Editing Marx's theory of alienation (section)

=== Ludwig Feuerbach ===
[[File:Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach.jpg|thumb|left|125px|Philosopher [[Ludwig Feuerbach]] (1804–1872) analysed religion from a psychological perspective in ''The Essence of Christianity'' (1841) and according to him divinity is humanity's projection of their human nature.]]
The middle-period writings of Ludwig Feuerbach, where he critiques [[Christianity]] and [[philosophy]], are pre-occupied with the problem of alienation.{{sfn|Leopold|2007|pp=205-206}} In these works, Feuerbach argues that an inappropriate separation of individuals from their essential human nature is at the heart of Christianity.{{sfn|Leopold|2007|p=206}} 

Feuerbach believes the alienation of modern individuals consists in their holding false beliefs about God. God is not an objective being, but is instead a projection of man's own essential predicates.{{sfn|Leopold|2007|p=206}} Christian belief entails the sacrifice, the practical denial or repression, of essential human characteristics. Feuerbach characterises his own work as having a therapeutic goal – healing the painful separation at the heart of alienation.{{sfn|Leopold|2007|pp=207-208}}