ovde - vera znanje mir

o Social superstructure is more independent of the economic base than
Marx claimed
o Religion's not as tightly tied to the wished of the ruling class &
maybe a vehicle for w/c liberation
Otto Maduro
o Accepts many aspects of Marx's analysis of religion but places
greater emphasis on the idea that religion has some independence or
'relative autonomy', from the economic system of the bourgeois
o Denies religion is a conservative force
o "Religion isn't necessarily a functional, reproductive or
conservative factor in society; it often is one of the main (sometimes
only) available channel to bring about social revolution."
o Religion can be revolutionary - Priests can actually activate the
population
o In developing countries where the church is the dominant source of
ideas - religion can be liberating
o Eg. Catholic church in Poland & El Salvador, Anglican church in
S.Africa
o Liberation Theology was a radical version of Catholicism which
fuelled several resistance movements in Latin America
o Church is a political institution - not neutral in political affairs
o Up until recently, Catholicism support the bourgeoisie & right-wing
dictatorships
o Maduro believes that members of the clergy can develop revolutionary
potential where oppressed members of population have no outlet for
their grievances
o They pressurise priests to take up their cause & theological
disagreements of a religion that are critical of the rich & powerful
Engels
Roger O'Toole - "Beginning with the work of Engels, Marxists have
undoubtedly recognised the active role that maybe played by religion
in effecting revolutionary social change
o 'On the History of Early Christianity'
o Compared some early Christian sects opposed to Roman Rule to
communist and Socialist political movements
o He said "Christianity got hold of masses exactly as modern socialism
does, under the shape of a variety of sects"
o Christianity originated as a way of coping with exploitation among
oppressed groups
o It could become a source of resistance to the oppressors & become a