Is religion opium for the people?

Question

I know it is a quote of Marx. And Marx was wrong on many points. But on this point...?

Answer 1

Why yes it is.

Answer 2

I think what Marx was saying was that religion is a form of escapism. If that is the correct interpretation, then the answer is no. As any good Christian knows, being a Christian is difficult at best. Sacrifices must be made, unpopular moral decisions must be made, and loving people who are hateful to you in return is not easy at all.

Opium is opium for the masses. Most Christians don't need alcohol, opium, or other forms of drugs or escapism to face life. We face life unaided by addictions.

Answer 3

Strangely, both promote a sense of compassion.

Having never actually taken opium, i can hardily comment on it, however when i have smoked cannibis in the past, i fail to see a reason behind harming someone intentionally when the compassionate answer is so obvious.

You could consider religion to be like a drug, in that it psychologically conditions people to look to their religion for answers when faced with hardship - much like dependant drug abusers and the drug of their choice.

However it also depends on the individual - a religious person doesn't nessecarily have to look to 'god' or 'buddha' for answers, when he can quite easily find them for himself/herself.

A person's personality can either be independant or dependant - a dependant person would likely treat religion as a drug, *depending* on it to deal with their troubles.

An independant person would not have to depend on anything except themselves.

I believe that when Karl Marx (i believe that is whom you are quoting) made this statement he was referring to the influencial effect that religions have on people.

In answer to your question - Yes, i believe religion can have an effect on people that could be consider similar to that of a drug user.

Answer 4

Believe me being a Christian is certainly not opium! It is not easy to say no and turn the other cheek, especially when one wants to get their revenge. Some people do use religion as a kind of walking stick, or prop,for whatever reason, they might need this little bit of comfort, so why take it away from them. The real meaning of faith as opposed to religion is in the heart of the believer.

Answer 5

I think opium has far less damaging side effects and you actually get high from it (from what I am told). I would take my chances with opium. As for religion, it's just no fun at all. God was never a big fan of religion either. It's man that loves it. Heck, it was religion that put Jesus on a cross because they thought he would put them out of business.

Answer 6

If God exists and has revealed himself in Jesus, then religion is the only thing that can save you! Drugs cant save people but God can!

If God doesnt exist, then religion is a lie.

However I know God to be true so I know Heaven to be true and Marx a liar.

Answer 7

yes and no there are so many branches to religion that it's hard to articulate or make one statment applicable to all. Think of extraordinary groups such as the Oneida Community, Father Divine Movement, the Hasidim and even the Mormons. Often people search for a religion to conform to out of sheer control issues. I am a believer but for reasons of my own. Religions often have a tendency to sedate and manipulate its followers. Their messages are distorted and it turns out to be social and economic factors that dictate their faith and that's a shame. So how about some Jim Jones juice?

Answer 8

First of all, it was "opiate", not opium. Opium is a specific drug; opiate is anything that dulls the senses and induces apathy and lethargy.

So, does religion induce a lack of curiosity or mental alertness?

Does it cause intellectual laziness?

Some would say yes, and some will quote scripture at you.
Q.E.D.

Answer 9

Right now opiates are the religion of the people.
BTW, Marx was right about a lot of things, and he will probably be vindicated even more in the future.

Answer 10

Completely correct. It cause mankind to allow themselves to be subjugated and enslaved by the landed and moneyed classes. Like many evil drugs, it is addictive, they believe they can`t live without it. In truth they are unable to live properly with it !

Answer 11

Of course the people who followed Marx ended up killing millions of people.

If you are going to share his quotes, are you going to share his quotes final results...

Mao for example killed millions of loving, peaceful, Buddhists. He tortured and in-prisoned their monks, destroyed their temples and did everything he could to destroy their culture.

Remember that the next time you want to share a pithy little quote.