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The full quote from Karl Marx translates as: "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". {Wikipedia}
Some people can cope with opiates in small quantities and receive benefit from them. Others become addicted and lose all capacity to behave rationally.
@sonship saidAre you claiming it's Facebook that has so distorted your intellect - in so far as it governs your sense of discursive integrity and your lamentable interpersonal skills? I'd say, as a long term observer, that it's your religious zealotry and your often toxic online 'Christian' persona ~ and, in your case, not Facebook. Have I got it wrong?
Are you sure its not Facebook that is the opiate of the masses ?
@kewpie saidNo argument from me.
The full quote from Karl Marx translates as: "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". {Wikipedia}
Some people can cope with opiates in small quantities and receive benefit from them. Others become addicted and lose all capacity to behave rationally.
@kewpie saidThis is religious-opium injected directly into a vein in a person's human spirit:
Some people can cope with opiates in small quantities and receive benefit from them. Others become addicted and lose all capacity to behave rationally.
If God was fair we would all be destined for torture for eternity in Hell because all of us have sinned. So, I'm glad God isn't fair.
@sonship saidFacebook often promises togetherness and acceptance, and yet fails to deliver on both, creating a fake reality that instills feelings of unworthiness and despair.
@Kewpie
Are you sure its not Facebook that is the opiate of the masses ?
I can see why you would draw a Freudian parallel between social media and religion.
@ghost-of-a-duke saidA better parallel would be between social media and fake religion, i.e. the hypocrite's "religion".
Facebook often promises togetherness and acceptance, and yet fails to deliver on both, creating a fake reality that instills feelings of unworthiness and despair.
I can see why you would draw a Freudian parallel between social media and religion.
Real religion does not at all inspire feelings of "unworthiness and despair". Real religion is indeed the anchor of the oppressed and a heart and soul for those beaten down by a heartless, soulless world.
@suzianne saidLet's hope "those beaten down by a heartless, soulless world" or who are afflicted by "feelings of unworthiness and despair" can drag themselves up and out of that state of mind ~ and find some positivity and optimism in some way ~ never mind whether it's by way of religion or not. If it's through religion, all well and good.
Real religion does not at all inspire feelings of "unworthiness and despair". Real religion is indeed the anchor of the oppressed and a heart and soul for those beaten down by a heartless, soulless world.
@suzianne saidIs Catholicism a real religion, and if 'yes' do you not think it instills feelings of unworthiness (guilt) and despair?
A better parallel would be between social media and fake religion, i.e. the hypocrite's "religion".
Real religion does not at all inspire feelings of "unworthiness and despair". Real religion is indeed the anchor of the oppressed and a heart and soul for those beaten down by a heartless, soulless world.
@kewpie saidReligion shouldn't be used to control other people. That's the line I draw.
The full quote from Karl Marx translates as: "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". {Wikipedia}
Some people can cope with opiates in small quantities and receive benefit from them. Others become addicted and lose all capacity to behave rationally.
@bigdoggproblem saidAgreed. But unfortunately that's what it does. True faith isn't well served by organisations - i.e. groups of people - which exist to control other people and shut out any alternatives. Proselytising is controlling.
Religion shouldn't be used to control other people. That's the line I draw.
@ghost-of-a-duke saidA large percentage of Christians over the world are Catholic. While I do not agree with a lot of their dogma, I will not begrudge religion to the Catholics of the world, many of whom ARE oppressed and ARE beaten down, mainly by governments seeking to control them. You'd have to ask them, but if their religion were as bad as the governments who oppress them, I imagine they would "seek a better way". Oppressed peoples need hope, not yet another system of control, and I'm sure they realize that.
Is Catholicism a real religion, and if 'yes' do you not think it instills feelings of unworthiness (guilt) and despair?
TL;DR: No, I do not think that Catholicism instills feelings of unworthiness and despair among its adherents.
@kewpie saidPerhaps at the highest levels, where the corruption is usually more complete. People just going to church on Sunday are just worshipping their God. Control isn't their objective. I have nothing against cynicism, believe me, but it's simply not always true.
Agreed. But unfortunately that's what it does. True faith isn't well served by organisations - i.e. groups of people - which exist to control other people and shut out any alternatives. Proselytising is controlling.
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@Suzianne
I've never had a problem with adherence or adherents to any religion, my problems are entirely with the corrupt and self-serving organisers who see numbers of followers as power that they've achieved. Like people who think that 4500 facebook friends means 4500 people available to be controlled and exploited. Like the CEO of a huge homeless orphans charity living the high life off his $200million salary package.
@bigdoggproblem saidWhen religion is used by people to control others, it ceases to be religion and becomes just another method of control.
Religion shouldn't be used to control other people. That's the line I draw.
It's all in how you use it. It can be a lifepath, a life preserver, or it can be used in evil ways to control those who are serious about it. People are opportunists, this is why we should be wary. But there are also many people so afraid of being conned that they give too much credence to conspiracy theories. People should be free to find and follow their own truths.