Sociology / Unit 8 Soc 1327 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Marx on Religion
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The idea
Marx held that religion reflects and helps maintain social stratification, calling it "the opium of the people" for teaching the poor to accept present suffering for a reward after death.
In practice
Marx pointed to institutions accumulating wealth while teaching parishioners that true reward lies beyond this life.
Where people slip
Marx's claim concerns religion's social function under inequality, not a judgment on any individual believer's sincerity.
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