An analysis of the Marxist Perspective on Religion

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An analysis of the Marxist Perspective on Religion

Aaron Trebble

Introduction

Marx, Karl Heinrich (1818-1883) was born in Trier, his family was Jewish, but later converted to Protestantism (belonging to a church other than that of Roman Catholic denomination) in 1824 in order to avoid anti-Semitic laws and persecution. For this reason among others, Marx rejected religion early on in his youth and made it absolutely clear that he was an atheist. Marx studied philosophy at Bonn and then later Berlin, where he came under the sway of George Wilhelm Friedrich von Hegel. This is significant, as one of Marx's key works is a response to his ideas.

In 1842, Marx became editor of the Cologne anti status - quo newspaper 'Rheinische Zeitung' criticizing contemporary political and social conditions. Journalism was to become a large part of Marx's life, and he used it to express many of his philosophies. It was working at this paper that Marx met Friedrich Engels, which is significant, as this is a man who had a large influence on him, and also provided financial support in order to distribute his ideas. It was with Engels that Marx laid down some of