Religious Controversy During the Time of Karl Marx Essay -- Karl Marx

Religious Controversy During the Time of Karl Marx Religion in Europe before and during 1848, the year the Communist Manifesto was written, was full of trials and tribulations. This is not a new thing for religion, ever since the creation of religion there has been problems. Religion is the one uncertainty that has caused disputes even wars in the past and in the present. Religion is discussed briefly in the Communist Manifesto. However, There is enough content about religion to see Karl Marx’s views on the matter but he does not go into depth on those views. Religion around the time of the Communist Manifesto was very unstable; two events prior to this time that contributed to this instability are the Separation of Christianity into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, and the Protestant reformations that took place. One of the most significant turning points in the history of European religion was the separation of Christianity into western and eastern religions. The Western Church became the Roman Catholic Church while the Eastern Church became the Eastern Orthodox Church. There was no formal split, the bishops of each church recognize each other as being genuinely Christian just a little odd in their beliefs. The Great Schism shows the difference between the two religions, and they are not all theological. One difference is that Eastern Orthodox priests are allowed to be married. Only monks in the Eastern Orthodox Church must remain celibate. This differs from the Roman Catholic Church where all priest must be single and chaste. [1] A major reason for the Schism was lack of communication. The two Churches grew so far apart in their mindsets and attitudes they could no longer understand each other. They... ...ring the time of the Communist Manifesto. Notes 1. Roger E. Olsen, The Story of Christian Theology, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity press) 290-91. 2. John H. Smith, The Great Schism, (New York: Weybright And Talley) 236-39. 3. Olsen, 291. 4. Alister E. McGrath, Reformation of thought, 2nd ed. (Oxford: Blackwell, 1993) 2-12. 5. McGrath, 2-3. 6. Discovery and Reformation, 1996,