Question

Why was Karl Marx critical of religion?

A. Marx believed that religion deferred happiness and rewards to the afterlife and taught resigned acceptance of existing conditions in the earthly life.

B. Marx felt that religions explained existence but provided no explanations for societal advancement.

C. Marx 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.

Answer 1

Karl Marx critiqued religion for maintaining social inequality and creating a false sense of happiness, encouraging conformity instead of resistance to capitalist exploitation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Karl Marx was critical of religion because he saw it as a tool that perpetuated the status quo and maintained social inequality. He posited that religion serves as the 'opium of the people', providing an illusion of happiness that helps the working class cope with economic suffering without challenging the capitalist structures that led to their predicament.

Marx argued that religion encouraged people to focus on an afterlife, promoting obedience and conformity, which in turn discouraged them from seeking socioeconomic improvements in their current lives.