Develop an essay in which you compare and contrast Marx's famous assertion that religion is "the sigh of the oppressed creature,the heart of a heartless world ...the opium of the people" with Durkheim's analysis of religion as the manifestation of shared meanings and renewal of the "collective conscience."

Marx's Assertion

The claim by Karl Marx that economic structures determine societal structures, with the conflict between classes driving social change.

Collective Conscience

A collection of common convictions, thoughts, and ethical viewpoints that act as a cohesive element in a community.

Shared Meanings

The common understandings or interpretations among members of a society or group regarding symbols, language, and behaviors, which facilitate communication and social interaction.