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A Philosophical Critique Of Karl Marx’s Conception Of Religion
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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Religion is such a prominent feature in
human society that it cannot be simply ignored.5 So, the significance of
this research is to draw attention to the fact that it is only where
religion is practiced with sincerity or genuinely that one can talk
about the moral life of the individual in a given society: A human being
can never be complete without the spiritual wellbeing which is an
essential part of his human person.
Again, this research is
important because it tends to show that in a particular society where
true religion is practiced, morality is held in high esteem unlike in a
society where people are treated unjustly.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Religion
is important. But one cannot say for sure that it has all the answers
to human predicaments. Fundamentally, this research shall be centred on
Karl Marx notion of religion. Marx saw religion as the basis of all
social evils.6
However, the notion of religion by different scholars in different eras shall be discussed also where necessary.
METHOD OF THE STUDY
A
method is a particular way of doing something.7 One of the methods to
be used in this research is historical analysis. This will help to
analyze the development of religion from the historical period to this
period. We shall also use expository method. This will help to bring
into view man’s notion of religion. Finally, we shall adopt the critical
method to enable us x-ray the positive and negative aspect of Marx’s
notion of religion. To this end, we shall rely on library and internet
for textbooks, journals, articles and relevant class notes.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The
first book to be reviewed is The Philosophical Journey: An Interactive
Approach,8 written by W. F. Lawhead. In the sixth chapter of this book,
both Marx and Hegel said that the dialectics is a historical process in
which different opposing forces resolve their tension by bringing into
being a new stage of history.
Another book to be reviewed is A
Philosophical Look at Religion, written by J. Omoregbe.9 Chapter one of
this book discusses different theories of religions such as the views of
Sigmund Freud, Emile Durkheim among others. This book will help in
discussing a general concept of religion and also in evaluating Marx’s
theories of religion and making a critique of it.
Next to be
reviewed is the journal article, The Marxist Theory on Revolution and
Violence, by A. Schaff in Journal of the History of Ideas.10 Here, A.
Schaff stresses the revolutions of the proletarians (workers) saying
that the existing social and political system is to be changed by a
revolution and that a social revolution is to be identified with an
overthrow of that existing social system by violence.
Another book
to be reviewed is The Voyage of Discovery, written by W. F. Lawhead.11
In chapter twenty five of this book, the author wrote on the influence
of Feuerbach’s notion of religion had on Karl Marx. For Feuerbach,
religion is created by humanity through an unconscious process of
projection. This will help form a critique on Marx’s notion of religion.
The final book to be reviewed here is “Freud and Marx on Religion
and Moralsâ€, by R. Osborn in the Rational Animal.12 In this book, Osborn
stressed the contribution of Marxism is to stress the social relevance
of morality, the fact that one society is morally better than another to
the extent that it provides a milieu in which men can approach their
full human stature. It is relevant to my work in that it will help in
exposing Marx’s notion of religion and its effects.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Religion is a contested notion because different persons have different view of what it is. Religion is fundamental because no society can exist without it as part of their culture, it is also part of human nature. This research attempted to analyze the meaning of religion, its positive and negative aspects in a society and also an attempt was made to analyze its importance in an ideal society. This research was carried out by first, looking at the background, purpose, significant, purpose of re ... Continue reading---
