Another American Beheading...

[Hero]

Someone should have told me this sooner.

[Diff-chan]

"Religion is the opiate of the masses."
- Karl Marx

Yes, and this quote needs to be posted more by brainless atheist idiots, because Marx was so right on so many things.

[Matt]

Heh. The Marx quote was funny in context

[Calliander]

Yes, and this quote needs to be posted more by brainless atheist idiots, because Marx was so right on so many things.

Axl Rose wrote the following lyrics:

"What's so civil about war, anyway?"

He also wrote these:

"Police and niggers / Get out of my way"

Does the latter negate the former? In any event, Marx was right about everything, even the moon being a secret government project.

[Kenshin]

Yes, and this quote needs to be posted more by brainless atheist idiots, because Marx was so right on so many things.

Brainless athiest idiot?
Whatever...

[Diff-chan]

Does the latter negate the former? In any event, Marx was right about everything, even the moon being a secret government project.

Well that first quote from Mr. Rose is worthless anyway, because civil can be defined as "Of or relating to citizens and their interrelations with one another or with the state", and a civil war definitely relates to citizens and their interrelations with one another or with the state. It's one of those quotes from musicians which is supposed to be really deep and meaningful but is actually totally worthless. Kind of like that Bob Marley one, "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery,only ourselves can free our minds".

So, does the latter negate the former wrt that Axl Rose one? The former meant nothing as it is.

But to address your other point... Marx was wrong. He was wrong regarding just about everything. And he probably was using that quote in the context of religion keeping people from seeing the class conflicts in our society (which was the true reality, to him). And really just about everything will dope people into seeing those conflicts. So Im sure, to Marx, just about everything is an opiate for the masses. But I havent read too much Marx so I could be off on this.

[Kenshin]

I haven't really read Marx, but my opinion into that quote is that he meant these two things:

- You can use religion to influence the people.

- Religion dulls the senses. Counting on god to get you through will get you nowhere. You've got to cooperate with your fellow man, and depend on each other to get through.

[The_Meach]

Im sure, to Marx, just about everything is an opiate for the masses.

If religion is the opiate of the masses, what's the opiate of the elites?

Religion dulls the senses. Counting on god to get you through will get you nowhere. You've got to cooperate with your fellow man, and depend on each other to get through.

The problem w/this (Marx's) analysis is that religions invariably call on converts to care for the poor, do good works, etc. Whether man does or does not help his fellow man is a problem w/man, not organized religion.

Marx' snide comment was a shot at ppl he considered to be simpletons, taking on faith something they could not empirically demonstrate (the existence of souls/God/afterlife, etc.).

[Diff-chan]

If religion is the opiate of the masses, what's the opiate of the elites?

I dunno. I already said I think it's a stupid quote.

Marx' snide comment was a shot at ppl he considered to be simpletons, taking on faith something they could not empirically demonstrate (the existence of souls/God/afterlife, etc.).

Exactly. More than that, though, it blinded people from the economic conflicts that arose from the capitalist society that was going to be overthrown (or so he thought).
Kenshin, for Marx, that was reality. The quote of his has been adopted by atheists the world over but they're not really putting it in proper context.

- You can use religion to influence the people.

- Religion dulls the senses. Counting on god to get you through will get you nowhere. You've got to cooperate with your fellow man, and depend on each other to get through.

I dont think that's what Marx meant, as I already explained what Marx was talking about. I think thats what you want it to mean.

[Damian79]

Marx' snide comment was a shot at ppl he considered to be simpletons, taking on faith something they could not empirically demonstrate (the existence of souls/God/afterlife, etc.).

You can prove the existence of a "god" in some form though. The Christian definition is harder to do so if at all possible.

Counting on god to get you through will get you nowhere.

Counting only on God you mean. Religion and co-operation isn't exclusive to each other. Infact Christianity tells us to obey our governments and to respect everyone regardless of their behaviour/beliefs.

The problem is, however, people twisting religion to conform to their beliefs.