Marx Response Paper (RP1)

Marx sees religion as more of a negative force than a positive one, and its downfall will lead to a new clarity in the world. He sees religion as an “illusory happiness”, and when religion is finally disproven there will be “real happiness”. However, Marx does not define “real happiness” nor has he proven religion is false, so how would he know what would happen if religion were disproven? Religion, real or not, has given people in the world a purpose in life. In this sense Marx argues that once religion was revealed as a false hope that everything would need to be reevaluated including law and politics. If Marx is right then religion has been the opiate of the whole world, not just the people. Religion has influenced almost every part of our lives, and disproving religion would leave the world to rethink everything since religion began. The people of the world would have to invent something new to deal with events previously explained by religion. The world would be in chaos.

Marx also believed that once religion was gone that man would find himself and then be able to truly enjoy life. If religion is the opiate of the people, then the people are already content with religion because that is all they have been exposed to. They would not necessarily be happier because most people are happier staying the way they are and not having to change. Although people today do sometimes question religion, most people accept it in some form. In the modern world more people are questioning religion than ever before with science. Religion has almost arrived at a pivotal moment in history where it will be proved or exposed as Marx said it should be, and the world should be ready to pick up the pieces if religion does shatter.