The Opiate of the Masses . . . ?

Karl Marx once said, in effect, that Religion is the opiate of the masses.  To be exact, this is the English translation of the quote according to Wikipedia:

"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."

I was thinking about this recently because I had an experience which brought this quote to mind, and about how off target this is - at least in our time.

Religion, or Faith?

He was wrong primarily in mistaking religion for faith.  It is tempting to give Marx the benefit of the doubt and assume that he understood the difference, but I don't believe that someone who has never experienced genuine faith in something greater than oneself can really know what it is.  Faith is not a drug to dull our senses and numb our emotions - it is a genuine devotion.

He further believed that he could substitute devotion to the collective - or more specifically the government institution - for a genuine faith.

Why is he wrong?  Because Opium induces a delirious high - perhaps helping the addict to release cares due to the drug.  True faith, however, yields hope - or, in the words of the Apostle Paul:

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 
Galatians 5:21-24 (in Context) Galatians 5 (Whole Chapter)

If you compare this list to what Opium use produces, the comparison becomes laughable:

• Lying or other deceptive behavior
• Sudden worsening of performance in school or work, including expulsion or loss of jobs
• Loss of motivation and apathy toward future goals
• Withdrawal from friends and family, instead spending time with new friends with no natural tie
• Repeatedly stealing or borrowing money from loved ones, or unexplained absence of valuables
• Hostile behaviors toward loved ones, including blaming them for withdrawal or broken commitments
• Regular comments indicating a decline in self esteem or worsening body image

The true Opiate of our Times

So, if religion is not the opiate of our times, then what is?  I mentioned earlier that an experience I had brought this to mind.  I was feeling a little down at work (combination of stress and disillusionment with lack of ability to finish projects), and I put on some music - specifically Schubert's Winterreise.  I immediately felt an emotional ambivalence - the very effect I had hoped for.  I realized then how we use music in so many different ways in our world - from entertainment to mood alteration and even behavior modification.  Looking at it objectively, there are very few times in our lives when there is complete silence.  Music in the car, in the elevator, when we are on hold on the phone, in movies, blaring at sporting events in between any pause in action, etc.  In fact, situations which lack music seem lackluster and boring.  Clearly this pales in comparison to opium use, but that was Marx's choice, not mine, and I believe it is a more appropriate comparison than religion since the goal of music is similar, even if the results are dissimilar.

Our cultural infatuation with Music-like sounds (Most of the time not musical at all) was demonstrated to me when I went to an OU / Texas game at the Cotton Bowl.  Music was blaring the entire time there wasn't action directly in front of us - and it was horrible.  An acoustic assault on our senses.  Just because I love football, does that automatically mean I like AC/DC??!?!?  I am not sure the intention was even to entertain musically, but rather to incite an intensity and rush that is expected of a big-time football game.  It also aids some drunken fans in getting up for the stupid fights that sometimes occur afterwards.

The worst part is that I have spent a significant portion of my life as a musician, and music lover, which means in affect that I am both a dealer and a user.

Hi.  My name is Brad - I am an addict.