About the lecture

In this lecture, we look in more depth at what Marx said about religion, focusing in particular on: (i) the fact that Marx's thoughts on religion are spread across a range of texts, rather than being discussed at any length in a single text; (ii) the importance of the 'Preface' to A Contribution to a Critique of Political Economy (1859), and the place of religion in Marx's base-superstructure model of society; and (iii) the central of ideology and power to Marx's account of religion.

About the lecturer

Dr Paul-François Tremlett is a Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at The Open University. He is interested in theory and method in Religious Studies, and, as well as ethnographic research in the Philippines, has conducted research in Hong Kong and London on the Occupy movement.