<P> We have used the Bible as if it were a mere special constable's hand book, an opium dose for keeping beasts of burden patient while they were being overloaded, a mere book to keep the poor in order . </P> <P> Miguel de Unamuno, the famed Spanish author of the Generation of' 98, focused his Nivola San Manuel Bueno, mártir around the theme of religion's opiatic affect on the people of rural Spain . In the book, the protagonist Don Manuel, is a priest who does not believe in God, but continues preaching because he sees the positive impact he can make in the lives of his parishioners . Religion in this way also serves to cure his own deep depression, through the happiness he feels from helping the people of Valverde de Lucerna . Unamuno makes direct reference to Marx when Don Manuel explains: </P> <P> Yes, I know that one of the leaders of what they call the social revolution has said that religion is the opium of the people . Opium...opium, yes! Let's give them opium, and let them sleep and dream . And with this crazy activity of mine, I have also been using opium . </P> <P> Vladimir Lenin, speaking of religion in Novaya Zhizn in 1905, alluded to Marx's earlier comments (emphasis added): </P>

Religion is the opiate of the masses quote