If Marx was right, religion numbs people. From what pains or discomforts is religion numbing today's world?

Question

(Marx wrote that "Religion is the opiate of the masses."

KARL Marx, not Groucho.

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Answer 1

Authentic self determination.
Impermanence.
Comparitively hard truths of reality such as evolution, physicalism and existentiality.
Seperation from beloved (by death) cannot be bridged.
Cultural and personal renewal.
Rational evidence based reasoning and critical thinking.
Comparative isolation (or even suffering persecution) in atheism.
The realiation 'humanum ets errarum' on a massive scale.

These are not necessarily "hardships" for all non-religious people, nor potential pains for all of the religious, but I think that they will apply in some cases, that's all.

To the USA, please try and at least consider voting for an atheist/unbeleiver. Turning away from faith (ie the supernatural interventions and explanations) has brought all of scientific, technological, and material advance of our civilisation.

Having said that there is some good morality and advice in religion, but the supernatural belief need not follow from that.
Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, but don't perpetuate the abuse of human integrity which is faith either.

Answer 2

I don't think Marx was talking numb in an emotional sense. I believe he was talking about numbing the thought process, to not be able to analyze something critically. As an atheist he felt that to accept and believe in God one had to suppress independent thought and accept the dogma of whatever particular religion you were a member of. As a Christian it pains me to look around the world and see that the members of different religions (Christianity included) are causing pain and discomfort and not working harder to eliminate it. To be honest looking at it from Marx's point of view, which I don't totally accept, it could appear to be true.

Answer 3

A good question but I want to rephrase it to me more Marxist, "In todays world, how does religion becomes an opium to the people?"

Today, religion still tends to deny that homosexuality is an orientation devoid of choice. The homosecual person does not hany any free will in choosing his current state. Religion, specially Catholicism, still considers homosexuality as a disordered orientation. However, the youth of today are beginning to see the reality - and the liberation of the homosexuals is near.

Answer 4

Most studies suggest Islam is the fastest growing religion. If you click on the link and scroll down, you will see where it says, "The second-largest religion in the world after Christianity, Islam is also the fastest-growing religion. In the United States, for example, nearly 80 percent of the more than 1,200 mosques have been built in the past 12 years. " I don't guess this is "proof" but I hope it helps.

Answer 5

actually I was thinking Zeppo. The other point of opiates is that it is addictive and that if you control it you can get people to do horrible things. Religions are not always God centered. They can be Freemarket, socialism or even the Nazi State. It only requires the subordination of the human element to a "Greater Power."

Answer 6

religion is more than nummbing the world thay are try to turn it into braindead the is a film on now on channel five about hawaii how the christians destroyed there gods and way of life in the 1800s

Answer 7

We need numbness when we hide from reality, by living for a supernatural one (religion). Reality hurts us when we attempt to avoid it. So that same religion comes to the rescue of the pain it is also delivering.

Answer 8

They want most to hide From the idea that God judges no one.

Most of these people can't stand the idea that God loves everyone equally. They want a God who hates as they hate and loves sparingly like some kind of a love miser, exactly as they do.

Religion delivers this tiny judgmental punishing God to them. It is a lie about God that they love too much to let go of.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 9

Karl Marx was a talmudic Jew and detested the Christian peoples, so is it surprising that he would make a hateful comment like this.

Answer 10

True religion does just the opposite. It makes you aware of the pain and suffering of those around you, gives you compassion for them, and causes you to want to reach out to them and help them. The Bible defines true religion in James 1:27: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep (yourself) unspotted from the world." In other words, while seeking not to be unduly influenced by the temptations of this world, we are to do our best to help those in need and relieve the suffering around us in whatever way we can.

There's no question that God brings us joy, comfort, hope, and peace, which can help strengthen, fortify, and protect us from pain and disappointment; but He also gives us love, which constrains us to go out into the trenches of this fallen world and help our fellow man.