Vladimir Lenin

Speaking of religion in Novaya Zhizn in 1905, alluded to Marx's earlier comments:

“Those who toil and live in want all their lives are taught by religion to be submissive and patient while here on earth, and to take comfort in the hope of a heavenly reward. But those who live by the labour of others are taught by religion to practise charity while on earth, thus offering them a very cheap way of justifying their entire existence as exploiters and selling them at a moderate price tickets to well-being in heaven. Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man."

Let's break down the main points in the passage:

• Submission and Patience: The passage suggests that religion teaches those who face hardships and poverty to be submissive and patient in their earthly lives, promising them a reward in the afterlife. This could be interpreted as a criticism of religion for promoting acceptance of social inequalities.

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• Charity for the Exploiters: On the other hand, the passage implies that religion encourages those who benefit from the labor of others to practice charity, providing them with a way to justify their exploitation. This can be seen as a critique of religion for potentially legitimizing and perpetuating social and economic hierarchies.

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• Opium for the People: The phrase "Religion is opium for the people" is a famous metaphor used by Karl Marx, suggesting that religion serves as a form of ideological comfort or escapism, distracting individuals from the harsh realities of their social and economic conditions.

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• Spiritual Booze: The comparison of religion to "spiritual booze" implies that it numbs or intoxicates individuals, allowing them to escape from the awareness of their true conditions and desires for a more dignified life.

Painting by Mark Spain

Translated from Russian

Illustration by Laurent Guidali

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