A)"Religion is the opiate of the masses"-Karl Marx
B)"It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is, than to persist in delusion"-Carl Sagan
(This is an A or B question. Please include why you think one is better. If you do not like either of these quotes then don't answer the question. Anyone not picking one of the two possible answers will be reported for not answering the question...sorry but I have to say it. If I don't I will get a bunch of garbage in response that I am not asking about)
2006-12-29 00:50:14 · 25 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To the person that reported me for reporting you, It is not my fault you can't follow directions. You send me an email and call me an arrogant ***-hole, yet YOU are the one who can't even answer a SIMPLE A or B question. How can you possibly be that stupid? I said if you don't answer the question you will be reported and I even apologized for having to do so because I knew that if I didn't I would get a bunch of BS responses I wasn't asking for.
2006-12-29 07:12:46 · update #1
A...it's a classic.
2006-12-29 00:51:25 · answer #1 · answered by gebobs 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
a
"b" can't be defined. What is "real". Your "reality" is different from mine. The "orange" color that i see, could actually be "blue" to you. But your parents told you that it was orange, so you've always known it to be that way. i can't see thru your eyes.
Therefore, since the answer is "A", the real issue becomes...defining what "Religion" and "opiate" means. if i'm atheist, that is a religion. if i don't believe in "Religion", that is essentially, a religion. if i don't believe that i really exist as i was taught, but rather that i'm some "character" in a video game, that is my belief and my existence.
what is an opiate? isn't it a preference, essentially? therefore, everyone MUST have an "opiate". let's say that i prefer not to have religion. I.E. it makes me "feel" good. then, that is my opiate. my belief in the absence of religion makes me feel good. Ironically, that is INDEED my religion, and thus my opiate.
Bottom line is that Marx made a very general statement that invokes a lot of food for thought, but it's like praising an astrologer who says that "important decisions will present themselves" or something general like that.
i don't have all the answers either, but anyone can sound smart if they speak in generalities. just look at politics.
p.s. since you qualified your question, i'll qualify my answer: If you feel that i didn't respond to your question, feel free to report me. that is your "opiate", based on your "religion" of believing that I didn't answer your question. no hard feelings. it's just a two way street. you have a good question. it should invoke a lot of good discussion.
2006-12-29 09:32:24 · answer #2 · answered by blackhawks4life 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A) Religion is the Opiate of the Masses. I fully believe this. I believe all religions have good points and bad, but by limiting yourself to one particular way of thinking only creates stupidity in large groups. It is better to believe then it is to pin point and have followers.
But if you are leaning towards B) which I'm sure a lot of the atheist are, give it up. We know you don't agree with our choices so leave us alone.
2006-12-29 08:56:08 · answer #3 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A - Karl Marx. Though they both say the same thing, Marx gets to the point of it all. You can't argue an addiction like religion.
"Philosophy is the art of asking questions that cannot be answers."
"Religion is the art of giving answers that are never to be questioned."
2006-12-29 08:57:15 · answer #4 · answered by Greywolf 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I prefer B, because it's harder to misinterpret. Many people forget that when Marx said A, opium was pretty much the only widely available painkiller, and he had taken it himself a few times for that purpose. Some people think of the quote as relating to opium in its current social context, which is fairly different.
2006-12-29 08:55:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say "A" is the better choice. They are both direct arguments against the validity of religion. But "B" is a more disguised, intellectual approach, where "A" is simple, direct and immediate.
2006-12-29 08:54:58 · answer #6 · answered by summit_of_human_intellect 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I choose c) none of the above. I am a born again Christian with a firm belief in God and will not limit myself to your two pitiful choices as if those are the be all and end all!
Threatening me with a report doesn't change the facts.
2006-12-29 08:54:22 · answer #7 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
B.
Reason:
Carl Sagan was a scientist, and a bit of a philosopher.
Karl Marx was an oppressive dictator.
2006-12-29 08:55:00 · answer #8 · answered by Mary W 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Definately B.............bcos Ive been deluded myself in the past and its easy to get caught in something which is not really what it seems. In short, the truth usually is unsightly and unpleasant however I figure its better to live in reality than to live a lie be it intentional or otherwise.
have i spun into a random tangent? sorry!
2006-12-29 11:50:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both (a) and (b) are true in their own ways. Which is better? Difficult to say. But I guess
(b) Cause you have to accept many things in life as they are rather than try to change them or be judgemental about them.
2006-12-29 09:06:33 · answer #10 · answered by Dilnawaz I 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
B. - Because it has the word 'better' in it.
The word 'better' in your question is useless because it does not reference a trait, characteristic, or quality for comparison. Do you mean which is the most accurate, influential, timeless, used and repeated, or what?
Maybe you should report yourself for asking an incomplete question.
2006-12-29 09:09:33 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋