Marx Response Paper

Religion = Opiate ?

Marx suggests that religion can have both positive and negative effects on society. By comparing religion to the “opiate of the people,” Marx is trying to bring in the healthful and harmful aspects of opium to explain religion. The word “opium” usually has negative connotation since there has been some conflicts regarding opium, such as Opium War, and since opium is an addictive drug. Just like opium, religion may cause many conflicts and criticisms. Also, some radical religious practices may result in loss of clear thoughts with unreasonable illusions like opium. Moreover, this “opiate of the people,” or religion, is developed out of “an inverted consciousness of the world.” Marx suggests that religion is created from already a distorted society, so it would hardly be perfect.

Marx, however, is not entirely negative about religion. Opium may rouse some negative impression automatically, but opium can also be beneficial when used correctly. It is a very effective medicine and can be used to treat many conditions unless one is out of control (a.k.a. addicted). And because “man makes religion,” society should be able to maintain control over religion, rather than overtaken by it. Marx implies that society can extract healthful effects from religion. In addition to Marx’s usage of opium to describe potentially positive aspect of religion, his description of religion hints that religion can offer a place to depend on. Although religion may be inherently negative since its creation, it is “the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions.” Religion can be a refuge for some people in need of help.

Marx’s ideas regarding religion are very reasonable for his times, but concluding religions as illusions can be slightly problematic. For the modern world, all religions should be viewed rational, rather than illusive.