Question

Q1: This question asks you to look at Marx’s quote related to religion and explain how both “theist” and “atheist” could use this statement to support their beliefs. Take the side of a believer in religion (theist) and explain how Marx’s statement can be viewed as a “positive” statement regarding religion and Take the side of a non-believer in religion (atheist) and explain how Marx’s statement can be viewed as a “negative” statement regarding religion.(subject is kind of sociology)

(Answer need to be in soft copy only)

Answer 1

Religion is the opium of the people is the most famous quote by the German philosopher and economist Karl Marx. Although Marx used it in a negative sense, it could be interpreted in a positive sense too.

Theist – Opium takes people to an exciting and ecstatic state where people experience a different world. It makes them forget their worries and relieves them from their pains. Similarly, religion helps people overcome their sadness and pathetic life and comforts them. It also gives them a godlike experience through its rituals, celebrations etc. Religion helps people stay happy, forgetting all their problems.

Atheist – Opium is a curse on the human kind. It has shattered lives by restricting human beings from functioning normally in the society thus causing them to commit crimes. Opium alters the state of mind and makes people believe in the altered environment while reality is very hard on people. Similarly, religion controls people and make them addicted to it thus restricting them from achieving their full potential. Religion provides temporary relief to people’s sorrow but the cost is too high. The institutionalized religions today has coveted most of the lands and resources and makes people begging from them. They also make people slaves in the name of a God who is nowhere present.

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