Social Theory: Marxism
The Role of Religion: A Required Element or Simple Nuisance? Religion plays a very interesting role in the world of Sociology because it is such a deep seeded and integral thread that holds many different parts of society together. However, although virtually no sociologist will deny the importance of religion in different societies, they differ greatly on their views on how it can fit into social and/or economic theory. Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx are two very well known sociologists whose opinions on religion differ a great deal. Durkheim put great importance on the solidifying nature of religion; it's ability to create rituals, which rely on symbols and in turn form social facts. Marx, on the other hand, has one of the most famous quotes regarding religion, stating that it is the "opium for the masses". This only begins to tell us where he stands on the idea of religion in sociology. Marx focuses more on the idea that religion is one of those social institutions, which are dependent upon the material and economic sources and resources in a given society. Although Marx and Durkheim differ greatly on their analysis of religion we will see how each one has made it an integral part of their own sociological theories. The quote
For Marx, religion tries to heal the injury without finding the cause of the injury. Marx goes on at some length in his book "Capital" about the role of religion, and compares it the his economic model, saying in short that " Men are producers of commodity, and that commodity's value is measured by the labour and time put into it, Religion can be measured much the same; If no time or labour is put into it, no redeemable value can be obtained from it. If anything, he found it to be a hindrance, and something of a nuisance. " (Marx, 35-36) It seems quite clear by this remark that Marx would waive religion away with a flick of his wrist if he found it possible. There exists a "class culture", which is created of identifying cultural aspects. Durkheim asserted that society supplies its members with social facts-beliefs and meanings that are generally understood, and which are taken to be so important or necessary that they become, in effect, "facts. Although I think he would be more comfortable if religion was not divided into sects, but promoted as a common interest. A uniform set of social facts, distributed equally among class levels, social strata, and economic interests. People turn to religion, and the pain and strife that religion can cause when they are turning away from true distress, in the economic, emotional, or social form. -Marx First of all, very few ever hear this quote in its entirety. One of the main "hopeful" rays that Marx gives to us is the idea that eventually a world that created and allowed so much pain that society was forced to turn to such an illusion like religion would be destroyed and forced by revolution to make way for a new society in which the need for the soothing and sedating effects of religion would not be needed Religion was not an enemy of the workers and communists, although later in the 20th century his views would be distorted by his predecessors when Russia became a communist state and the religious were persecuted or when China distorted the view of communism and societal utopia. Other religions follow the same suit, Buddhists view the Canopy or Bell as implying respect, veneration, signals, martial enthusiasm. Finally, Durkheim introduces us to social facts.
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