To what extent is Christianity better than Marxism at tackling social issues?

Here is an example of an essay (marked) wirtten by a student  from the book Model Essays available in the shop.

Social issues include poverty, low literacy and substance abuse. Collectively, social issues seem to stem from a divide in society and an unfair distribution of wealth and power. Christianity can sometimes understand these issues as symptomatic of a world corrupted by human sin and the Fall; while Marxism might understand these issues as symptomatic of alienation due to private ownership of the means of production. The ‘best’ approach to tackling these social issues will offer practical help for the social issues.

Introduction contextualises the question and shows confident understanding of some Christian and Marxist attitudes. Argument is signposted.

Liberation theology is one Christian attempt to address social issues. It began as an intellectual and practical movement among those working with the poor. Paulo Freire taught ‘conscientisation’ as the process by which someone becomes aware of the power structures in society and he said that education should teach people to read these structures. Education, for Freire, was not about transmitting information, it should transform society as well. Furthermore, liberation theology advocated orthopraxy (right practice) before orthodoxy (right belief). As a theology of action, liberation theology taught that the Kingdom of God is not a place we reach in death; but something we work for in this life. This could be supported by the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats that focussed on right action – in our treatment of humans, we also respond to God with altruistic love. Excellent to see liberation theology used here – good links with scholars and technical accuracy regarding orthodoxy and praxy. James also supports this – “you see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone”. Jesus also taught that “whatever you do to the least of these (referring to outcasts), you do to me also”. Links made to sources of wisdom and authority. These teachings suggest that Christianity is of practical help when dealing with social issues, with charitable acts being a manifestation of the Kingdom of God. By this means, education should be available to all regardless of wealth and gender and those suffering from drug or sexual abuse should be reached out to with love. Such help is seen in Christian charity work such as the work of the Salvation Army in offering specialist detox centres and rehabilitation support programmes working towards social integration. This shows that Christianity can be of practical help in tackling social issues.

It is pleasing to see not only good understanding of some liberation theology but also a link to practical use as seen in the Salvation Army. This shows that the question of social issues is not just being skirted over. The practicality mentioned in the introduction is being focussed on. A contrast with Marx is now needed.

However, it could be said that such social change would not have come without some significant engagement with Marxist ideologies. Marxism taught that with the revolutionization of technology, we have felt less in control. As we became able to produce surplus to requirements, the power favoured those who had control over production. Marx described how we become part of a supply chain – purchasing commodities and not knowing the people involved. In this way, people become alienated from their work and our happiness at cheap prices, comes at the expense of other people’s happiness. Christianity similarly focuses on the well-being of each individual, with the added notion that each individual is in God’s likeness. Marx’s teaching that exploitation occurs when humans are treated as objects and used as a means to an end has resemblance to Kantian ethics, but also falls in line with Christian teaching that every person matters – “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Both Marxism and Christianity seem to offer a practical approach to having a concern for the individual as a means of helping to resolve social problems caused by alienation.

Effective tying together of Marxism and Christian teaching, linked straight in with their practical uses. Note that Marxist uses of objectification and alienation actually come from Hegel.

The liberation theologian Gutierrez warned against using all of Marxism but said that Christianity could benefit from using Marx’s theories of alienation and exploitation. For example, he thought that the people of Latin America wanted to be liberated from capitalism and Gutierrez called for the church to stand with such movements for liberation. Range of scholarly views. To not get involved in politics would be the same as helping to keep things the same. From this standpoint, being Christian necessitates being political. He taught – “It is a will to build a socialist society, more just, more free, and human, and not a society of superficial and false reconciliation and equality.” It could be seen that while Marxism provides more practical help in terms of accessibility for those without a belief in the Divine; Christianity offers a more universal help, keeping in mind that which lies outside of the individual – God. The communism arising from Marx is also less successful since it failed to respond effectively to poverty in the way various Christian charities such as CAFOD and Christian Aid have. For example, communism could not hold back globalisation – seen in China and Cuba opening up to capitalism.

The candidate is developing a stronger line of argument, while continuing to effectively compare and contrast the Christian and Marxist approaches. The CAFOD or Christian Aid point could be developed rather than asserted.

Christianity also tackles social issues better than Marxism since there is a Biblical trend to favour the outcasts and the poor. Jesus teaches – “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This ‘preferential option for the poor” shows an authentic Christian response to social issues and puts human dignity central to social work. Allowing social divide to continue is not compatible with the Biblical teachings on peace and justice. However, Segundo differed from Guiterrez by suggesting that liberation from sin should come before social liberation since the latter might not always be possible – even Jesus taught “the poor you will always have with you”. While some might argue that Marxism is more successful as Christianity can get lost in orthodoxy before orthopraxy; it could be argued that the Christian offer of salvation, and therefore solace, for the poor – “blessed are the poor in spirit, for their’s is the Kingdom of God” – extends real hope for those who suffer. Such solace could not possibly by offered by the secular ideologies of Marxism.

Nice theological link to salvation and how this might offer help beyond just the practical. Good to see even more links with scholars with Segundo mentioned as well as Guiterrez. As an aside, the student could have used Leonardo Boff’s three mediations (research this using the handout on the peped site). Boff argues Marx is an instrument for social analysis (Boff’s first mediation is called ‘seeing’ whereby we need to see clearly the source and nature of oppression).

An interesting Christian perspective comes from Pope Francis who says that we can focus so much on the material world that we end up in a state of spiritual poverty and that this results in a destructive reading of human needs, which in turn results in exploitation of the weak and needy – this is seen in drug and pornography use. Linked back to social issues. Cardinal Ratzinger criticised Marxism for being inherently unchristian and denies the ‘human person, his liberty, and rights’. Bonaventure criticised liberation theology for focussing too much on structural and not on personal sin. God is the ultimate liberator and liberation theology focusses too much on human action.

This seems like knowledge brought in for the sake of it rather than being used to effectively answer the question/ contribute to argument. Keep the question at the forefront and make sure the answer keeps referring back to it.

Overall, since inner spiritual change, as well as real action are needed, Christianity can be seen to offer a fuller approach to social issues than Marxism. It would be narrow-minded to suggest that liberation from sin is more important than social liberation; but a concern for the spiritual as well as practical needs of each person is an approach to social issues that Marxism falls short of.

Overall: 35/40 = 88% Grade A
AO1: Level 6 [14]
Excellent range of knowledge and technicality. Candidate effectively compares and contrasts Christian and Marxist thought throughout, rather than dealing with the two ideologies in separate halves. This makes for an effective, sustained and developed argument.
AO2: Level 6 [21]
Views skilfully developed, especially culminating in the concluding comment on the need for spiritual as well as practical help for social issues. More on how Marx could offer practical help for specific social issues (or not) would help to balance out the overall argument and raise the mark further.