Metaphysics of the Masses
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Philosopher Schopenhauer
called religion the metaphysics of the masses. Schopenhauer did not believe in
God. He did not set much store by science either. Art is a better way to
understand truth, according to him.
Religion, science, art
and philosophy are all ways to understand reality and communicate that
understanding to others for their benefit. Science understands reality in a
very rigid system which is of not much interest to the average man. It makes no
difference to the ordinary man whether there are 8 electrons in an oxygen atom
or how hydrogen and oxygen can combine to form water. The waters in the rivers
of Babylon which set the psalmist crying nostalgically for their lost Zion
continue to interest the ordinary man though centuries have passed since the Captivity which created the biblical poem.
Philosophy is the ideal
way to understand life and reality. But how many people are capable of thinking
philosophically. Very few. A few more will care to understand the thoughts of
philosophers. What about the others, the vast majority? They also have a vital
need to understand the reality around them, create order out of its terrible
chaos, and make life bearable if not delightful. Religion does that job quite
eminently for them. “Religion is the metaphysics of the masses; by all means
let them keep it,” declared the atheist-philosopher magnanimously.
I am not a believer. But
I stopped questioning the validity of religions long ago for the same reason as
Schopenhauer suggested. Let people have their own consolations, or “opium of
the masses” as Karl Marx called it, or “comforting delusions” as many
psychologists viewed religion.
The problem is when
religion ceases to be a way to understand reality and to navigate its “valleys
of tears” [a phrase from a Christian prayer]. Very often religion has been misused
to control people politically or organisationally. Religion becomes a monster
when that happens. We may recall the burning of heretics and witch hunts,
terrorist attacks and violence triggered by bigotry, blatant mendacity and
exploitation of the gullible.
When we are non-believers (or like me, believers in spirituality but not in religion), we can say that let the masses keep on their beliefs. But lately, for me the toughest thing is to continue to read about the tragedies caused by those mass beliefs - people are so gullible and so easy to manipulate!
ReplyDeleteI like that idea of spirituality without religion. I use literature for a similar end and it helps.
DeleteThe gullibility of the average person is the fodder for the religious manipulators. I wonder whether there is a viable solution for that.
If religion is the opium for the masses, so is Marxism. Unlike religion, people are not getting enough high on Marx that is why its stock is dwindling, I guess. Problem with an atheist is he believes this is the only dimension to look at nothing beyond. But science continuously proving that what we see is only a part of the whole. Religion provides a way to get a glimpse of that, Marxism or atheism does not.
ReplyDeleteMarx never took religion seriously because he was interested in human welfare here on earth. Selfish capitalist system naturally overtook Marx's humanist philanthropy. Religion was always on the side of capitalism; the upper castes and classes reigned supreme making rules and rubrics for suppressing others. That system continues today too.
DeleteWhether its religion or science...monsters are always there, i mean those people who make misuse of the inventions or the beliefs.
ReplyDeleteTheir number is increasing 😣
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