Religion is not the opiate of the masses...

[ret5hd]

religion is the placebo of the masses. (a line from the tv series "House)

discuss.

[maryf]

1. tv is the opiate of the masses...

it numbs and kills the pain, and kills the sense of true reality...

[ret5hd]

2. actually, tonite...

B&B was the opiate of choice.

[rrneck]

3. I think I'd still

go opiate on that one.

Self delusion is important to mental health. If we saw the world with absolute clarity we'd never get anything done. Religion basically offers hope. A little hope provides incentive when no evidence is present. Too much hope can become a drug.

I read of a study years ago (before the internet) that those who were more religious had a generally sunny outlook on life. They tended to be happier, even when there wasn't any real reason to be happy. That makes it a drug to my mind. A placebo makes you think it is doing something when it has no chemical effect on your body, while religion can probably cause all sorts and kinds of chemical reactions in your brain relating to endorphin release etc.

[ZombieHorde]

4. Food may be the opiate of American masses. Mmmmm, m&ms. nt

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Pro sports are the opiate of the masses

People who can't be bothered to protest real injustices will riot because their team lost.

A case could be made for the entertainment industry in general, though. Thanks to the mass media, people who don't know who their Congresscritter is have strong opinions about Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol.

[raccoon]

11. Good point.

"People who can't be bothered to protest real injustices will riot because their team lost."

One thing that annoys the piss out of me about people. :shrug:

[hendo]

14. Actually

the riots usually happen when a team wins. At least here in American that's what happens.

[SarahJohn]

6. Opiates

are external and placebos are internal forces. I think faith is internal, so I see a parallel.

[Taverner]

7. Opiates have always been the opiates of the masses

Religion just shares a lot in common with it

But yeah, give someone old time religion and some raw opium and I guarantee they'll be happier with the Opium

[vixengrl]

8. Hmm--opiates at least alleviate pain. Placebos create a

psychological benefit. For a while. But neither is an actual "fix".

I think it might be a more accurate statement because religion doesn't always make you feel better (or at least, feel nothing) the way opiates do--in fact, it can make you feel guilty, or sinful, or humbled at times. But if you perceive even a minor uptick in your personal condition after contact with religion, it's easy enough to attribute it to the religion, even if supernatural influence had nothing to do with it. (Examples--people who "get religion" go to church and participate in a community, and are able to articulate their concerns with other people and also immerse themselves in something that has nothing to do with their problem. This changes their perception of things, and enables them to realize things aren't as bad as they felt it was when they were alone. The people in the church provided the change--God gets the credit. They could also receive a general moral counseling that makes them cut back on some ancilliary issue, like drinking, or gambling, or other "sin" that is getting in the way of living a better life. The net benefit comes from a positive change in behaviors, but God gets the credit.)

But just like a placebo doesn't really do anything, and there is really no need to take it, let alone religiously take it--the merits of religion are limited. A cure that doesn't work can't fix a real problem--can't pray measles away from babies, or make a person whole who has experienced a grave trauma like abuse, rape, war. It offers comfort, but it falls short.

This is where science and reason need to step in.

[ret5hd]

9. It takes 2 solid weeks of prayer to rid a baby of measles.

[vixengrl]

10. One way or the other--and five to ten days of prayer to even

shut down the common cold. A day of prayer will suffice for the 24-hour flu.

[Taitertots]

12. Religion is the Shamwow guy of the masses

Made in Jerusalem
Accept no imitators
Only a small monthly payment

[anonymous171]

13. Ironic, since the media is now the opiate of the masses. nt