Final answer:
-was distracted by religion from the fact that they were being exploited by the ruling class. Karl Marx argued that the working class was distracted by religion from the fact that they were being exploited by the ruling class.
Step-by-step explanation:
Karl Marx argued that the working class was distracted by religion from the fact that they were being exploited by the ruling class. He believed that religion was used as a social mechanism to increase conflict between different economic subgroups, keeping them divided and preventing them from uniting in their struggle against the bourgeoisie. Marx saw religion as a reflection of the social stratification of society and believed it perpetuated inequality and maintained the status quo.