Marxist Perspective On Religion And Liberation Theology

According to Marx’s conflict theory, which examined the interaction between economic systems and power structures such as religious institutions, the power relations of the economy were reinforced by â€Å"traditional religious icons or the modern icons of mass consumerism† (Callaghan 199). His belief that religious icons and icons of mass consumerism are reinforcing oppressive structures could be viewed as a type of â€Å"methodological atheism†, for Marx fails to acknowledge the significance of transcendence for those practicing religion. In the chapter, â€Å"Sociological Approaches†, Northcott points to the relationship between the Marxist perspective on religion and liberation theology movements in Latin America. Marxist inspired liberation theology†¦show more content†¦Weber’s primary interest seemed to focus on established religions with many followers. Through his text,â€Å"Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism†, Weber investigated Christianity’s impact on Western ideology and culture (Callaghan 200). Like Marx, Weber believed religion interacted with economics. Yet, he differed from Marx, in that he did not see this as a negative construct. While investigating the development of capitalism in the west, Weber points to the fact that capitalism seemed to emerge in a number of Protestant and Lutheran based countries (Callaghan 201). Furthermore, he points to ideologies in protestant ethics, such as the belief that every day life holds significance to God. Following th is notion, Weber believed capitalism was not just about money. Instead, the ideology associated with capitalist efficiency, was that when you work for God, you work hard(Callaghan 201). Still, Weber’s explanations fail to acknowledge the hedonistic aspects of capitalism. As a result, Weber’s sociological approach to the study of religion is perhaps too broad to deliver any real concrete findings. Sociologist, Emile Durkheim, took a functionalist approach to the study of religion. Durkheim understood religion as fulfilling both a social and psychological function (Callaghan 196). He viewed religion as important for collective and social existence (Callaghan 196). This was exemplified in Durkheim’s text, â€Å"The Social as Sacred†,Show MoreRelatedMarxism Within Blt5219 Words   |  21 PagesMarxism Within Black Theology of Liberation. This study seeks to expose the ways in which Black Theology of Liberation was shaped by Marxism through the writings of its founders, concentrating predominantly on the need to bring about the liberation of the poor African-Americans from their repressive white racist oppressors by any means necessary, and the redistribution of wealth to those deprived of it by their white capitalist oppressors. 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