Which thinker argued that "man makes religion, religion does not make man"?

The statement "man makes religion, religion does not make man" aligns with the views of Karl Marx. Marx's perspective on religion is grounded in his belief that religion is a human creation, which serves as a social function to justify and maintain the existing power structures and socio-economic systems. He argued that religion is often used as a tool to suppress the working class by offering them an illusory comfort in the face of their exploitation and suffering. According to Marx, instead of being a divine or transcendent force that shapes human beings, religion is a product of human society that reflects the conditions and struggles of people's lives.

Marx's analysis emphasizes the material conditions of existence as the basis for social institutions, including religion, suggesting that as societal conditions change, so too will the nature and significance of religion. This perspective shifts the focus from a divine origin of religion to a human-centered analysis, underscoring the idea that human beings invent and shape religious practices to fulfill their needs and respond to their environments.

This is distinct from other thinkers mentioned, such as Freud, who viewed religion primarily as a psychological construct; Tillich, who saw religion as an answer to existential questions; and Lincoln, who focused on moral and ethical implications rather than a structural