For most people life is about how to survive – admittedly in as much comfort as they can afford. Despite two world wars, and innumerable other social disasters, the dazzling achievements of science and technology allowed us the dream of endless material growth. It is contended that one of the most important factors in resigning people to their lot is religious ideology, in effect, one 'manifestation' of the paranormal. Marx was ambivalent about religion. For Marx, therefore, religion was an active force in society, contra, say, the neo-Marxist, C. Wright Mills, who insisted that it was merely reactive in relation to the other facets of the social complex. One senses that parapsychologists actually find it difficult to believe in the paranormal they are studying. It seems a little curious to the outside observer that the professionals are a little like clergymen who spend much of their time in prayer, but can hardly believe it when it appears to work.