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Demystifying Marxism: What is the relationship between religion and social oppression?
The 19th century German philosopher Karl Marx was the founder and main theorist of Marxism. He once likened religion to the "inanimate soul" or "the opium of the people." According to Marx, religion is not self-generated, but a product of social oppression and a manifestation of people's resistance in the face of oppression.
Religion in this exploitative world is not only an expression of pain, but also a protest against the pain of reality.
Marx believed that as oppressive social conditions disappeared, religion would lose its necessity for existence. His view sheds light on the social function of religion, that is, in the context of economic oppression, religion has become a tool of resistance for the working class.
With the rise of Marxism, some scholars have defined Marx's views as post-theism, a philosophical stance that views the worship of gods as a temporarily necessary stage of spiritual development in human history. According to the Marxist-Leninist interpretation, all modern religions and churches are seen as "institutions of bourgeois reaction" used to "exploit and paralyze the working class." Some Marxist-Leninist regimes in the 20th century, such as the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, pursued atheistic policies.
Marx and Engels’ views on religion
Marx's views on religion have been subject to various interpretations. He mentioned in "Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right":
"Man created religion, but religion did not create man."
"Religion is an illusion in a world of pain."
This passage reveals Marx's core view of religion, which is a response to economic and social oppression. Marx believed that the process of transforming social reality was a critique of religious illusions and aimed at liberating humanity.
Lingering among Marx's thoughts also includes his identification with Christian socialism. Some scholars argue that some forms of early Christianity were precursors to socialism, identifying Jesus as the first socialist. Marx mentioned in his early writings:
"Christ is the intermediary through which mankind casts off all religious shackles."
This view highlights Marx’s complex views on the relationship between religion and social movements.
Lenin’s views on religion
Lenin wrote in "The Attitude of the Workers' Party towards Religion":
"Religion is the opium of the people: Marx's words are the cornerstone of all Marxist views on religion."
Although Lenin was critical of religion, he did not exclude religious believers from the Bolshevik Party. Lenin believed that religious issues should not be viewed as abstract issues unrelated to class struggle and emphasized the correlation between religion and economic oppression.
Stalin, Bukharin and Russia’s religious policy
Stalin rarely spoke openly about religion during his term, but he emphasized the need for anti-religious propaganda to weaken the influence of reactionary clergy on the working class. Bukharin emphasized in "ABC of Communism" that "communism is incompatible with religious beliefs", but advocated intelligence and patience in dealing with believers, which showed an understanding of the immediate struggle and how to avoid angering the masses' beliefs. circumstances to advance the idea of atheism.
The situation of religion in Marxist countries
In the Soviet Union, the state implemented an atheist policy and religious activities were often suppressed. For most Soviet people, the existence of religion seemed irrelevant. Meanwhile, in Abalaba, religion is strictly suppressed to safeguard nationalist goals.
In the early days of the People's Republic of China, religion was regarded as a symbol of feudalism, and the government adopted a hostile attitude toward it. With the end of the Cultural Revolution, the government's attitude has been significantly relaxed, and the "1978 Constitution of the People's Republic of China" guarantees "religious freedom", but there are still many restrictions.
Conclusion
Marxism provides a new perspective on thinking about religion, that is, religion is not just a belief system, but also a reflection of social and economic oppression. Faced with the challenges of today's diversified society and various faiths, Marx's views still trigger people's profound thinking about religion and its social role. In such a society, is religion a purely spiritual sustenance, or is it a product of oppression?
