Question

Why was Karl Marx critical of religion? Select one: a. He believed that religion defers happiness and rewards to the afterlife and teaches the resigned acceptance of existing conditions in the earthly life. b. Marx felt that religions explained existence but provided no explanations for societal advancement. c. He believed that the world’s economies were mere reflections of their respective religions. d. Marx thought that religion influenced humans to think more in terms of philosophy instead of hard science. e. Because religion, according to Marx, only provided a road map to God without any explanation as to how to experience the Divine.

Answer 1

a. He believed that religion defers happiness and rewards to the afterlife and teaches the resigned acceptance of existing conditions in the earthly life.

Karl Marx call religion the "opium of the people". For him, religion becomes a way for people to justify what occurs in their surroundings and in a way resign to their fate. Religion gives them false hope by suggesting that their suffering is virtuous and thus, they will be rewarded in the afterlife. According to Marx religion distorts people's perception of reality in ways that serve the interests of the ruling class.