What did Karl Marx mean when he said religion is the "opium of the people?"?

Answer 1

It meant that free thinking people would be drawn to a God of love and not direct their thinking to communist ideas or government controls. He figured that it would be hard to brainwash a Bible based thinker. One thing I do feel he thought was this. Religion can be the "opium" of the people when false religious doctrines are instilled in people without them checking them out. He probably sensed the deceit in false religious thinking.

Answer 2

When we see the phrase “Religion is the opium of the people," it is usually an attempt by religious 'quote miners' to misrepresent what was REALLY said... which is an uncomfortable TRUTH about religion:

"Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions." ~ Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right

Usually all one gets from the above is “Religion is the opium of the people“ (with no ellipses to indicate that something has been removed).

Sometimes “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature“ is included. If you compare these with the full quotation, it’s clear that a great deal more is being said than what most people are aware of.

In the above quotation Marx is saying that religion’s purpose is to create illusory fantasies for the poor. Economic realities prevent them from finding true happiness in this life, so religion tells them that this is OK because they will find true happiness in the next life. Although this is a criticism of religion, Marx is not without sympathy: people are in distress and religion provides solace, just as people who are physically injured receive relief from opiate-based drugs.
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Answer 3

Actually, in today's world, televised sporting events are the opiate of the masses. Sports have replaced religion as the primary concern for so many people, and besides, religion never delivers as promised. Eventually, folks notice this and switch channels. It's sports that now distract us from the daily drudgery of our petty lives, and keep us from revolting against the politicians, not promises of a better life in the next world. It is also interesting to note that Napoleon once said, "Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."

Answer 4

Karl Marx said that "religion is the opiate of the masses." It seems that he believed that the majority of people use religion like a drug, to numb their feelings and close their eyes to the hard realities or social conditions of the world. One of the key words here for me is the word "masses," which means that this is not true of everyone. Sadly, many supposed followers of Marx use this expression to oppress anyone who is a person of faith, even if their faith opens their eyes and their hearts, and leads them to committing to social reform or compassionate action.

Answer 5

Religion soothes the masses.

In times of turmoil, many people turn to religion. Thinking that there is some wonderful reward waiting for you, some higher purpose, is enough to make some people try a little harder, or look past the misery.

For example, during the Depression in the U.S., Bible sales and church attendance more then tripled.

A junkie uses opium to escape reality when times get tough... a religious person does the same, but with worship in place of drugs.

Answer 6

Because it is. Many people believe in religion. They believe in most of the teachings and try to abide by them. Religion, is a form of control over people. But to have that control, u need to get them to beleive in what ur selling. This starts when ur young, and u know Jesus loves u, and if u love someone, u obey them....yada yada, yada. That carries on into adulthood, and u pass it down to ur kids, etc, etc, etc. So then it becomes a HUGE group. So now u have a massive group of people flocking to church, looking to a higher power to help them in time of need, anf for them to feel whole, and ok with themselves...good about themselves. So, religion is like an opiate....a drug. So u see, in this way, religion is the opiate of the masses. And everyone likes things that make them feel good right?

Answer 7

What he meant is that religion placates people into being compliant. It's almost like a drug in the sense that it is hypnotic, mesmerizing, and can alleviate spiritual or physical pain - highly religious people report less pain and suffering in their lives. They have done studies. It has something to do with believing that a higher power is in control, and that "everything was meant to be". Hope that makes sense. Take care, Andrea

Answer 8

Origin

religion is the opium of the peopleThis is probably the best-known quotation by Karl Marx, the German economist and Communist political philosopher. The origin German text, in Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right, 1843 is:

Die Religion... ist das Opium des Volkes

This has been translated variously as 'religion is the opiate of the masses', 'religion is the opium of the masses' and, in a version which German scholars prefer 'religion is the opium of the people'. The context the phrase appears is this:

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people."

He meant it drugged people's reasoning minds and left them in a stupor whereby they had only to recite given phrases but never use their minds to seek out the truth - they just got by on a warm fuzzy - whereas communism brought light happiness and peace to the world (unless you happened to be or related to one of its 200 million victims).

Jesus taught in parables to make people think. Proverbs demands us to seek wisdom as buried treasure. But it is so much easier to pay the priest................................

Answer 9

I think he was being some kind of a thinker. Religion is a rip off in most cases. God the Father, Jesus The Lord, and The Holy Spirit, are necessary parts of our being. If we do not have this reality in operation we are not playing with a full deck. God is not religious and we were made in His image, not some docternal group, based on their own understanding. Truth/God/Love all the same.

Answer 10

Usually when someone wants to be a dictator they will try to discredit anything they consider a threat. He was not a nice man and he did not strike me as someone I would want to follow into eternity or anywhere else for that matter. The truth is that the Power of God is Comforting but unlike drugs it costs you nothing. We were designed to need God. Without him, people get addicted to all kinds of things that destroy their minds, bodies and relationships.