I vote for religion, just because everyone has had access to it since the dawn of mankind, and TV has only been around for less than a hundred years.

Without a doubt religion.

Opium.

For that "less than a hundred years" it's definately been television (just look at your kids, people!). Some philosopher said that, I'm thinking Hobbes... or was it Calvin?

For the time it has been around television has ruled.

Television...it's so easy to tune into.

television. but i think the internet is gonna become worse than the tv soon.

MistaSkier, you took my line!

I think Manson said it best: "God is in the TV"

Television--believe me, I would know.

religion for sure - it's been around a lot longer to do it's thing than tv. tv's comin' up strong tho

religion by faaaaaaar

Religion was the original, Television is the 2nd in line.

religion definitely.

is there even a need for this question?

TV. In industrial nations, no one cares about religion anywhere near as much, and we're better off because of it.

religion all the way. It's a lot more widespread than television

Now your comments make perfect sense to me, xtra.

"In industrial nations, no one cares about religion anywhere near as much, and we're better off because of it."

Care to back that up with stats, or is it just your opinion? First, I care a great deal more about my faith than the TV. I'm hardly the only one. I've plenty of friends that are regular attenders at church and don't have a TV plugged in at their house. So you are wrong about *no one*.

Are we better off? I so doubt that conclusion. Christ: Love your neighbor as yourself.
TV: He who dies with the most toys wins.

Religion isn't an opiate, most are antagonizing and exacerbating organizations that seek to divide rather than unite. I'm not saying that TV is the great savior of the last century (crap, just look at reality tv). But in the larger scheme of things, television encourages tapioca brains while religion encourages crusades and burning crosses-- hardly an opiate.

Religion

I have to congratulate you on a truly deep question !

Tv is the biggest opiate to the masses, even though it doesn't provide answers to existential questions. Instead, it makes people entertained, fast asleep and happy consumers, and it reaches everybody ! Religion used to be number one, before television came.