Marx and religion
Marx famously described religion as 'opium of the people' — it provides false comfort and acceptance of exploitation, making people less likely to challenge capitalist inequality.
Real World
19th-century mill owners in Manchester encouraged church attendance among workers, teaching patience and deference — a real-world illustration of Marx's claim that religion legitimised capitalist exploitation.
Exam Focus
Avoid paraphrasing 'opium of the people' without unpacking it; explain the analogy (dulls pain, prevents cure) to demonstrate analytical depth.
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