Marx described religion as the ‘opium of the masses’ as it distorts reality and numbs the pain of the proletariats oppression. He identifies some important ways in which religion reaffirms this by creating and promising an eternal life in heaven for those who follow and adhere to the beliefs in religion. By doing this religion justifies and legitimates social order by arguing individuals in higher statuses were given this by god. For example; The kings and queens of medieval Europe were seemingly given divine right to rule as their roles were allocated by God which legitimated their rule. Therefore, this made individuals less likely to challenge rulers as it would be directly challenging God.