Karl Marx (on religion)

Karl Marx viewed religion as a reflection of social and economic inequalities, calling it the "opium of the people." He believed religion comforted oppressed masses by offering hope and distraction from their suffering, while ultimately justifying and perpetuating unequal power structures. According to Marx, religion served to maintain the status quo by encouraging people to accept their hardships as divine or predestined, rather than challenging the roots of injustice. He saw religious beliefs as intertwined with economic systems, arguing that true liberation comes from addressing material inequality rather than relying on spiritual promises.