How does the elite use religion to exploit the working class?

Question

So far, my answer is that the elite, such as businessmen, go to church to gain more customers.

Answer 1

Dang, Elly & Pao stole my answer :P

If you ever hear the phrase "exploit the working class," a big, red (no pun intended) "Karl Marx" flag should go off in your head. Marx specifically addressed religion as a *distraction*. Elites control religion, religion provides a theodicy (supernatural justification for evil in the world), theodicy will make the working class satisfied with their position. If the working class is satisfied, they won't rise up against the elites. So it's in the elites' best interest to use religion to manipulate the working class's attitudes.

The answer that you have, that businessmen go to church to gain more customers, is somewhat true. Today, many upper class people have to make appearances at church to maintain their status, even if they don't necessarily believe the theology. But I don't think that's quite the answer your instructor is looking for. Go with the Marxist view.

Answer 2

I think you have to think bigger - if you gain control of the church, you can make the rules.

Look at the medieval battle between the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Emperors.  

You can also establish your own church - look at the Mormons and then if a member doesn't like that, a sect can be created - look at Waiting for Zion.

If you get people to believe, you can control them.

Answer 3

on a small scale a person could not fit in and be given a cold shoulder for not attending a certain church

on the large scale it's just about making the business look good through a religion filter by making donations and volunteering.

I don't believe it's currently an exploitation tool in America.

Answer 4

If the elites use religion to control the masses, then why are the leaders of religion -- ministers, pastors, priests, etc. -- generally poor?

You think they would exploit for themsleves a Porche or something...

Answer 5

The most famous quote about this subject is that "Religion is the opiate of the masses" by Karl Marx - meaning that religion is used to distract the people from questioning why things are the way they are.

One of the best examples is in the tactics of the Republican Party - its leaders (who are rich, elite - so are the Democrats, but not with such regularity or intensity) can focus on such items hotbutton issues as g*y marriage during election years...  

However, the party also wants to push ahead with things like free trade, tax cuts for the rich and cutbacks on social spending - economic policies that harm the working class, but reinforce the power of corporations (and the elite who own stock)...  

In summary, they're exploiting the religious beliefs of the working class to distract them from other policies that might be harmful to them.

Answer 6

Elite.... businessmen... no.  Businessmen are working class (white collar), and tradesmen are working class (blue collar).  

The elite in this case would most certainly be the church themselves - churches have wealth that is beyond belief.  

They use religion to extract money from working class (white collar as well as blue).  Another way that the church exploits people is by controlling their actions by imposing moral codes.  History is full of churches making land-grabs on the backs of their missionaries.