What does "Religion is ... the opiate of the people" mean to you?

Question

It's a quote which is often used but rarely explained. The full quote from Karl Marx is:

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of heartless conditions, the soul of a soulless world. It is the opiate of the people."

Answer 1

This quote shows how alienated the scholarly urbanite who originated Communism had been from his own people when he started mouthing his philosophy. As a former Jew turned atheist, one cannot blame him too much. He was a product of his own time, a man who wanted very much to understand the great social disruptions and blatant inequalities the very godless Movement of Industrialization had spawned upon the world. Rather than seeing the atheistic root of the movement, he contended some some that perhaps atheism could make people freer. It's like giving more poison to cure an already poisoned victim. As a result, the world was made to undergo a century of enslavement to a philosphy that is not only very alien to human nature it countered the laws of nature as well. Read again the quotation. Now substitute the word religion for Communism. It now seems more sensible.



For the next century after Marx, many oppressed people survived by clinging to their dreams of a Marxist utopia; Communism despised religion and replaced religious fervor with his concept of "constant class struggle"; the dream of the perfect communist state -admittedly unrealizable became the opiate of a constantly marching crowd of proletariat that slowly began to realize something is wrong somewhere.

And if religion has its Inquisition, Marx' communism made provisions for its own secret police and gulag system for dissenters.



With Marxism, diatribe against religion was merely a pretext; all Marx ever wanted was to coop the powers of religion over man and put his now concept f politics in its place.

Answer 2

Thank you Sir for the full Version , its been quite a while ever since I left college.

Karl Marx was a sociologist of some sort , believe me during those days people were oppressed by the way things were done in their communities . e.g " Class struggles" evolved during the Marxist days

A point of correction to Karl even if he is in his grave now .

Religion is not the Opiate but rather a certain branch named "Christianity" is the one , why say so ?

Because "Religion" is explained better any belief in what we term the supernatural .

Karl Marx was anti-Christ like so whatever his Opinion is/was we need to have our own decisions on his words,

"Nb we can look @ the same object @ the very same time but come out with a lot of different opinions henceforth , the prejudice of our people render us essentially different" Castlereagh



Christianity not Religion is the Opiate of people , its a drug that drugs people to submissiveness & docility

Answer 3

He meant that religion gives hope of something better or different from the harsh realities of everyday life. That rather like alcohol or drugs, it can give people a rest from what for some of them is a mundane and grinding existence.



Some would say that for this reason religion is a good thing, but I think that in the past and to some extent even today, particularly in poorer countries where life really is still like that, all it does is serve to keep the people quiet and not expect any more out of life.



You have to see the world for what it is, and problems for what they are before you can understand how to fix them, and make life good enough so that people no longer require an opiate.



A politician quite recently in the UK said about the idea of banning smoking, that it was cruel to ban it, because it was the only pleasure poor people had. He was of coarse being condescending, prejudiced and assuming poor people shouldn't worry about their health, or living a better life, but should just be quiet, get on with there minimum-pay jobs, and comfort themselves with a nice pack of ciggs per day.

It's better to hope based on the truth and taking responsibility to make our own lives better and helping others do the same, than to allow ourselves to be lulled into servitude and quiet acceptance.

Answer 4

the actual quote ends 'opiate of the masses'. It's a quote that is often used out of context. It is generally used to express that religion is used to trap the minds of the people and keep them opressed. what Marx is saying is that it is the escape of the masses, sonmethign to relieve them of the daily grind and struggle of life.



Edit: Ah ok, yeah i can see how 'Volkes' could end up as masses.

Answer 5

Glad you added you know what Marx meant or I would have answered that. In fact, where you say "It's rarely explained, it does sound like you want an explanation"



Well *I* think that it's a cynical and inaccurate view of religion. I think religion started evolutionarily for two reasons. 1/ that it held groups of people together, by common beliefs thus ensuring Homo Sapiens survival and 2/ that it helped our survival by letting us participate in the truth about creation, stimulating endorphins, giving us feelings of well being, and allowing us to dip into the creative ALL and finding inspiration for all our problems and needs from spiritual, to social, to practical.



And so, Marx sees religion as being created by the ruler class to dominate the masses and keep them docile - and I see this as a narrow view, based on his narrow view, and used as propaganda. BUT I do agree that people do get stuck in old beliefs and can't move ahead b/c they think God will be mad if they somehow espouse other things than those in the old teaching... like Sarah Palin not believing in Evolution...eeeek.... and people continuing to oppose abortion when it's usually the best thing for the poor baby, and we no longer need as many people as possible - quite the contrary!

Answer 6

I think some people use religon as an opiate- a way to feel good about themselves and society.



I think some people use this quote to pigeon-hole "believers"... kinda like the word, "sheeple." Those who believe in a higher power (God), are seen by some as similar to druggies or sheep- we're either trying to hide from reality in the feel-good rhetoric or we blindly follow what the minister says.



I'm not fond of the quote- it's insulting to intelligent religious people of any faith.

Answer 7

It is the jealous vitriolic rantings of an atheistic communist.



It suggests that theistic peoples feel the need for a supernatural connection.

Its suggestion is to assume that the billions of educated people and countless intellectuals who have faith are all wrong,stupid,ignorant and gullible.

Generally speaking,theism is incompatible with communism.Since Marx is the ultimate communist it is hardly surprising that he would choose to denigrate those with faith.

Answer 8

To me it means that Marx didn't grow up in the northern suburbs of Adelaide like I did.



If Religion was the opiate of the masses, it'd be passed over for Fundamentalism, the crack cocaine of the people.

Answer 9

People can get high on it The "sigh of the oppressed creature" is the burden of the ignorant masses who know their faults but have no way of overcoming them without fear of a powerful hand to crush them. The "heart of heartless conditions" is the awareness we have that we create evil in this world, and religion gives us a way out of the hole we have dug for themselves. Why do I feel like I've just done your homework for you?

Answer 10

The rich or ruling classes used to encourage (to say the least) the workers to believe in a religion that ensured the workers knew their place and didn't expect too much out of life.

A bit like some of the rulers in Muslim countries have done recently.

Answer 11

i've always taken it to mean that religion is a pain-killer for those whose life doesn't offer much hope or joy. something that will get them through a miserable existence without going batsh!t insane.



without religion, the masses of humanity would tear this place a new one.

Answer 12

It refers to opium, a drug.



Religion is a drug. It can totally confuse you and lead you off track. Religion tells yout to work your butt off to earn your way to heaven. It is completely meaningless, and yes, it is empty. This is why:



In reality, you will never get to heaven by doing stuff, because God's benchmark for getting into heaven is perfection!



Christianity says we will go to hell because we've sinnned (doing wrong stuff such as lying, stealing, hurting each other, etc.) However, God loved us so much, he didn't want us to suffer, so he came to earth as a human in the form of Jesus, and because he was perfect, he was able to die on the cross and take our punishment on himself instead. Think of it this way: we've broken the law, and we have to take the consequences and go to jail. But if someone steps in and pays the bail, we can go free! In the same way, Jesus paid dearly for the sins that we committed, because he loved us. This means that our bail money to God is paid and we can go free!



We don't need to depend on religion (doing works to get to heaven) to go to heaven, because the path has already been laid! Instead, we just need to turn to God, say sorry, and accept the 'bail money' that Jesus paid for us!



It's that simple, yet religion makes it so hard.

Answer 13

Thank you, I had never heard the entire quote!

I'm sorry, but it reallly means nothing to me.

It was his opinon, and my own is different.

Answer 14

I'd say that utopian socialism was a good idea, though sadly impossible due to human weakness. And that Communism was a foul corruption of socialistic ideals.

Answer 15

I think it means religion is addictive and it can drive people to do things.

Answer 16

An outdated and dangerous theory that people use as a crutch.....Bit like Marxism really.

Answer 17

he was a guy who knew a thing or two and is perhaps well respected in this world he is an initiate!

Answer 18

Yeah just like we NEED to elect leaders... lol

Answer 19

some people need to rely on imaginary things to get through life.



just like people who use opium... they like being delusional... and the fake happiness.

Answer 20

he means religion is like a drug