"Religion is the opiate of the masses."
This is such a famous statement that it hardly needs accrediting. In truth, I've always been intrigued with the notion; seduced, in spite of myself, by the powerful juxtaposition of religion and narcotics in the same sentence. Talk about distilling quite a lot into less than 10 words - whoosh!
In their most pure states, opiates are derived from plants. Nature, known for Its fine appreciation of irony, is surely chuckling somewhere while going on Its merry way. Of course, a little human tinkering is required to turn an innocent poppy into a narcotic, but I honestly can't see the difference between the ancient and equally human arts of brewing beer, making wine, or pressing olives for oil, and the process of extracting opium from poppies. Early man obviously needed a little help from his friends, and I certainly can never fault that. [And yes, you can get the recipes from our very good friends at Google - thanks guys!]
The psychological effects of opiates are, among others, a feeling of euphoria and a release from pain.
Religion offers its followers a similar psychological pay-off; ecstatic feelings of well-being and safety, and a temporary release from pain and suffering. It provides answers to questions we teeny humans seem compelled to ask of an indifferent universe.
Nature might be pouting slightly now, to anthropomorize for a moment, perhaps unable to comprehend why we can't seem to accept our ultimate dinkyness.
Religion also promises that this "opium dream" may be made more or less permanent even after death.
So here's the payoff, and what a payoff it is! This country has evolved into a nation fascinated with lotteries bloated beyond recognition and devoted to casinos of every type, on-line and virtual.
Consider the religious gamble: eternal life at the right hand of the Almighty or unrelenting, painful, and extremely hot Hell? Since no one has successfully returned from the other side to provide a definitive answer to the question of what really happens, perhaps it's merely a situation of hedging a bet.
Is it any wonder, then, that in this country of frantically self-medicating consumers bent on getting something for nothing ["all you need is a dollar and dream" - ack, such mindless twaddle], religion has made a comeback of such huge porportion?
Again, if one ponders the other silver crossing the palm, is it any surprise that crystal meth has gained such enormous popularity?
Seems as if we can't have one without the other - hey waiter, I'll have a Marijuana Cocktail, an appetizer of Jesus to start, some Old Testament Salad, followed by an entree of Hash with a side of Fresh Hell.
posted by Miliana at 7:45 PM
3 Comments:
I'm not following the argument that links religion/opium to gambling. Do you suggest that it offers the same transcendent meanings (answers to those problems of human significance) or release from pain? That one ritualizes it the way one ritualizes religion?
Nonetheless, you obviously recognize the imperative to reject anything that devalues the life we know in favor of a medicated high, a life hereafter, or a bright future at the end of history. "This life is your eternal life"/ Nietzsche.
Well Tom, the argument that links the two together probably only exists in my own mind.
I did want to suggest that as many people find transcedent meanings in religion as do in drug use, which makes both ultimately a gamble.
Well, just chock this one up to another half-baked [pun intended] idea.
This is a response to Tom's comment about the link between religion and gambling as well as to Miliana's non-support of her statement.
Although I rarely link religion with opiates, the connection is quite good. As to the gambling, what bigger real gamble could anyone make than to wager everything they are or could be as distinct, self-actualized humans in the here an now to a 'dream' of a life after death? Perhaps there is something in the great beyond, and perhaps there is nothing, perhaps that nothing is a void in which we retain awareness (hell?) and perhaps Bryson is correct that we are all only fickle atoms that disband at some point to rebond later into something else. No one has any solid proof of any of it - ergo to succumb to pure blind faith is a major gamble.
Humans seem to be at their mediocre best when they are trying to console their superstitions and fear through avoidance thinking, and how better to avoid and to relinquish responsibility for everything through opiates and or taking the 'big risk?'
Personally, I equate religious fervor with sado-masochism but that is a statement for an entire polemic of it's own.
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