Marx Response Paper

Marx states that religion can be used to oppress and is “the opium of the people,” however he fails to consider the positive benefits of religion. Marx states that “religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature.” Throughout history this can be seen in basic religions where leaders made themselves divine to inspire a loyal following that would fear to retaliate. This oppression can also be seen in Christianity in the Romanesque period when religion was used to inspire fear in the populace so that they would convert. In these instances religion created a ruling class that oversaw the underclass of worshipers and therefore created a class based society. In addition, Marx states that religion can be the “opium of the people” and create “spiritless conditions.” In many civilizations, cultures did become almost fanatical and obsessed with their faith like an addict to a drug. This can be seen in the Crusades when Christianity created a fervor that sent hundreds of young men off to war, in the witch hunts that plagued the New World and Europe and in Islamic religious extremism that leads to terrorism today.

However, Marx does not consider the positive benefits of religion which gives people hope and belief in justice. In Paraguay, where the people live in limited conditions, religion is the hope of the people. Each family prays at night that their well will not dry up or their sick grandfather will get well. Religion gives meaning to their lives and hope that a higher being will intervene on their behalf to support them in troubled times. Religion may be "the opium of the people," but many people forget that opium is used as medicine and pain reliever. Used properly religion too can make the world less painful and allow for recovery when an adverse environment exists. In addition, Marx states that when a person throws off religion they will enter reality and find true happiness. This is incorrect because people create their own realities based on what they need. Some people do not require religion as a support because they live in a prosperous society, however others are not so lucky and they need hope and belief in a higher being to get them through difficult times. No one can define reality, so who is Marx to say that letting go of religion will create it?

Today Marx has almost succeeded in his hope to encourage people to “throw off the chain and pluck the living flower” of religion. In the western world people rely more on science than on religion and this has led to less oppression and more prosperous nations. However, Marx’s criticism of religion has now been taken on by western cultures and used to criticize Islam in the Middle East. Western nations say that Islam is oppressing women and creating fanatical terrorists. Because of this American has made it it’s goal to give people in the Middle East “freedom” and this has led to military conflicts. Now it appears that religion is not the only opium, but science and freedom as well.