Learn to embrace religion because it is real

Karl Marx’s statement that religion is the opium of the masses naturally found resistance.

To understand what he meant, we first need to understand that opium is an addictive narcotic drug.

It is in the same class as those given to patients in extreme pain.

Such drugs do not cure cancer or whichever ailment caused the pain but only bring welcome, necessary relief to a patient.

Those who use narcotic drugs like cocaine for pleasure find themselves in their own world of illusions but quickly discover the negative side of living in such a world.

And this is exactly what Karl Marx equated to religion.

It would appear Marx was saying religion does not exist as people think it does.

People believe there is a real God whom they worship and adore.

They believe God is watching from above, and try their best to do only those things that please Him, failure to which these things are classified as sin, after which repentance and forgiveness must follow to re-establish connection.

In Marx’s world, capitalism ruled the day and the ruling elite oppressed the poor who were the majority.

He therefore thought people turned to religion to live under illusions that economic realities prevent them from finding true happiness. Thus, religion tells them that this is fine because they will find true happiness in the next life.

People are in distress and religion provides solace, just as those physically injured receive relief from opiate-based drugs.

For Marx, the problem lies in the obvious fact that an opiate drug fails to fix a physical injury — it merely helps you forget pain and suffering. Similarly, religion does not fix the underlying causes of people’s pain and suffering. Instead, it helps them forget why they are suffering and gets them to look forward to an imaginary future when the pain will be no more.

Even worse, this drug is administered by the same oppressors responsible for the pain and suffering in the first place.

What we are seeing decades after Marx’s famous statement totally disproves him. We have senior people in government who have embraced religion and are trying to adhere to its tenets. Middle income people are also not left behind.

We need to understand that knowing God is about having a relationship with Him. The acknowledgement that He is sovereign and before Him there is none — that He created the universe including us so the least we can do is praise and worship Him for who He is and what He has done.

We exist by His grace, and His grace alone and our happiness is not in the money the world has to offer but in Him who made the heavens and the earth.

Please do not imagine that your pastor or sheikh has been smoking opium. No, religion is real. Embrace it.