Politics is the Opiate of the Masses

Karl Marx is famous for having said "Religion is the opium of the masses." This statement very well may be true. Many people do use some form of religion to sedate their fears, guilt and perceived meaninglessness. But whether or not that is the case, Marx's comment is supremely ironic. The reason it is ironic is because of what he was hoping to supplant religion with: politics.

Like many other 19th century philosophers, Marx was swept headlong into the tide of humanistic statism. He and others believed that they could order and arrange society in such a way that would bring about a godless utopia. The difference between these philosophers and those before them is the means by which they sought to bring about this utopia: government force and political malice.

The invention of the modern nation-state has indeed replaced religion but it has not eradicated the widespread use of "opium." Rather, the modern nation-state has become the new opium of the masses. Instead of religion being the mechanism behind cultural rituals like scapegoating, fear mongering, plunder and war it is now the state which performs such rituals. The masses have been sedated through the means of state education, the 24 hour news cycle and voting cycles to believe that they actually play a role in this game.

Politics is a drug and a lot of people are addicted to it. That is why so many people begin showing signs of withdraw at the mere mention of doing away with politics/government. They've become so inculcated into a world dominated by the central planning committee (the government) that they are unable to believe that life could go on without it.

The truth is that every kingdom of man will fall before the Kingdom of God. Yet the way the Kingdom of God prevails is through suffering servitude. When the kingdoms of men pick up the sword against the Lord's anointed we are not to draw our swords like Peter did in the garden (John 18:10). Instead we are to turn the other cheek. We are not to pick up arms but to lay down our lives. This action is foolishness to the kingdoms of man but it is the wisdom of God. Through this wisdom the kingdoms of man are toppled. Through this wisdom the glory of God is displayed and spread throughout the world.

Food for thought.