Hi hello I have a question regarding Marx’s “opium of the masses” quote (hexbear.net)

submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by worldonaturtle@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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People on the internet are saying it’s not a condemnation of religion and to Marx opium means medicine, Im confused help me bear website!

Edit: what did Karl Marx think opium was?

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[-] RyanGosling@hexbear.net 9 points 8 months ago

It being a “medicine” is a good point that I haven’t considered tbh. Like most drugs, there are legitimate applications that will absolutely help the patient’s life without hurting him. We just need to reach the conditions to achieve that

[-] invalidusernamelol@hexbear.net 4 points 8 months ago

Yeah, like how opiates today still have very valid medical uses, but their application has become so widespread that they've left the realm of medical tools (for many people) and entered the realm of escapism.

When people aren't turning to religion because of their total fear of destruction and destitution by capitalism, and the churches themselves begin to take on a more community organized and driven structure, you'll see the "true" form of religion emerge and over time the need for that religion will fade as the needs that were sated by religion becomes sated by the community as a whole.

Or at least the religion begins to take on the form of the socialized society that it exists in as opposed to impressing it's own hierarchical structure on the society that seems it out.