hello,
this is a great post to be able to make, in one sense, because it shows how my main interests and the focus of my degree have come together in a beautifully satisfying blend. It is also difficult, because it is indicative of the challenge I face on a regular basis to reconcile a belief in G-d with my increasing intellectual awareness. I have grown up believing in G-d and still imagine it is somehow possible. I can't see it very well right now, but my friends refuse to let me give up my hope and dream. they're great. thanks guys! oh yes, I almost forgot about the point of this post - a Marx quote:-
'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.'
It is also here that Marx famously refers to religion as 'the opium of the people'.
(Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right, 1884, 244)
Unfortunately I really don't have the energy or inspiration to really respond to this tonight. I thought i would put it up purely as a taster of where I am at right now.
All thoughts, discussions and insights welcome.
sleep tight.
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2 comments:
I argee with Marx (to an extent) on this point, religion is the opium of the masses.
However, with fundamentalist Islam & Christianity on the increase it seems that religion may be both "opium" and "ecstasy". This "ecstasy" does seem dependant, however, upon its conection with a far-right political ideology.
For me its an issue about whether or not religion is purely social construct or not. is G-d real? I find marx's account persuasive but it has obviously suffered a severe blow with the demise of modern day communism.
can marx really free us of the malady, as he saw, experienced in capitalism? would we really discover we had a no pain and therefore no need for belief in the divine? dunno, but i'm challenged to go off and discover how much of what i deem 'true religion' is in fact a bandaid for my psyche.
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