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atheism.about.com...
Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions.
Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right
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In the above quotation Marx is saying that religion’s purpose is to create illusory fantasies for the poor. Economic realities prevent them from finding true happiness in this life, so religion tells them that this is OK because they will find true happiness in the next life. Although this is a criticism of religion, Marx is not without sympathy: people are in distress and religion provides solace, just as people who are physically injured receive relief from opiate-based drugs.
The quote is not, then, as negative as most portray (at least about religion). In some ways, even the slightly extended quote which people might see is a bit dishonest because saying “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature...” deliberately leaves out the additional statement that it is also the “heart of a heartless world.”
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Even worse, this “drug” is administered by the same oppressors who are responsible for the pain and suffering in the first place. Religion is an expression of more fundamental unhappiness and symptom of more fundamental and oppressive economic realities. Hopefully, humans will create a society in which the economic conditions causing so much pain and suffering would be eradicated and, therefore, the need for soothing drugs like religion will cease. Of course, for Marx such a turn of events isn’t to be “hoped for” because human history was leading inevitably towards it.
that was back before Jesus showed me the way.
Originally posted by boymonkey74
reply to post by SisyphusRide
Man I hope you didn't squish a bee dude bees give us fruit to eat.
I called the bee evil... he just wouldn't stop attacking those things.
Oh and Iam not evil fella
it's all good, live and let live... you don't believe in boogymen do ya?
it's just I have had run ins with the OP before, he really needs to study the bible more and try to understand it, he is a born again christian of 2 years and speaks like he is the mouthpiece of God while he has threatened people (with hell) and that is a pet hate of mine because I do not believe in hell it's like the bogeyman.
I only see it as you strengthening those who've found Jesus... The only hate I can direct in any religious practice is in atheism and Islam, because of their actions which need a more prudent attention.
He is everything I don't like about Christianity because he misses the point of it.
Iam not going to stand by and let him get away with it, you may see it as trolling but I see it as just calling him out on what he says in the hope he may realize he is in the wrong.
do you believe God and accept that Jesus was he? if not I'd be careful using any of those words to do thy bidding or out of context.
Like someone posted before
And here's one for you OP. Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
preaching is good... I do it all the time. I can't help it... it's almost like an addiction when something moves you inside you just gotta 'give it away' to others freely!
Preaching is fine as long as it carries a good message to all but his form of preaching preys on the vulnerable.
I just think he needs to grow up a little and realize that he may be wrong about things.
I like your idea that you only try to convert people to heavy metal
I have preached or said NOTHING contrary to Gods Word,
Originally posted by Iason321
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
If you're brokenhearted, on your way to prison (or in prison and somehow reading this), blind or deaf or poor, deliverance is only one prayer away.
Will you be delivered? Or will you wallow in your self pity, pride, arrogance and ignorance?
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Amen & Amen,
Selah!
Originally posted by Iason321
reply to post by autowrench
Be warned,
Autowrench has already been established as a person who holds no belief in God and has "astral projected", has had demonic experiences, subscribes to New Age satanic beliefs, and calls the Lord of the Universe YHWH a "demon", which is blasphemy in the worst way.