La décomposition marxiste de la religion : Marx, Engels, Gramsci, Bloch

Abstract

Marxism is one of the most radical attempts at critique of religion, this taking place on various levels. The concept of "decomposition" does not signify destruction but critique or dis mantling. Marx realized an ideological decomposition, perceiving a narrow analogy between religious alienation and political aliena tion, but equally the positive dimension of religion, always inscri bed within a dual active-passive sense or within religion as critical consciousness. Engels realized a historical decomposition, studying primitive Christianity and its evolution into a tool for control in Roman society, reformed Christianity and various functions and the continuum between Christianity and socialism, this latter assuming its revolutionary functions. Gramsci accom plished a political decomposition, showing the political task of Catholicism in Europe, the Church trying to establish hegemony over the political or civil society, according to diverse strategies depending upon the historical epoch. This has also provoked internal crises and ruptures within Catholicism. He takes up the thesis of Engels, seeing in socialism the heir of the Reformation. Bloch has undertaken a biblical decomposition. For him, the Bible is a history of heretics. He attaches particular attention to the figure of Job, the blasphemer and to Jesus, the new Job, usur per of the "Father's Throne". The exodus is a representation of liberation. There are in the Bible two opposed currents of the image of God: the liberating providence and the Tyrant, procee ding from two opposed movements. From Bloch there emerges the "Principle of Hope" which allows religion to continue to exist as a utopian imperative of history.