'Opium of the People'?

Question

why do I, a fairly well educated person (BS), living a comfortable middle class life, in a safe environment, with no real threats to my person or property, choose my religion? Is it an opiate?

Marx makes an observation that is sensible. Where there is need for an illusion, people choose religion as a kind of pain killer, like opium.

What other reasons? Don't give me the 'brainwashing' or 'raised by your parents' argument, unless you have limited abilities to reason.

disgruntled - what are the negative long term affects of religion, on an individual?

gandalf - it is inexpensive in the West, but is it globally? China? In the Muslim world? It's pricey with persecution.

year of the monkey - I like some of what Marx was attempting to do, and I dislike megachurches. By the way, what is 'dangerous' about these churches?

dyoncha - glad to read someone making factual statements concern my faith. You probably didn't mean to say what you did. I hope you edit and add 'probably' to your statements.

jason h - great observation! I am a believer in Jesus as Savior, but was interested in what folks thought my reasons were, given my decent education and cushy life - meaning limited ignorance and no need for an opiate.

Answer 1

Religion addresses the big questions many ponder. We ask, "Why are we here? Why are human beings the way we are? Are we alone in the universe?"
Some people turn to science for these answers. Others turn to a religion.
Some find it comforting to believe that there is a consciousness higher than our own that provides love and care - especially in a world where love and care are hard to come by.
Others prefer the cool facts of science, even if reliance on some of its principles and theories require as much faith as needed to believe in a God.
Marx called religion, specifically Christianity, an "opiate" because it encourages conformity and passivity. I don't necessarily agree, but that's merely my opinion (albeit learned - I have a BA and an MA). Bill Waterson, the creator of Calvin and Hobbes, notes that television has far surpassed faith as far as being an "opiate." For me, religion is about answers to questions that I feel science cannot explain. I do not feel pacified against the government. But I am only one person. Yet, I do not agree entirely with Marx.

Answer 2

Marx was writing in the 18th Century when state sponsored religion in Europe still controlled a large number of uneducated people. When asked if he felt the "opiate" statement applied to the USA where the two are at least seperated in principle, he said 'no'.

Once religion is not used as a tool for political or social control then it is no longer an opiate. I believe televangelism, and to some extent, the Papacy, and the growing number of born again 'Megachurches' are very socially and spiritually dangerous, and although I don't agree with Marx on everything, I think he'd agree with me on that.

Answer 3

The phrase is "Opiate of the masses" and I assume you choose your religion because you can and it is the one which best fits whatever you are most comfortable believing in. I don't see the point about there being no threat to your person or property, religion has very little if anything to do with that, since it is concerned with the "spiritual world" instead of the "physical world".
Karl Marx made very few "observations" that were sensible and his plan for world conquest has yet to succeed although it is making great strides in Great Britian and among the so-called 'intellectual elite" of this country.

Answer 4

the coolest information; we've gained the conflict on drugs The undesirable information: we've switched facets. the main reason the "Northern Alliance" joined our conflict against the Taliban replaced into that the Taliban had banned opium production and enforced it with the loss of life Penalty. the two greatest Heroin sellers in the international are familiar Dotsum, the protection Minister of Afghanistan and President Karzai's Brother.

Answer 5

Ultimately, nearly everything involving thought involves a decision at some level, conscious or otherwise. Some decisions are made a priori, like the decision I have made to reject other religions. In the case of Christianity, there is an additional idea going on: that of God drawing those He wishes to save. For those taking a Calvinistic view of this (I don't) God does not choose to draw everyone, and everyone that He draws will not resist Him. I believe that God draws a person, that a person will not come unless drawn, and that the option to say no and walk away still holds.

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Even though you do well materially, I suspect you still use religion as an opiate of sorts. It comforts you to know that there is order and justice in the world, a purpose, and assurance that you will go to a better place when you die, right?

Those are all meant to make you feel better. It made me feel better once, and continues to make my father feel better about life in general.

Religion fills a psychological need for order and hope, the same way narcotics fill a physiological need for pleasent sensations. Long term abuse of either has negative side affects.

Answer 7

For this former skeptic, here are two points that were most convincing:

* Darwin thought of the cell as very simple, and it "just happened". Recent advances in micro-biology have revealed an incredibly complex cell that could not possibly have "just happened". I am convinced that there was an "intelligent designer".

* The resurrection really happened. There is no other rational explanation to the spread of Christianity within a relatively short period of time after the death and resurrection. Especially convincing is the behavior of the apostles. 11 died as martyrs, and John ended his life as an exile on the horrible island of Patmos.

People will perpetuate a hoax with the rationalization of over-throwing the Roman empire, but Christianity strongly teaches cooperation with government. So did they "trick" the people to believe a hoax in order to promote a religion with the highest morality? Obviously not ... they believed with all their heart that Jesus was the Son of God who was the long promised Messiah, and who died for our sins.

Answer 8

You are mistaken when you state that you CHOOSE your religion. Sure, take away my chances at pointing out that you are the religion you were born into. If you were born poor in Iraq, you'd be a muslim, and the way you'd choose what sect you belonged to would be by geographic location or to whom you were born...

Id also point out that humans have a need to belong to a group, a cohesive unit. So, why choose your religion? Because it is most likely the dominant religion in your area, where the most people participate, where you can get a sense of home, of belonging to a group of like minded individuals.

Answer 9

I've never thought of my beliefs in God to be an opiate. But in a certain sense this could be true. I know I feel better when I communicate with god and thank him for all I've been given. I was raised Roman Catholic, but my experiences in life have reshaped my ideas of god and religion. Perhaps it's our way of convincing ourselves that we are never alone, giving us a sense of security.

Answer 10

Religion is a legal and socially acceptable opiate. It's also inexpensive.