Marxists believe that religions main role is to dull the pain of oppression. They believe that religions act is the opium of the masses, and acts as a drug to ‘dull the pain of oppression’.
Religion dumbs the pain of oppression by the promise of paradise in the next life. This shown by the Hindu Caste system where the poor believe that they will be rewarded in their next life. Religion also justifies social order. For example the hymn All things bright and beautiful demonstrates class equalities as ‘The Rich Man in his castle, the poor man at his gate; god made them high or lowly and ordered their estate’. Religion prevents people from attempting change, so the dominant groups can retain their power. Religion is used by the ruling class to justify their position.
Marxist believes religion is a tool of class exploitation and oppression. Since religion disguises and legitimates the exploitative relationships of society by implying the world is shaped by god's will, which is therefore unchangeable. Due to religion people don’t attempt to change ‘gods will’ as they are promised rewards in the afterlife which will ease their pain of exploitation.
Althusser argues that religion is a conservative force as religion, which prevents change so maintains being an ideological state apparatus, which distorts people’s perception of reality to serve the interests of the ruling class. For example the poor will contain to obey the ruling class, as they believe it is Gods will. He believes that religion provides the basis of ruling class ideology and false consciousness, where the poor are not aware of their exploitation as it is dulled by religion.
A problem with Marxist view of religion is that it Marxist focus on Christianity, not religion in general. This means that we cannot apply to other religions, however there is evidence in other religions which support the Marxist