Theology Textbook Questions

Marxism is a conflict theory founded by German Philosopher and Sociologist Karl Marx in the 19th Century. It brings forth the idea that society is imbalanced and biased.

“Religion deals with daily living as well as the ultimate source, meaning and goal of life.”

Sheed states on page 10 that “In theology, spirit is not only a key word, it is the key word.” Spirt is the thing we know and love and then we end up deciding at the end. So basically, our spirit is everything. It “loves” God and “knows” it loves God.

Christianity had become the enemy of life and nature and the church has stifled its followers by turning them into closed minded and weak humans. Nietzsche ultimately believed that religion creates a concept of anti-natural morality which damages our development as humans quite

“As soon as a religion comes to dominate it has as its opponents all those who would have been its first disciples.” Nietzsche was one of the first modern philosophers to rebel against rationalism and when World War I came about, the revolution against religion truly became a legitimate statement. Friedrich Nietzsche strongly believed that many of those that practiced religion were led to the acceptance of slave morality. Religion had always played a fundamental role in society as it sets strict boundaries and standards of what is morally correct and incorrect. However, Nietzsche claims that, “Human nature is always driven by “ ‘the will to power’ ”, but religion will tell one otherwise, saying that one should forbid their bad desires. In Nietzsche’s

61, p. 54), the philosopher. The philosopher makes use of religion for education and breeding. Apparently, this done in a matter that is nonspecific since, according to Nietzsche, this utilization is no different the using the, “…prevailing political and economic situation.” (Sec. 61, p. 54). The philosopher is the only truly trusted individual when it comes to religion. This is put forth since philosophers are always questioning the deeper meaning and putting to the test. It is also found that, as Nietzsche says, “…there is a high and horrible price to pay when religions do not serve as means for breeding and education in the hands of a philosopher…” (Sec. 62, p. 55). What Nietzsche is arguing is that once religion has gone past the utilization as a tool to affirming the world, and has become the affirmation of the world, then society has sunken back into

Title passes when a contract states that it passes; if a contract is silent, it passes

history, we find scholars who at one point or the other made allusion to this fact. Some have

The possibility of deities or supernatural beings are not true in the materialistic world. They are only true in the mind of the human which created these mythical beings or beliefs. One of the main arguments for this theory is the fact that religions can be found in nearly every culture, so humans must have invented it if there are so many variations surrounding a common theme. Materialistic Perspective concludes that if religion were not man made, then there would be no stark variations between the basis of religion in each culture or society. If religion were not man made, then each culture or society would have the same beliefs as the other culture or society. This theory suggests that only the material world exists, and the supernatural occurrences that are sometimes claimed to have happened by others are only invented by humans. Materialistic Perspective also focuses around the belief that spiritual deities are only made to represent or objectify human qualities. Karl Marx, communist leader, suggests that religion is only made to revolutionize society and combat exploitation, and humans may become “tools of oppression” if dedicated too much to religion. While Karl Marx’s ideas about Materialistic Perspective may be extreme, he is in agreeance that the foundations of religion are all based in the human

Religion emerges from the human susceptibility for protection and use it as a tool for liberation from the bitter realities and perplexities of the world. “Religious ideas are teachings and pronouncements about facts and states of external (or internal) reality that convey something one has not discovered for oneself and which assert the right to be believed” (Freud 88). We must object to religious claims because there is no proof to substantiate them and merely ideas we follow for generations. Religious ideas are beyond the control of reasoning, as if we don’t validate our beliefs and behave that our beliefs have a substantial basis of support. Religious ideas are teachings, not the thought that

Postmodernism has seen a shift away from foundationalism which says that what is known comes from believing. The basis of Christianity is belief, so foundationalism logically fits Christianity. Faith is the foundation. The postmodern world does not look at things in a logical manner and demands diversity. To the postmodernist, the search for truth is futile. An example that Kristanto gives is that, “Instead of speaking

Following the Industrial Revolution in 19th century Europe, change was in full swing and religion began to have different meanings for different people. The upper-class citizens used Religion, namely Christianity, and the power that it possessed in an attempt to keep their high status in society, while the lower class turned to faith so that their lives could possibly improve. Instead of religion being the cornerstone of faith and worship amongst all people, it was being used for power and money by the upper class. Even worse, religious leaders were using the upper class people as well, gaining money and authority from their endorsement. A man by the name of Karl Marx saw

“Religion is a system that proclaims an unseen order, and that our ultimate good lies in aligning ourselves with the unseen order.”

Marxism can be seen throughout history and from this, it can be seen how socialism was derived and what a huge role it has played around the globe in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Marxism sees society as superstructure. They believe that society isn’t peaceful and is based on conflict and exploitation. Religion makes this society justify inequality and maintains ruling class domination. Karl Marx believed religion is a form of social “opium” which dulls oppressive pain and provides hope to the working class people who are being exploited.