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Perhaps, but what if it is accurate? It's been said that religion is opium for the masses. Deluding yourself might make you feel good but you're still suffering

by jensv 9y ago

Perhaps, but what if it is accurate? It's been said that religion is opium for the masses. Deluding yourself might make you feel good but you're still suffering. As I type this the following is on the front page: 'Body Brokers' Get Kickbacks to Lure People with Addictions to Bad Rehab.

ruleabidinguser 9y ago
The last part is not accurate for me
beaconstudios 9y ago
it was said by Marx, who had his own delusions that have led to the deaths many many people. I don't think we as a species are capable of being 100% rational.
- marrs 9y ago
  The quote with some context: Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopaedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point d'honneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion. Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo. Criticism has plucked the imaginary flowers on the chain not in order that man shall continue to bear that chain without fantasy or consolation, but so that he shall throw off the chain and pluck the living flower. The criticism of religion disillusions man, so that he will think, act, and fashion his reality like a man who has discarded his illusions and regained his senses, so that he will move around himself as his own true Sun
groby_b 9y ago
We all suffer. Happiness does not end suffering, it merely affects how we process it, how we perceive it. It's interesting you bring up "feeling good". That is about pleasure, about external stimuli. Happiness is fulfillment within ourself. Which means it has not much to do with monetary status. Yes, money affords you comfort and pleasure, and those are nice things to have. It does not afford you happiness. To put it into a Tony Robbins quote: "Having money doesn't mean you don't have problems. It just means you get to roll up to your problems in a limo" And "a world with no love or caring or community" - that is, ultimately, our own choice. We can choose to put love in the world, or we can withhold it. We can choose to care about other people. We can build a community. It won't be provided to us - happiness, and love, and caring, require all of us to work for their existence.

by jensv 9y ago

ruleabidinguser 9y ago

The last part is not accurate for me

beaconstudios 9y ago

it was said by Marx, who had his own delusions that have led to the deaths many many people. I don't think we as a species are capable of being 100% rational.

marrs 9y ago
The quote with some context: Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopaedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point d'honneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion. Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo. Criticism has plucked the imaginary flowers on the chain not in order that man shall continue to bear that chain without fantasy or consolation, but so that he shall throw off the chain and pluck the living flower. The criticism of religion disillusions man, so that he will think, act, and fashion his reality like a man who has discarded his illusions and regained his senses, so that he will move around himself as his own true Sun

groby_b 9y ago

We all suffer. Happiness does not end suffering, it merely affects how we process it, how we perceive it. It's interesting you bring up "feeling good". That is about pleasure, about external stimuli. Happiness is fulfillment within ourself. Which means it has not much to do with monetary status. Yes, money affords you comfort and pleasure, and those are nice things to have. It does not afford you happiness. To put it into a Tony Robbins quote: "Having money doesn't mean you don't have problems. It just means you get to roll up to your problems in a limo" And "a world with no love or caring or community" - that is, ultimately, our own choice. We can choose to put love in the world, or we can withhold it. We can choose to care about other people. We can build a community. It won't be provided to us - happiness, and love, and caring, require all of us to work for their existence.