Marxist Class-Cultural Spirituality in Theory and Practice

Bibliographic Data

ID2299913
AuthorsGeorge Lundskow (0000-0003-1560-1469, Grand Valley State University, corresponding author), George N Lundskow (Department of Sociology, Grand Valley State University, 2170 AuSable Hall, Allendale, MI 49401, lundskog@ gvsu.edu)
Year2005
Volume31
Issue1-2
Pages213-241
Publication date2005-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCritical Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0896-9205 • E-ISSN: 1569-1632
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1163/1569163053084388
OpenAlexW2138442284
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited33

The paper applies Critical Theory to understand the progressive and oppressive potential of contemporary religious revival in the United States. The analysis focuses on Neopaganism as a progressive spirituality, possibly compatible with Marxist theory. Whether religion is progressive (or oppressive/reactionary) depends not on the content of beliefs, but rather, on the type of social relationship a religion establishes between the individual and society. The paper treats Neopaganism and Marxism as practices and worldviews that often inform social movements and sometimes become the basis of functioning communities. They at once correspond to political-economic agendas, but both also assert the cultural foundations of life - the symbolic expression of shared meaning as the legitimization of social relations. In conclusion, Marxism must develop a spiritual component to survive in and critique modern society, and to posit a vision of the future that might exert actual social influence. To accomplish this, the paper proposes the material-mystery thesis

Environmental ethics · Epistemology · Marxist philosophy · Political science · Politics · Reactionary · Social science · Sociology · Spirituality · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices · Theological Perspectives and Practices

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