Revolution. Many natural resources like coal and oil were developed in The United Kingdom. The mother country also had a very large amount of food supply, and numerous countries to trade with. Due to these advantages, many farmers upgraded their ways of farming with added machinery. In doing so less farmers were needed to work on farms. In order for some farmers to find jobs, they deserted their agricultural homes and went to work in factories.There were poor working conditions and not enough money for the workers (Downey 266). The power of the industry that propelled British goods and guns around the globe also brought its views to other countries. Interpretations of Britain's Industrial Revolution helped shape the values and the public policies in Britain, and also fostered attitudes toward capitalism and modern industry in other countries "Industrial Revolution in Britain". The Industrial Revolution was a time of new inventions, but was very harsh.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the industrial revolution was the transformation from agricultural to an industrial nation during the 1780's.
- Describes the industrial revolution as a cruel time for children, as they worked long hours, lost limbs due to careless actions, and were physically abused. factory owners profited by using children and women to run machines.
- Explains the importance of the steam engine in the industrial revolution. it was used in water pumping, mining, and farming.
- Explains that the industrial revolution had both positive and negative effects during this period, including new invention, migrations, increased trade and transportation of goods, and greater productivity.
630 wordsRead More - Industrial Workers During The Industrial Revolutionexplanatory essayThe working conditions during the Industrial Revolution were terrible. The reason being that people were willing to work. When factories were being built there was a high need for workers but since there were so many people who wanted or needed work they were paying then very low wages, it was long hours 14-16 and six days a week. They were working for 10 an hour. The factories had very little light and the machinery was horrible as they would come out covered in black soot. Children were even put to work as well. The bad conditions resulted in labor unions.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the working and living conditions of industrial workers in america during the industrial revolution.
- Explains that skilled workers lived well in the pre-industrial society known as middle class. after the industrial revolution, they could no longer live at their own pace and their homes just became destroyed.
- Explains that the labor movement was made to help the interest of the workers, fought for better wages, better hours, and safer working environment. it took time before they were able to bet back to middle class status for some.
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