Abstract
In this article it is reasoned that the classical Marxist critique of religion cannot be regarded as critique of religion per se. M arx’s critique of religion is embedded in his societal critique and any effort to analyse and /o r interpret his critique of religion should be done from the vantage point of his societal critique . Seeing that Marx's critique of religion is an essential function of his critique on capitalist society, it cannot simply by default be dismissed as an atheist onslaught on religion. As a sub section of his societal critique an evaluation of Marx's critique of religion should above all focus on his arguments which centre on the functional relationship between church and state. It is only in this way that one can account for Marx's critique of religion not being in the first place an atheist onslaught on religion, b u t can see it functioning fundamentally as a critique on the politico-theological arena; thus as a critique for the sake of man and on those aspects/links which deter him in his effort to attain full self-realisation.
Highlights
Die klassieke M arxistie se k r itie k op die godsdiens is w e lb e ke n d .* H ierdie a r tik elhet dan ook nie ten doel om (w e e r eens) 'n re k o n s tru k s ie van M arx se godsd ie n s k ritie k te v e rs k a f n ie
M a rx ’s c r itiq u e o f re lig io n is em bedded in his societal c ritiq u e and a ny e ffo r t to analyse a n d /o r in te rp re t his c ritiq u e o f relig io n should be done from the vantage p o in t o f his societal c ritiq u e
D it b ie d aan hom bo alles die v e r k la r in g van die mens se m a a tska p like en in d iv id u e le elle nd e soos d it in die struktuur van d ie k a p ita lis tie s e sam elewing v e rv a t is. Gesien is d it d u id e lik waarom M arx (1844a:43) d ie k r itie k op d ie go d sdie n s as die basis van alle k r itie k beskou: Indien die godsdiens met a nder woorde d ie sosiale en m a te rië le v e rh o u d in g e van die k a p ita lis tie s e sam elewing in stand hou, dan is die v e ra n d e rin g van die bestaande samelewing die basiese v e ro n d e rs te llin g van alle k r itie k, in s lu ite n d e van die k ritie k op die godsdiens
Summary
Die klassieke M arxistie se k r itie k op die godsdiens is w e lb e ke n d .* H ierdie a r tik elhet dan ook nie ten doel om (w e e r eens) 'n re k o n s tru k s ie van M arx se godsd ie n s k ritie k te v e rs k a f n ie. Nie slegs het M arx maar min oor die godsdiens as sodanig g e s k ry f nie; ook d ie afw esigheid van 'n samehangende en u itg e b re id e w e ten skap like godsd ie n s te o rie in sy w erke o n d e rs k ry f d ie o p v a ttin g d a t die k o n s tru e rin g van 'n a b s tra k te en outonome g o d sd ie n s te o rie v ir M arx op 'n nodelose a k tiw ite it sou neerkom (C im ic, 1985:521; M cKown, 1975:6). Met h ie rd ie onderbou in gedagte w ord daar v e rvo lg e n s oorgegaan to t 'nkort to e lig tin g van M arx se m a te ria lis tie segodsd ie nsbeskou in g a lvo re n s die sam elew ing-kritiese grondslag daarvan u itg estip p e l w ord
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