A Study Of Marx 's Thought Of Religious Criticism

Marx’s critique of religion is an important part of Marx’s philosophy, the first object of Marx’s social critique and the beginning of all critique. Theoretically, it opens the door for Marx’s exploration of politics, economy, and proletarian revolution. Hence, it is significant to have a philosophical examination on opinions and methods of Marx’s critique of religion. This thesis researches Marx’s critique of religion in two perspectives: the historical development of theories on Marx’s critique of religion and several opinions on Marx’s critique of religion. And it states the position of Marx’s critique of religion—ideology critique, pointing out since Marxist philosophy is the critique of all previous metaphysical ideology, religion critique also is the core of ideology critique. Religion is a kind of alienation. Marx’s decomposition of religion is a part of Marx’s philosophy’s decomposition of all alienation and its final purpose is decomposing all conflicts which realizes communism. Communism is the end of religion and is the only fate that realizes human’s liberation.This thesis explores Marx’s critique of religion instead of discussing religion or religion education itself. The opinions which is involved with Marx’s religion opinions is instrumental for explaining his philosophical critique and it is also helpful for understanding the thinking methods of Marx’s critique of religion.This thesis consists of four chapters and studies the theories and methods of Marx’s critique of religion.Chapter one is “Paths to Marx’s critique of religion: From idealism to historical materialism critique standpoint”. It divides into tow parts: part one Marx’s early regional critique and part two Marx’s critique of religion on the basis of historical materialism. This chapter mainly discusses the development of Marx’s critique of religion and summarizes Marx’s representative works and main thoughts and demonstrates Marx’s critique of religion from immature idealism to historical materialism.Chapter two is “content on Marx’s critique of religion: religion’s essence, history and social effects”. Part one the essence of religion; part two the history of religion; part three religion’s social effects. It mainly talks about religion’s support for politics, self-awareness dissimilation and no essence; religion’s historical origin, development and extinct conception of history. Religious opium, coat theory and the social function of the primitive religion and other social functions. It discovers that the essence of the Marx’s religion opinion is the critique of religion and its method is historical materialism practical critique.Chapter three is “Methods of Marx’s critique of religion: ideology critique with the purpose of realizing communism”. This chapter divides into two parts: part one religion means ideology critique; part two Marx’s religion critique’s aim is accomplishing the human’s liberation through communism. It mainly states Marx’s ideology’s rich meanings; the detailed method of religion critique is criticizing the origin of the religion and the realistic base of development which is material production. Communism’s “realistic people”’s meanings, communism’s essence and the answer of “whether communism is the new religion” or not. This chapter is similar with the first chapter in some content, however, the importance and the discussion angle is different. Chapter one aims at organizing the development process and this chapter aims at discussing that the economic basis determine superstructure.Chapter four is “Value of Marx’s religion critique: theoretical innovation and realistic significance”. It contains two parts, which are part one theoretical innovation and part two realistic significance. It mainly discusses Marx’s religion critique’s innovation on previous religion critique: the source critique breaks through the premise critique of previous materialism, the practical critique breaks through the rational critique of idealism and the building of communism breaks through the political country. This chapter also discusses how to employ Marx’s religion critique to deal with religion conflicts home and abroad under the complicated social religion background.