Karl Marx On The Relationship Between Religion and Economic Inequality

Religion and economic inequality exist together. Where you find one you find the other in a modern industrial society. The working class needs religion whenever inequality prevails. The wealthy class of people need religion to pacify the working poor.

This symbiotic relationship is so intertwined the working poor will even justify their economic inequality, and do so because of their religion. This keeps them all happy until someone asks if there's a better way.

While Marx was unduly optimistic and while his views were unduly co-opted by Lenin, what he says is important and true. For more, see Austin Cline's entry, Religion as Opium of the People: Karl Marx's View on Religion and Economics.