The quote means something like this: "Religion is used as a way to escape the crushing reality of the world and dull the meaninglessness of being a common person"

Imagine if you broke your leg. You'd very much welcome some opium (or painkillers in a modern setting) but we all know the solution is to go to the hospital and get it fixed. Marx is warning against mistaking the lack of pain for healing.

Religion is a way to soothe the pain of capitalism/feudalism but it would be better for that pain not to exist.

[–] zifnab25@hexbear.net 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

One could argue - from a liberation theology perspective - that you can have (and perhaps even need) both.

Hard to do a revolution with a broken leg. You need something to soothe the pain if you want to get back into the fight.

[–] GhostSpider@hexbear.net 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But opium won't fix your leg, you will be a one-legged person in a war.

[–] zifnab25@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago

No. But it'll keep you from thrashing in pain while they set the splint.

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