“Religion is the opium of the masses” is one of Marx’s most quoted phrases. However, the full quote is almost always neglected, which explains the position of Marxism far more adequately. Marx explains that religion fills the soulless void found in class society, and, in a sense, even indicates the need to protest against the injustice of this world. However, by seeking mystical and otherworldly explanations and solutions to the injustices of the real world, it plays the key ideological role in maintaining class society.

Marxism is about achieving the full realisation of humanity’s powers, the unfolding of our nature without diversion into obscurantist fetishism, be that the fetish for money or for religious symbols. But we can only cast aside these illusions when we directly control our fate, and to do that we need to put the productive forces of society under social control. In other words, we need socialism and a revolution. Religion cannot be overcome by recourse to pure, rational arguments; we must instead attack its social foundation.

Marxists are in favour of religious freedom and do not set up barriers to religious workers joining in the struggle for socialism. However, we are irreconcilable atheists and materialists in our own world outlook, and we are in favour of the radical separation between religion and the state.

General Introduction

• Marxism and Religion (by Alan Woods)
• Wojtyla and Teresa, or a Case of Saintly Overproduction
• Philosophy and Religion (by Alan Woods, from Reason in Revolt: Marxist Philosophy and Modern Science)
• Religion and Secularism (by John Pickard)
• The Menace of Islamic Fundamentalism and the Hypocrisy of Imperialism (by Lal Khan)
• Fundamentalist Resurgence: Causes and Prospects (by Lal Khan)
• Religious Fundamentalism and Imperialism – Friends or Foes? (by Lal Khan)
• The Jesuit Pope – Who is Francis and who he pretends to be
• The Pope’s abdication highlights the crisis of Roman Catholicism
• Pope’s visit to Britain: crisis of Church mirrors crisis of capitalism
• Comment of the Italian Marxists on the death of the Pope
• Marxism and Religion in the US
• Religion in the Soviet Union

Socialism, Marxists, and Religion

• Socialism and Religion (by Lenin)
• Socialism and the Churches (by Rosa Luxemburg)
• The Attitude of the Workers' Party to Religion (by Lenin)
• Their Morals and Ours (by Leon Trotsky)

History

• The Origins of the Jews (by Yossi Schwartz)
• On the History of Early Christianity (by Frederick Engels)
• Foundations of Christianity (by Kautsky)
• On Kautsky’s Foundations of Christianity (by Alan Woods)
• Foundations of Christianity (by John Pickard)

Audio

• Marxism and Religion - Alan Woods
• [Audio] Fred Weston on Marxism and Religion
• [Audio] Marxism and Religion