Has the media replaced religion as the opium of the masses nowadays?

Answer 1

No - I'd say consumerism is the opium of the masses. The media is as it says. However if you include the internet and the thirst for knowledge, news, mp3 and porn etc then you could be right.

As I say tho I think that the internet is a means to a consumerist end. It's helped us shop, buy and sell, source new interesting products from other markets and we can even download music and film from it.

All things we can take home and add to our collection of junk.

Answer 2

I think we are missing Marx's point when he said that line. We need to go back to the experience of taking opium - and that is blurring reality for the sake of a make-belief world.

Now, we regards to the question of media being a new opium, it is quite plausible but it seldom happens. Media only becomes an opium if it fails to deliver news as accurately and truthfully as possible. And this situation only happens in authoritarian states. Chinese media does not mention the harassment to religion and opposition by the state - and this is being repeated in countries like Iran, Azerbaijan, Myanmar, etc.

But in a democratic state, this situation is less likely to happen. Look at the US Press, it has the liberty to publish articles and news that are against the government. Journalists are not being harassed just because of writing a stinging editorial against the President.

So in going back to the question, I would say that this is more plausible only in authoritarian states but less plausible in democratic states.

Answer 3

Definately! One day the media will tell you about Serin gas found in Iraq, and everyone believes it until the very next day when the media claims no WMD's were ever found then everyone acts as if the previous story never airred. When the media says some kind of herb is good for you the health food stores run out of it in no time flat, the next week everyone is throwing it away because the media has changed their minds again and now it's bad for you.

Since we need atleast some exposure to current events, we need to make an effort to atleast once a week go to a news source that has an opposite point of view then the one you normally watch. If you normally follow the liberal media, listen to conservative radio. If you normally listen to conservative radio watch a liberal news cast. And it also helps to pick a news story once a week that impacted you and do more research on it. If you found out the media was wrong tell them about it.

Answer 4

Wow, opium of the masses.
I haven't heard that phrase used in 40 years.

No, media in all it's forms is merely a conduit for information that may be suspect.

Personal connection is the opiate.
Cell phones, text messaging, email on the phone, and sending pics, from the phone dominate all activities and lead to lowered awareness of the out side world.

Answer 5

I think opium is the opium of the masses. Lest is mass-religion or mass-media.

Answer 6

To tell the truth , this site is more like opium than the "media".

Answer 7

Yes in many ways media has become the new religion. People once planned their lives around the church calendar, now they plan it around TV Guide. People care more about the TomKat wedding than what the Pastor taught about Wed night. People are more willing to change to meet the ideal set forth by Hollywood & fashion mags than to change to meet the ideal set forth in scripture.

Answer 8

No. I think crack is now the opium of the masses.

Answer 9

I believe that lust is the opium today and the media use it to such great effect.

Answer 10

I'd say in some ways yes. actually the media is in addition to religion.