Reglion

Reglion

  • Submitted By: peeka
  • Date Submitted: 11/30/2008 8:41 PM
  • Category: History Other
  • Words: 366
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 627

Does society actually need religion? Although the truth present in various religions is debatable, the sociological impact of religion can be monitored and examined thoroughly. This paper will argue with Marx’s view on religion in society. Marx, in his essay entitled “Religion as the Opium of the People,” argues that religion serves only to force the lower class to become content with their position in society. Marx believes that the population of any society could only be happy if religion was completely abolished. An even more compelling argument can be delivered that religion serves a beneficial role in society through sociological and psychological means.
In Marx’s essay, he writes that “[r]eligion is the sigh of the oppressed creature […] it is the opium of the people.” In other words religion is how the oppressed people of a society deal with their societal position (Marx 8). The Living Religions book gives a good synopsis of Marx’s metaphorical essay by explaining that other religions use their doctrine to pacify the lower class into being content with their place in society. For example, Marx believes that Christianity convinces the oppressed people that their position in society is due to punishment from God, and in Eastern religions he believes that the lower class is blamed for their own misfortune because of their misdeeds in previous lives (Fisher 18-19).
Marx presents a formidable argument, and even provides quality evidence that at least forces the reader to reconsider the effects of religion on the lower class. Unfortunately, he continues to push his argument into a realm that he does not support with evidence or further explanation. “The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness” presents the idea that society is not only better off without religion, but the entire population of a society as a whole is better off without religion (Marx 8). There is an extremely strong...