IS CHRISTIANITY OPIUM OF THE PEOPLE?

Karl Marx is widely known for declaring: '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.'

Marx was a German philosopher, social thinker and secular humanist of the 19th century. He is often associated with the philosophical and political ideologies of Marxism and Communism. 

At the time he made this declaration in the 19th century, his statement came across as relief for the working class—the poor of society—whose only wealth were their offsprings. 

In his day, capitalism was the ruling political ideology and economic system. Capitalism is a political ideology and economic system in which private individuals own and control the means of production for their own interests, usually for profit. This is opposed to communism, a political ideology and economic system in which the means of production are owned by the community and controlled by government in the interest of the community.

Capitalism brought about a system where society was divided into the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie were the wealthy class whilst the proletariat were the poor class. The bourgeoisie were the 'haves' whereas the proletariat were the 'have-nots'.The bourgeoisie were the ruling class, on the other hand, the proletariat were the working class. 

This kind of socioeconomic system was very oppressive at the time as the working class had no power to change their status on the social ladder. They did not own any resources, had no wealth; they only served the wealthy class to survive. 

In fact, the word 'proletariat' originally derives from the Latin word 'proles' meaning offspring. It originally meant a man whose only wealth was his offspring, or whose only contribution to society was as a father.

Seeing the oppression of the working class by the wealthy class, and the hopeless condition of the poor, Marx was influenced to theorize that religion was the reason why the poor seemed to be comfortable in their misery, and were powerless to fight for freedom from oppression. 

To him, religion was like an opiate. The wealthy class gave it to the working class to dull their pain with delusory promises of heaven and so made them passively tolerate injustice instead of actively struggling against it. 

However, a careful look at the New Testament reveals that Marx was not only wrong about religion, but also, blind to the truth about pure religion. 

Undoubtedly, it was genuine compassion for the poor that led Karl Marx to declare that religion is the opium of the people. In so saying, Marx was not merely criticizing false religion, but was actually indicting all religion. 

The Bible agrees with Marx in condemning false religion. It says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (Jas 1:27 NIV)

A truly religious (pious) person deems it an obligation to look after orphans and widows, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide shelter for the homeless and the stranger, visit the sick, the bereaved and the prisoner to provide assistance to them in their distress, giving them hope and confidence in God (Mat 25:35-36). 

So, the basis of pure and approved religion is almsgiving steming from compassion, but not the performing of rites or ceremonies out of fear for a deity. 

New Testament perspective

The New Testament teaches that under no circumstance should a poor believer be comfortable in poverty, but must work hard to be able to take care of himself and his family. 

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1Tim 5:8 KJV).

To use such an offensive word as infidel to describe a believer who does not provide for his own family suggests that one dishonours and even rebels against God if they do not take care of their own families. Doesn't this agree with God's definition of pure religion? 

Further, the New Testament rebukes the wealthy employers in the church who take the working class for granted, denies them payment, or delays their payment. 

"Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty." (Jas 5:4 NIV)

Insofar as the New Testament empowers Christians to stand up against injustice and to promote the well-being of the poor, it means that neither God, the Father, Jesus Christ nor the Holy Spirit sedates the poor and makes them seem to be comfortable in their misery, not being able to rise for justice, and not being able to demand conditions of well-being. 

The Bible—the highest authority for faith and doctrine in Christianity—does not dull the pain of needy Christians with delusory promises of life and peace in heaven. The Scripture says that the Holy Spirit in us gives us life and peace on earth (Rom 8:6). We are therefore encouraged to rise for justice and conditions that will promote our peace and prosperity on earth. 

"Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked." (Psa 82:3-4 KJV)

Competence and confidence

The Bible calls on Christians to add value to themselves (2Pe 1:5-8). Values are things that are essential, important or valuable for changing lives and society. This includes knowledge and attitude. You need to increase in knowledge and attitude so as to be competent and confident to leverage for change, and so as to be respected when you leverage for change.

An employer, a politician, a traditional leader or even a spiritual leader may want to downplay you, brainwash you, oppress you and sedate you with a religious cliché if you are not an influential person. An influential person is neither ignorant nor timid. 

Conclusion

In his attempt to advocate for justice and conditions of well-being for the poor, Karl Marx ended up empowering individuals, organisations and nations for active atheism and secular humanism. 

His philosophy and social thought became the foundation for communism as the political ideology and economic system of several countries including China, North Korea and the former Soviet Union. Today, only five countries—China, North Korea, Laos, Cuba and Vietnam—are officially communist.  

Having been illumined, would you agree that Christianity is opium of the people? 

Jesus Christ came to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless and empower the poor. He stood up against injustice while preaching peace. His messages did not make the poor seem to be comfortable in their misery on earth, having hopes of better life in heaven. 

The New Testament does not sedate the poor, but rather, makes them rise for social justice, peace and prosperity. Thus, Christianity is not opium of the people. 

#Truth Haven