Karl Marx was making a structural functionalism argument about religion, and particularly about organised religion when stating that religion is the opium of the masses. Any addiction should be avoided, particularly when the addict becomes a functioning zombie dependent on rites, laws, and regulations to shepherd them through their life.
The Anglican Canon Charles Kingsley wrote "We have used the Bible as if it were a mere special constable's hand book, an opium dose for keeping beasts of burden patient while they were being overloaded, a mere book to keep the poor in order." Being mere zombies in the care of the so called higher orders will never set us free, to discover the truth of why we are alive.
Thinking for ourselves is the call of The Saviour, that we may discover who we are through our journey of self discovery.
There is no doubt that religion in all its manifestations, including the more recent arrivals such as New Age can have an opiatic
influence on those seeking answers for their apparent failures, their illnesses; the why me, syndrome that begs for explanations calculated to satisfy the seeker after truth. For many others their religion becomes a valuable family asset enabling them to socialise, and befriend those who share their love of their neighbours.
Jesus was asked when the kingdom of God would come. The kingdom of God, Jesus replied, is not something people will be able to see and point to, also saying: “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)
Taking responsibility for own life, and the choices that we make is a growing daily awareness that the blame game stops with us. Our apparent disappointments can never be justified by blaming others, pointing the finger at our parents, school teachers, clergy, politicians, and physicians does not relieve us of our God given birth right to make decisions based upon the advice that gushes forth from within our being.
When looking into every great religious, spiritual, and wisdom tradition we find the same precept — that life’s ultimate truth, its ultimate treasure, lies within us.
There is no need to look outside ourselves to discover The Father's life, alive in our own.
A dependency on external influences blinds us to all that we can freely access, alive within our interior life, waiting for us to accept His invitation to embrace I am, I.
At the scene of the burning bush, Moses asked for the name of the voice speaking with him. The voice replied: I am, who I am.
Step out into the deep knowing that at our side walks our most loving of friends, asking each of us to trust Him, to shepherd us through our life. Take His hand and live the adventure.
“But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin.”
― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
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