Comment on Marxist Religious Theory

In the 1980's and 1990's, the research of religions is made under the principle that the academic research needs rationalism and the religious faith needs understanding. How to explain the words that religions are the people's opium is the kernel question that the academic circle has disputed strongly. The theory that religions are the people's opium has been the basic position and final aim of religious work and research in our country for a long time. It has been summarized as the root of Marxist religious theory. In fact, Marx follows his former scholars' opinion of opium. It is a visual metaphor to describe the negative influence of religious under certain conditions in class societies. And it cannot be regarded as the whole Marxist religious theory. Marxist religious theory is the basis to constitute religious policies, while the policy of religious freedom is a success of Marxist religious theory in practice. The thought of guiding religions to correspond with socialist society positively embodies the practical and realistic spirit sufficiently, and can be rated as a creative development in Marxist religious theory.