As most people know communism has been commonly connected with atheism and most assume its because the ideology is based on atheist beliefs. No Communism is based on scientific viewing of society and the history that surrounds its evolution and in no way deals with religion. No political ideology no matter how sound has a right do delve into religion and tell others what to worship or what not to fo if you violate these basic human rights you will not long have a platform to stand on. Many a casual student of various political ideologies will begin the argument with Marx's famous quote, "Religion is the opiate of the masses." Of course this is brilliant because first they forget to mention the situation he is talking about because he explains himself and second they forget to mention what the use of opiates was during the time of Marx.
First off the quote itself when taken out of context makes it look like Marx is against religion period. Thats wrong what he is discussing is that the problems of State-run religions that interefere in politics. He is condemning these state-run religions for their blatant attack on people and their manipulation over those with it having nothing to do with their ideology. His basic problems would be with religions like the Roman Catholic Church, Angelican Church, Russian Orthodox Church, etc. just to name a few. These said churches purposefully subverted and squashed other religions even getting enough support to outlaw other religions and even have members of other religions murdered and arrested for their beliefs! Now why wouldn't Marx throw his support against these horrible attrocities? I hope it is obvious. These religions that are state-run or that run the state are dangerous and regressive to people for preventing their rights to choose.
Now to the second part opiates today in society are used to escape reality and therefore people use that meaning, incorrectly, towards Marx's quote. In the time of Marx it was a used as a painkiller. Though now we know that it is not used for that doesn't mean you can suddenly change the meaning of quotes just because a certain perameter of it changed. What did Marx mean by that though? Its not that he had a problem with religion he admits that but its because he finds the average religious man focused less on fixing things on this earth and helping his fellow man and just focusing on himself and looking out for number one for the sake of getting his eternal reward. Of course Marx found this disgusting as should any true member of any faith. Religions are about helping others and making the world a better place not about ignoring the suffering of your fellow man in hopes that God will reward you because you didn't do anything good but you also didn't do anything bad either. Any religion that says you should sit on hands are only appeasing the laziness, selfishness and greed of man.
Marx was not against religion even though he was an atheist but he was against apathy to the situation of your fellow man. Apathy is no better then promoting and condoning the exploitation of your fellow humans and serves only those the corporate slave-masters. We all need to be pro-active and make sure our civil liberties are not taken away by the government, corporations and the members of the Ruling Class. Communism like Christianity is an ideal based on equality and the bettering of the situation for mankind the world over.