Search
Tools
Listening
Reading
1. Academic
2. General
Writing
1. IELTSWriting Checker
2. IELTS Writing Samples
Speaking

Do you want to improve your writing? Try our new evaluation service and get detailed feedback.

Why is religion, why is the critique of religion so central for Marx ?

Why is religion, why is the critique of religion so central for Marx? 1AGLL

The quotation submitted for our analysis is taken from "A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right, " Early Writings, 243-57, written by Karl Marx in the period December 1843 and January 1844. In it Marx tells us about the importance of religion and religious dogma in our society. He highlights the omnipresence of religion in society and attempts to critique it. Although the pejorative character of a critique is difficult to dissociate from it, Marx's aim here is to make an in-depth analysis of it in order to better understand its methods of operation. This is embedded in his thinking throughout his writing, where after initiating the critique of religion, he turns to the analysis of German society in general. Here, our aim will be to identify how and why the philosophical analysis of religion is a central theme for Marx. To do so, we will study the importance of religion and its different meanings. Then we will see why criticism of religion is inevitable in order to improve the human condition. Marx sees religion as a painkiller that can alleviate human suffering. This is why Marx refers to religion as the "opium of the people"(Contribution). He emphasizes the analgesic character of religion. He claims that it keeps man away from his own awareness of his condition, his misery. It allows the domination of the bourgeois class (which was the nobility from the Ancien Régime until the industrial revolution) over the rest of the population to be masked. Thus, by diverting the human being from his struggles, it does not prevent him from his own alienation. That is, the dispossession of the human essence by the human. However, if religion is seen as a painkiller, the question is now what is pain to forget? According to Marx, the aim is to avoid facing misery, and in this, it is a form of «protest against real suffering» (Contribution). Indeed, here the protest is not active against the oppressor but passive in denying its existence. Marx identifies the evil that eats away at the human condition: the bourgeoisie. Indeed, as he explains in the 1848 Manuscripts, the bourgeoisie sets up a system based on capital and private property which oppresses and wears out proletarians who have only their labour power in exchange. Thus, we realise that instead of being a way of caring for Man, which would lead to his emancipation. Religion through the acceptance of suffering is a condition for the status quo of bourgeois society. Religion as an "illusory happiness" (Contribution) distracts the humans from their problems, their misery and therefore from their struggles. However, religion is also seen as a reflection of society and thus a reflection of the misery of the world. Marx speaks in the Contribution of "the expression of real suffering". Moreover, religion as a "general theory" allows the analysis of society through its simple analysis. It is therefore a means of understanding society and what is wrong with it. In this respect, religion is much more a symptom than a disease. Marx's critique of religion therefore inevitably leads to a critique of the world. Once again, criticism takes on the meaning of global analysis rather than judgement. And this criticism is what Marx calls Philosophy. Philosophy is resolutely an analysis of religion, and then of the socio-political organisation that makes up our society, which are law, politics and the labour force. So we should now ask ourselves why this critique is so important for Marx. The critique of religion and the world is ultimately so central because it is necessary for human emancipation. Emancipation means in Marxist logic, the liberation of the human from bourgeois domination. Whereas capitalist society, through the division of labour, causes the indentation of the human condition, i. e. the separation of the human being from his social essence. This is overcome by emancipation. Emancipation brings the human being back to his social essence. The critique of religion as a reflection of society leads to a critique of the capitalist organisation of the world. This time, the critique of bourgeois society has a definitively more pejorative character than the simple analysis of how things work. Indeed, Marx's critique of the world aims at highlighting the bourgeois oppression of the proletarians. In the Contribution, we notice that the criticism of religion gives way to the criticism of law and politics.

The quotation submitted for our You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
is taken
 from Use a smart opening quote here: "“".“
"
A You use this word too often, consider replacing it withgrantadditionimprovementincreasedonationinput
Contribution
 to the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
Critique
 of Hegel's Philosophy of Right, Don't put a space on both sides of a quote symbolapply
" 
Early Writings, 243-57, written by Karl Marx in the period December 1843 and January 1844.

In it Marx This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :informs
tells
 us about the importance of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 and religious dogma in our You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
. He highlights the omnipresence of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 in You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
 and attempts to You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 it. Although the pejorative character of a You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 is difficult to dissociate from it, Marx's You use this word too often, consider replacing it withdesiredirectiontargetwishaspirationintention
aim
 here is to This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :createconstructmanufactureproduce
make
 an in-depth You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
 of it in order to better understand its methods of operation. This is embedded
 in his thinking throughout his writing, where after initiating the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
, he turns to the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
 of German You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
in general
.

Here, our You use this word too often, consider replacing it withdesiredirectiontargetwishaspirationintention
aim
 will be to identify how and why the philosophical You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 is a central theme for Marx.

To do This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:consequently
so
, we will study the importance of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 and its This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:various
different
 meanings. Then we will This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :witness
see
 why You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcommentassessmentreviewcritiqueopinionjudgment
criticism
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 is inevitable in order to This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :ameliorate
improve
 the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
 condition.

Marx This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :witnesses
sees
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 as a painkiller that can alleviate You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmisfortunehardshiptortureordealdifficultydiscomfort
suffering
. This is why Marx refers to You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 as the Use a smart opening quote here: "“".“
"
opium of the This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :individualsnationsociety
people
Use a smart closing quote here: "”".”
"
(Contribution). He emphasizes the analgesic character of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
. He claims that it This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :retains
keeps
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :individualresidentcitizen
man
 away from his This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :possess
own
 awareness of his You use this word too often, consider replacing it withstatuscasepositionactionsituationplight
condition
, his You use this word too often, consider replacing it withagonyanguishdespairdiscomfortgloomgrief
misery
. It This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :authorizes
allows
 the domination of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmaterialistic
bourgeois
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :coursetraining
class
 (which was the nobility from the Ancien Régime until the industrial revolution) over the rest of the population to be masked
. Thus
, by diverting the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
 being from his struggles, it does not This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :preclude
prevent
 him from his This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :possess
own
 alienation. That is
, the dispossession of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
 essence by the human.

However
, if You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 is This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :witnessed
seen
 as a painkiller, the question is This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :nowadays
now
 what is pain to forget? According to Marx, the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withdesiredirectiontargetwishaspirationintention
aim
 is to avoid facing You use this word too often, consider replacing it withagonyanguishdespairdiscomfortgloomgrief
misery
, and in this, it is a form of «protest against real You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmisfortunehardshiptortureordealdifficultydiscomfort
suffering»
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withgrantadditionimprovementincreasedonationinput
(Contribution)
. Indeed
, here the protest is not active against the oppressor This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:on the contrary
but
 passive in denying its existence. Marx identifies the evil that eats away at the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withstatuscasepositionactionsituationplight
condition
: the bourgeoisie. Indeed
, as he This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :interprets
explains
 in the 1848 Manuscripts, the bourgeoisie sets up a system based on capital and private property which oppresses and wears out proletarians who have This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :exclusively
only
 their Possible spelling mistake. 'labour' is British English.labor
labour
 power in exchange. Thus
, we Possible spelling mistake. 'realise' is British English.realize
realise
 that instead
 of being a way of caring for This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :individualresidentcitizen
Man
, which would lead to his You use this word too often, consider replacing it withindependenceliberation
emancipation
. You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
Religion
 through the acceptance of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmisfortunehardshiptortureordealdifficultydiscomfort
suffering
 is a You use this word too often, consider replacing it withstatuscasepositionactionsituationplight
condition
 for the status quo of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmaterialistic
bourgeois
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
. You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
Religion
 as an Use a smart opening quote here: "“".“
"
illusory happinessUse a smart closing quote here: "”".”
"
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withgrantadditionimprovementincreasedonationinput
(Contribution)
 distracts the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withbodylifemortalcharacterindividualchild
humans
 from their problems, their You use this word too often, consider replacing it withagonyanguishdespairdiscomfortgloomgrief
misery
 and therefore
 from their struggles.

However
, You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 is also
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :witnessed
seen
 as a reflection of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
 and thus
 a reflection of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withagonyanguishdespairdiscomfortgloomgrief
misery
 of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withearthnature
world
. Marx speaks in the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withgrantadditionimprovementincreasedonationinput
Contribution
 of Use a smart opening quote here: "“".“
"
the expression of real sufferingUse a smart closing quote here: "”".”
"
. Moreover
, You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 as a Use a smart opening quote here: "“".“
"
general theoryUse a smart closing quote here: "”".”
"
This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :authorizes
allows
 the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
 through its simple You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
. It is therefore
 a means of understanding You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
 and what is This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:incorrect
wrong
 with it. In this respect, You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 is much more a symptom than a disease. Marx's You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
therefore
inevitably
 leads to a You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withearthnature
world
. Once again, You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcommentassessmentreviewcritiqueopinionjudgment
criticism
 takes on the meaning of global You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
rather
 than judgement. And this You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcommentassessmentreviewcritiqueopinionjudgment
criticism
 is what Marx calls Philosophy. Philosophy is resolutely
 an You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
, and then of the Possible spelling mistake found.sociopolitical
socio-political
Possible spelling mistake. 'organisation' is British English.organization
organisation
 that This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :createsconstructsmanufacturesproduces
makes
 up our You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
, which are law, politics and the Possible spelling mistake. 'labour' is British English.labor
labour
 force.

This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:consequently
So
 we should This phrase/word (depending on the context) can be potentially replaced with :nowadays
now
 ask ourselves why this You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 is This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:consequently
so
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:vitalcriticalessential
important
 for Marx. The You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 and the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withearthnature
world
 is ultimately
This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:consequently
so
 central This phrase/word is too simple and can be replaced with:due to the factin light of the fact thatowing to the fact that
because
 it is necessary for You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withindependenceliberation
emancipation
. You use this word too often, consider replacing it withindependenceliberation
Emancipation
 means in Marxist logic, the liberation of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
 from You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmaterialistic
bourgeois
 domination. Whereas capitalist You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
, through the division of Possible spelling mistake. 'labour' is British English.labor
labour
, causes the indentation of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withstatuscasepositionactionsituationplight
condition
, There should be no space here: "i.e.".i.e.
i. e.
 the separation of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
 being from his social essence. This is overcome
 by You use this word too often, consider replacing it withindependenceliberation
emancipation
. You use this word too often, consider replacing it withindependenceliberation
Emancipation
 brings the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withpersonalanimalmortal
human
 being back to his social essence. The You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 as a reflection of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
 leads to a You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 of the capitalist Possible spelling mistake. 'organisation' is British English.organization
organisation
 of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withearthnature
world
. This time, the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmaterialistic
bourgeois
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcompanyhumanitycommunitynationculturecivilization
society
 has a definitively
 more pejorative character than the simple You use this word too often, consider replacing it withsearchstudyscrutinyinvestigationinquirytest
analysis
 of how things work. Indeed
, Marx's You use this word too often, consider replacing it withappraisalassessmentcommentcommentarycriticismeditorial
critique
 of the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withearthnature
world
You use this word too often, consider replacing it withdesiredirectiontargetwishaspirationintention
aims
 at highlighting the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmaterialistic
bourgeois
 oppression of the proletarians. In the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withgrantadditionimprovementincreasedonationinput
Contribution
, we notice that the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcommentassessmentreviewcritiqueopinionjudgment
criticism
 of You use this word too often, consider replacing it withmythologymythcreedritualsuperstitiontheology
religion
 gives way to the You use this word too often, consider replacing it withcommentassessmentreviewcritiqueopinionjudgment
criticism
 of law and politics. 