Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Literature & Language > Languages and Cultures > Famous Speeches > Famous Quotations > What does the quote religion is the opiate of the masses mean?

Other contributors have said "How is religion the opiate of the people?" is the same question as "What does the quote religion is the opiate of the masses mean?" If you believe that these are not asking the same thing and should be answered differently, click here

What does the quote religion is the opiate of the masses mean?

In: Famous Quotations, Opiates [Edit categories]

Answer:

I understood this quote to mean that 'religion' in the general sense keeps the people listless and sedated as an opiate or opium leaves people. Opiates can cause a person to sleep their life away, not caring about eating, working, or even their loved ones, eventually sleeping themselves to death. But paradoxically, opiates can also alter the consciousness of the users, and free them from religious dogma. Marx seems to be implying that people should dedicate themselves to anarchy and to fighting social and authoritarian injustice.

Religion means a "set of rules", rules to follow in order to guarantee an afterlife. It's used by the people in power to control the people who are not in power (the masses). It convinces them to accept and endure the suffering and injustices in this life because heaven awaits them. It prevented the masses from questioning and ultimately changing the current ways so the people who were in power could stay in power.

Note: There are comments associated with this question. See the discussion page to add to the conversation.

First answer by Alceysia. Last edit by 2012Griot. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 3 [recommend question].

[report abuse]

Can you answer these Famous Quotations questions?

	What biblical scripture do you reference when one claims another mans wife?	Answer it!
	Who first said Orgainzation is the key to success disorganization is a recipe for anarchy?	Answer it!
	What are some famous quotes from the peace treaty?	Answer it!
	What are famous quotes said by California?	Answer it!
	Who said you are only as blind as you want to be?	Answer it!

Relevant answers:

Is religion a means for controlling the masses?
Religion is just a faith in one particular being, which are usually gods or God. Religion isn't supposed to be a means for controlling the masses, but in medieval times when the church was corrupted,...
What is the impact of the quote religion is the 'opiate of the people'?
Karl Marx's quote "Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes"-- translated as "religion is the opiate of the masses" comes from the introduction of his work "Contribution to Critique of Hegel's...
What does quote on quote mean?
"Quote unquote" is a phrase used to place verbal quotation marks around the following word, usually to convey scepticism about the validity or truth of that phrase."According to PETA quote unquote...
Who said religion is the opiate of masses?
Karl Marx
What quote mean?
A quote means it is something you either 1: use in reports from somebody who said the exact words. Or 2: the two things you use in sentences when someone is speaking. EX41: I had a dream." Martin...