The latter must, therefore, itself be both understood in its contradiction and revolutionised in practice. Thus, for instance, once the earthly family is discovered to be the secret of the holy family, the former must then itself be destroyed in theory and in practice. 6 Feuerbach resolves the essence of religion into the essence of man . But the essence of man is no abstraction inherent in each single individual. In its reality it is the ensemble of the social relations.
All social life is essentially practical .
All mysteries which lead theory to mysticism find their rational solution in human practice and in the comprehension of this practice. The highest point reached by contemplative materialism, that is, materialism which does not comprehend sensuousness as practical activity, is the contemplation of single individuals and of civil society.