It was the reaction to Christianity, since Theravada Buddhist had just forced the Christian rulers out of the area
it was seen as the only alternative to Islam
The actual expression is "Religion is the opiate of the masses" with no mention of any specific group. The saying is is one of the most frequently quoted statements of Karl Marx. The implication is that any religion, if it is used as an escape or an excuse to not deal with what you need to deal with, it is as if you were sleeping or on drugs. Or that religion is used by governments to keep the population quiescent.
Many could become Buddhas
Many could become Buddhas
Some people believe that religion can be a tool for controlling the masses, as it can provide moral guidelines and promote obedience to authority. However, others see religion as a source of comfort, community, and spiritual guidance. The relationship between religion and control is complex and can vary depending on individual beliefs and interpretations.
he was excellent at manipulation of the masses
The phrase "opium of the masses" was coined by Karl Marx to describe religion as a tool used by the ruling class to keep the working class passive and content with their oppressed conditions. It suggests that religion can be used to distract and pacify people, preventing them from seeking social change.
Christian faith as such did not affect the traditional Roman religion much. It continued to be practiced in the traditional ways. What happened was that many people converted to Christianity which became the religion of the masses in the empire. The number of adherents to the Roman religion became greatly reduced. However, there were still plenty of pagans. What affected the Roman religion the most was the adoption of Christianity by the emperors in the Late Empire, rather than the Christian faith as such. Some of these emperors banned paganism and persecuted the pagans.
The church often plays a role in shaping beliefs and values related to family planning, contraception, and reproductive health. It can influence population dynamics by promoting or restricting access to reproductive health services and education. Additionally, some churches may advocate for policies that encourage or discourage population growth based on religious teachings.
Indoctrination of the masses against religion--suppression of religion, providing alternatives to religion, performing functions once dominated by churches..
Karl Marx said that "religion is the opiate of the masses." I don't think that was ever said about tea.ANSWER: A capitalist no doubt.
Adolf Hitler