The foundation of irreligious criticism is: Man makes religion, religion does not make man. Religion is, indeed, the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either not yet won through to himself, or has already lost himself again. But man is no abstract being squatting outside the world. Man is the world of man – state, society. This state and this society produce religion, which is an inverted consciousness of the world, because they are an inverted world. Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopaedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point d’honneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion.
Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo.[2]
Most people have only heard the well used cliche of "The opium of the people." The following is the full quote given in context. And just another reason to consider being an atheist.
Opium of the people - Wikipedia
The existence if God is not dependent upon religion. A cimmon mistake among atheists is that they give a laundry list of the wrongs done by religion to prove their case. But those are failures of humans who run religions.
Religions, in general, are meant to control people. Much like opium or opiates do. But they are not God. God exists, religions are bull****. Which is much of the message of Jesus.
Most people have only heard the well used cliche of "The opium of the people." The following is the full quote given in context. And just another reason to consider being an atheist.
Opium of the people - Wikipedia
Irony, Karl Marx talking about something that crutches people and ends up oppressive (all this really boils down to is Marx tended to be critical of any social influence that he looked at as competition or an impediment to what he wanted in socialism oriented outcomes.)
As a basis or value for philosophical discussion the "opium of the people" argument is largely weak and useless.
Nothing marx said has become oppressive. And at least marx put forward some reasons on the subject. You instead make an unsubstantiated association between oppressive regimes and a philosophy that does not support that oppression.
History suggests otherwise.
The existence if God is not dependent upon religion. A cimmon mistake among atheists is that they give a laundry list of the wrongs done by religion to prove their case. But those are failures of humans who run religions.
Religions, in general, are meant to control people. Much like opium or opiates do. But they are not God. God exists, religions are bull****. Which is much of the message of Jesus.
History suggests otherwise.
Unfortunately jesus is religion.
You will also note that throughout the whole passage the complete lack of the word, god.
God could be anything, but religion is as described by that passage.
And atheism is an argument against religion.
The point is that "god" and "religion" are the refuge of scoundrels whether they're employed together or separately.
Jesus isn't religion. Though many religions purport to follow Him. He never started a religion, and in general His opinion towards religion is often negative.
I have said here that religion is often not helpful. God, however, exists independently of religion
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?