...Religion as the Opium of the People For Karl Marx, human dignity is grounded in human labor. It transforms nature into a meaningful whole as well as man's life. It gives him his life meaning and purpose, for through labor, it gives man the chance to express his creativity. People encounter life as a chain of complications rather than transcendental qualities. Karl Marx found this in religion. In Marx's “A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of right,” he made a notion of religion being an opiate or opium, and many others. But what does this religion-opium statement imply? For Marx, he divulges that just as opium intoxicates people with erroneous feelings of well-being without relief, so does religion. Religion promises some cure, some form of shelter form human miseries and a temporary relief, when in reality; life is full of suffering, an affliction. It seems that in religion, when man puts more of himself to God, he loses a part of himself, and when he puts himself into God, he detaches from the reality of life. But here, Marx does not mean that religion drugs the people so as to dull their minds, rather it gives comfort and consoles people who are facing difficulties and suffering. The realization of pain and suffering is shown among the marginalized people. Those among the lower margins of human classes are waiting to be saved. Marx is saying that through class struggle, it is where human consciousness is determined. For the marginalized, he struggles materially...
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...INTERVIEW AND UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAMIC RELIGION April 20, 2013 HUMN130 Religions of the World Interview and Understanding of the Islamic Religion First I wanted to get a general understanding of the exact religion and people who practice Islamic Faith. I learned that a Muslim is a person who practices Islam. Islam is the name of the religion. Muslims sometimes claim that there is no Muslim culture, only a Muslim religion. However, people in today's society do not acknowledge this distinction since we view religion as one aspect of one's culture. Muslim culture generally includes all the practices which have developed around the religion of Islam. Muslims are obligated to follow the practices of Islam in every detail in daily life. These practices are dictated by the Qur'an of Koran. The Muslim's sacred book, which is considered to be the final word of God. These practices are reported to be the practices and sayings of the prophet Muhammad. There are several cultural aspects of the Islam religion that Muslims practice. For example, there are five major tenets (pillars) in the Islam religion a Muslim is expected to follow. The first is "There is only on God (Allah) and Muhammad is the Messenger of God". The other four are the practical obligations of daily prayer, fasting, paying annual money to be distributed among the poor, and making the pilgrimage to Mecca. Islam is considered the fastest growing religion in the world. There are approximately 1.3 billion...
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...China has gone through major changes throughout the second half of the 19th century up till the early 20th century. The result of the Opium Wars opened up China to the rest of the world, which contributed to the fall of the Qing dynasty. The Wars struck a crippling blow to the Qing Empire and it demonstrated how weak China was compared to the European powers. The ailing Qing dynasty during the middle of the 19th century created opportunities for the European imperialists who were interested in crippling China. They wanted to undermine China by enforcing foreign policies in the country, which would contribute to the growing discontent among the citizens since their monarch was hopeless. After the naval expeditions of Zheng He (1371-1435) during the Ming dynasty, the Hongwu Emperor decided to ban all trade and from then onwards, China became increasingly isolationist. The Chinese feared that the result of foreign intervention would be an attempt to take over the country therefore, all the dynasties after that continued to adopt these policies in order to prevent invaders such as Japanese pirates. During the Qing dynasty, the Qianlong Emperor rejected an offer to expand trade because he feared that by trading with foreign countries, the imperialist nations would attempt to take over China by imposing their ideas on the Chinese. China’s desire to shut itself away from the foreign countries was because of its desire to protect itself. After the Industrial Revolution, the...
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...underwent an epic transformation, as feudal, aristocratic and religious privileges evaporated under a sustained assault from radical left-wing political groups, masses on the streets, and peasants in the countryside.[1] Old ideas about tradition and hierarchy regarding monarchs, aristocrats, and the Catholic Church were abruptly overthrown by new principles of Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality and fraternity). The royal houses across Europe were horrified and led a countercrusade that by 1814 had restored the old monarchy, but many major reforms became permanent. So too did antagonisms between the supporters and enemies of the Revolution, who fought politically over the next two centuries. Amidst a fiscal crisis, the common people of France were increasingly angered by the incompetency of King Louis XVI and the continued indifference and decadence of the aristocracy. This resentment, coupled with burgeoning Enlightenment ideals, fueled radical sentiments, and the French Revolution began in 1789 with the convocation of the Estates-General in May. The first year of the Revolution saw members of the Third Estate proclaiming the Tennis Court Oath in June, the assault on the Bastille in July, the passage of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August, and an epic march on Versailles that forced the royal court back to Paris in October. The next few years were dominated by struggles between various liberal assemblies and a right wing of supporters...
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...of education, which enables true truths to flow, and greater knowledge of what can be achieved in life for the individual, replacing the falsehoods and evil that rise in the soil of poverty and ignorance. The world has to come together to try to figure out a way for these countries (plus the countries of Africa, and the many pockets of misery elsewhere) to emerge from their neglect, so that fundamentalism and terror will evaporate, and that the energies of angry men and women can be absorbed for productive and happy lives. End of Hold of Religion Behind Terrorism through Prosperity, Education, & Enlightened Mind After the end of the Cold War, we see ferocious animosities focussed at precise undefined points in the shape of terrorist explosions. Presently the world is finding it difficult to come by a satisfying answer to this phenomenon. Marx's description of religion as the opium of the masses deserves consideration here. Opium intoxicates in usual doses, destroys in overdoses. What is a usual dose of a drug to a cultivated mind is an overdose to a superstitious mind. Idealism for a great mind is fanaticism for a small mind. Culture is the best ingredient of Mind that makes it level headed or great. It is education that prepares the mind to receive culture. Man thinks of education when his stomach is full. Hunger prevents one from seeking education. Physical threat and insecurity can drive man so hard, that he even overlooks the claims of a...
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...You may recall that in his chapter detailing Freud’s theory of religion, Pals reports the common allegation that Freud’s theory of religion might be better thought to be a theory of Western religion. He makes a similar claim in his chapter detailing Marx’s theory of religion, suggesting that Marx’s account of religion might better be thought a replay of “the essence of Christianity.” How far and how successfully might Marx’s critique of religion be extended to include Hinduism and Buddhism? Pals maintained that Marx’s account of religion might be thought a replay of the essence of Christianity. Marx is not actually presenting an account of religion. Instead, as Pals explains, Marx has given us a “…analysis of Christianity and similar faiths, who stress belief in God and an afterlife” (Pals, 140). Pals also asserts that we can also conceive a likewise Marxist explanation of the Hindu doctrine of rebirth, or the teachings of some Buddhists who stress the joys of sheer nihility over the distresses of the present world and life (Pals, 141). Marx insists that religion is a condition that requires illusions. He also ascertained that the elimination of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. Marx in reference to illusions stated that, “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” (Marx). Both Hindus and Buddhists...
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...Since 1996, the Taliban has created an environment of terror and disorder within the country of Afghanistan. Although terrorists within Afghanistan and of the Islam religion believe that they are justified in their actions, it is made clearly apparent that Terrorism must be stopped altogether. Terrorism is translated to mean ‘army in the shadows’ and is defined as the threat or use of violence to win certain rewards or goals (Dictionary.com, 2010). The earliest known Terrorist organization similar to those of today was the Zealots of Judea, formed when fanatics of the Jewish faith revolted against the of the Roman oppression. They carried on an underground campaign wherein they assassinated Roman occupation forces and Jews that they believed had collaborated with the Romans. However, the first time that the word ‘terrorism’ was used was during the French Revolution which is referred to as the ‘Reign of terror’. During this time the Jacobins who ruled with violence at that time, would sometimes refer to themselves as ‘terrorists’ (terrorism-research.com). Since then, there have been other leaders and people seeking power using terrorism as a weapon. These include the Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler, a man responsible for the murder of over 6 million people. The Taliban itself took control of Afghanistan in 1996 and were in power until 2001. During this time however, they were not accepted by the world’s community because their policies were considered...
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...China and Japan Respond to the West Source Analysis Questions Directions: Using the China and Japan Response to Westernization Source Packet, answer the following questions about each of the documents. The first 5 documents are due on Monday 2/8. The second set are due on Friday 2/12. Document 1: Key Information: Opium Wars British East India Company sold Opium China began to loose power Opium is a drug: causes numbness, yellow skin, addiction. Theatrical Poster (advertise): Man lying on cushion and smoking opium. Messy at Opium Joint. Exaggeration of what is really happening. Point of View: Western - American Bias? Who?: Yes. Against Chinese. All Chinese people are high on opium. This poster is about a big problem among some Chinese immigrants...
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...Cursory Analysis Having finished up with the answer of the evils of religion as opposed to the evils of civilization, Gandhi criticizes the requirement of protection from “the Pindaris, and the Bhils”. He states that suffering their perils would be better than requiring the British protection to repel it, as that would “render us effeminate”. The chapter is concluded by putting forth the idea that home rule can only be achieved when “we” stop fearing our countrymen, whoever or whatever they may be. Now the idea changes from pax britanica being questioned to how “Railways, lawyers, and doctors have impoverished the country”. Consumption is treated as a disease that plagues the population, showing a false pretense of wellbeing as is apparent from the lines “Consumption does not produce apparent hurt – it even produces a seductive color about the patient’s face, so as to induce the belief that all is well”. Now the concept of civilization being the broader umbrella which covers consumption and other such maladies is introduced. The example used to substantiate this assertion comes in the form of the railways, a symbol of modernity which showcases the spread of civilization. Arguments including the spread of germs, the bubonic plague, and evil in general is used to drive the point home. It is further stated that the same cannot be used to spread the word of the “good”, as the virtuous are not selfish and, hence, travel at a snail’s pace, further stating that the obstacle of distance...
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...Religion is one of the oldest institutions on Earth, and is therefore of key cultural and historical importance to a large group of people. However the real question is whether religion serves to benefit both the individual and society in this ever evolving postmodern world. One perspective that suggests that religion does serve to benefit both the individual and society as a whole is Functionalism, which believes that religion maintains value consensus by creating social solidarity and keeping social order in place. Marxism however believes religion creates class division in society, by acting as an “opium of the people” and a “spiritual gin”, which in turn creates the false class consciousness and illusory happiness, which leads to people being subordinate and not challenging their place in society, as religion helps to explain their place and maintains social order. A core argument from the Functionalist perspective, put forward by Durkheim, was society’s distinction between the “sacred” (things set apart,special,inspire feelings of awe and wonder) and the “profane” (things that have no special significance,ordinary or mundane). Durkheim argued that the reason why scared symbols or festivals in religion evoke such powerful feelings in individuals is because they represent a greater power, this in Durkheim’s opinion could only be society itself. Therefore in Durkheim's view when members of society are worshipping sacred symbols, they’re merely worshipping society and all...
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...CULTURAL SYNCRETISM Everybody has heard and knows from the earliest human history that the people who populated this earth five-thousand years ago happened during the Bantu migration; now moving forward to more current times of African people displaced by political oppressions, famine, economic factors, and conflicts. The slave trade encompassed four continents: Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. When slaves were forced to North America had not only brought people but different cultures within North America, too. Aside from African’s forced to North America, to understand cultural syncretism, one must take into account Asia and the Indian Ocean that took place a couple of hundred years earlier. The coerced labor from 1500 (Asia and the Indian Ocean) was an earlier account of cultural syncretism but Europeans found it more difficult to mingle two different beliefs into one. Over-time the different cultures in North America would not be so much forced syncretism, but would rather create a melting pot of beliefs (Lindenfield, 2008). Cultural Mergence Looking at the two different worlds that were oceans apart in some aspects may have been only miles apart. Thinking of what causes two different cultures to merge is usually simply religion. When settlers found the New World, had settled it in the image of Christianity. Everybody who lived on the New World’s land was expected to take in the ideology of Christianity, just like the Pilgrims did to the Native Americans...
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...Current Drug Trends in America Sarah Pierce PSY425 October 25, 2010 Scharlene De Horney Past and Current Drug Trends in America Drugs come in many forms and from many places. Drugs have been around since the beginning of time and people have been using them since they discovered them. Drug use began thousands if not a hundred thousand years ago as humans started exploring their environment. People would see a new plant or observe an animal’s behavior after consuming the plant, and out of curiosity, they would experiment with it or taste it. This is how some of the drugs we know today came about. Cocaine, opium, LSD, peyote, and marijuana all come from plants that primitive people discovered while tasting the environment around them. This paper will identify the past and current trends in the use and abuse of substances (drugs) in the United States. It will also discuss when it is viewed appropriate to use illicit drugs. Moreover, this paper will analyze the health and social problems in the United States that occur due to drug abuse and addiction. Trends American views on drugs have gone from one extreme to the opposite over a period of about 200 years. In the late 1700s through the 1800s, everyday Americans legally used substances like opium, cocaine, and marijuana for medicinal, spiritual, and recreational uses. At the beginning of the 1900s, the American view on drugs began its dramatic change. As of 1971, America is in an outright “war on drugs”. Past The late 1700s...
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...need to research and figure out what we need to do. How do we prepare others in a high-risk nutrition situation? The healthcare physicians will continue to look forward to discuss the cultures that are identified and the solutions to their various problems. Chinese Heritage The Chinese heritage is a culture that is difficult to determine their health risk factors. One case the writer believes to be a high health risk among the Chinese heritage is smoking in the men and teenagers. Smoking has killed millions of people each year and yet these numbers are still rising. The second high risk factor known to the Chinese culture is drinking alcohol. Alcohol consumption has known to increase in men than women. Chinese women do not smoke, but they do drink especially the ones that immigrated to America. The most alcohol consumed is by the age group of 18 to 19 years old and among older women (Purnell, 2013). Nutrition is a concern for the Chinese people. They believe offering food to their guest day or night, the foods needs to be a well-balanced healthy diet...
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...understanding religion theory Functionalist believe that religion is good for society as they believe it creates value consensus in which is a set of shared norm and values that society cannot live without. Functionalists believe that religion plays an important part in creating and maintain social solidarity and order as well as value consensus. They take on the consensus view. The first functionalist to put forward his view on religion was Durkheim who believed that religion was the origin of human thought, reason and science. Durkheim put forward a view of religion that wasn’t about gods or spirits but about the distinction between the sacred and the profane. The sacred is things that are set apart that inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder. Durkheim said that religion practices rituals in relation to the sacred and these rituals are collective. He argued that because society is the only thing powerful to evoke such feelings, then people were actually worshipping society. Although Durkheim acknowledged different religion worshipped different sacred symbols, all religions perform a function in society in which brings each other into one moral community. Durkheim also did a case study in Australia of the Arunta clan to further his understanding. He talked about the clan having a sacred totem in which they would all come together and worship. Durkheim argued that this reinforced the group’s solidarity and sense of belonging. Once again Durkheim said that for religions to worship...
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...Marx’s on Religion Karl Marx’s thought of religion as destructive in his theory of socialism. He went as far as calling it the opium of the people. He felt that religion exploited people and prevented them from their true destinies. In Marx’s theory he separate people into two social classes the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. That is they are the owners of businesses and the workers. In Marx’s theory he believed the bourgeoisie created religion to oppress the proletariat. He thought that it was created to keep the proletariat docile and accepting to the way things were. Marx’s also contended that region was an enemy to his socialist revolutionary state. This was base on that religion was sedating and misdirecting so being it was taking away from the proletariat rising and moving forward toward the perfect classless society. Now although Marx believed religion, was created by the bourgeoisie I tend not to agree with this theory. Religion was created long before the bourgeoisie. As we know religion has roots to the beginning of time. It is not to use to keep people in line as explained by Marx. People have used religion for various reasons whether it is for an explanations for why things happen, for a spiritual well being or for attaining eternal life. I do not believe it can be used a trickery so to speak to keep people in line. Of coarse I am sure it can be if one tries to manipulate it. I guess you may see this within some cults. But Marx was talking about society...
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