Being more a Philosophical person, than heavily practicing 'Religious', I can see much logic
and sense in Marx's view that 'Religion is the opium/opiate of the
masses'. I would tend to think that it is here in the 20th and 21st
century, it is Television and mass media, (incl. the internet), which
has become the 'opiate for the masses in the 20th/21st century'. In
many forms, perhaps it has compensated and taken the place of Religion.
It has subliminal and hypnotic powers so immediate, puissant and
effective, that the information which most of the public carry around
with them, in their conscious and subconscious minds is largely
comprised of little more than what they have 'viewed on the telly' or
'heard on the wireless' earlier that day or week, whatever the content!