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Religion is the Opiate of the Masses

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Karl Marx famously stated,
"Religion is the Opiate of the Masses." Access the accuracy or inaccuracy of this statement from a historical point of view.

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Solution Summary

A frequently misquoted line attributed to Karl Marx reads, "Religion is the opiate of the masses." This post takes a look at this statement and determines its relevance and truthfulness in society. Marx's full quote is included to provide the context. Over 300 words of original text with links to sources.

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Karl Marx famously stated, "Religion is the Opiate of the Masses."
Access the accuracy or inaccuracy of this statement from a historical point of view.

The first problem with this quote is that it is inaccurate and has been taken out of context. Marx's full quote follows:

"... 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 ...

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