The Psychology of Religion - 1187 Words

In terms of the psychology of religion, many thinkers have commented about the origins of religious belief. Some of these support these religious beliefs, some don’t. However it is first appropriate to establish whether or not they are actually making a valid comment on the subject of religion or not. Georg Hegel (1770–1831) was the initial scholar to step foot into this field. He redefined God by creating a character he often named ‘Spirit’. He attempted to make God sound theistic by giving God a mind. In some passages, this mind was made to resemble the transcendent mind of Christianitys theistic God, although some interpreters recognised that ‘Spirits’ mind was actually nothing but the collective psyche of man. For this reason, and†¦show more content†¦William James pragmatism hypothesis stems from religion’s efficacy. If an individual believes in and performs religious activities, and those actions happen to work, then that practice appears the proper choice for said individual. However, if no, there is no rationality to continue with the action. It is possible that James was influenced but Epicurus â€Å"two sovereign masters†. In terms of critiques of w. James, he does not attempt to prove or disprove that God exiles, so his work is ambiguous and leaves his working assumptions unexplored. Also, his work focused solely on mystical experiences and avoided the kind of public religious experiences Swinburne would later consider. And, is pragmatism a good basis for religion? It ignores the religious teaching of the efficacy of suffering to transform the character of the believer. For religion suffering is not the issue but sin. James never defines what he means by God and this casts doubt on the significance of describing mystical experiences. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was a psychologist who continued this area of study and had, in the opinion of many Scholars I had the most profound impact upon it. He believed that our sense of morality is a result of behaviourist conditioning a growing being. His theory was inspired by works such as Religion of the Semites, The Descent of Man and The Golden Bough. Totem and taboo explains the main componentsShow MoreRelatedPsychology, Religion, And Religion1397 Words   |  6 PagesPsychology and religion are two fields of inquiry that are intimately related despite not initially seeming so. Humans have been engaging in religious thought for as long as we know, and possibly since we were first capable of thought. Likewise, psychology is a deceptively old field; although psychology as so named is a recent invention, philosophers have been asking the same questions the modern field does for centuries. Furthermore, both psychology and religion seek to address similar questionsRead MorePsyc hology and Religion1229 Words   |  5 Pagesthe practices involving psychology and religion in order to uphold the ethics code. There is a sensitivity level that must be exhibited by psychology professionals that practice traditional psychology in order to make clients feel comfortable and secure in the treatment setting. In addition, this essay explains the use of religion in non-traditional psychology and the professional manner according to the ethics code in which using non-traditional approaches involving religion should be used. Read MorePsychology of Religion1837 Words   |  8 PagesI believe that religion and spirituality play a major role in the understanding of human behavior. Religion and spirituality have been apart of human experience throughout the course of history, tapping into almost every aspect of life from cultural beliefs to the arts. Religion and spirituality encompass a world that goes beyond our general understanding of how and why by attaching a higher overall purpose and meaning that extends outside of our lives here on earth. 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In Future of an Illusion, Freud came to a conclusion that one cannot be religious and mature at the same time. Religion stunts a person’s transition of becoming a mature adult. Whereas in Carl Jung’s Psychology and Religion: West and East, he believed that a person can be religious and mature at the simultaneously. Opposing, to Freud’sRead MoreEssay on religion vs. psychology1766 Words   |  8 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Spirituality and psychology are two complex subjects to discuss and they become even more complicated when you try to relate one to the other. Psychology deals with the processes of sense perception, thinking, learning, cognition, emotions and motivations, and personality, focusing on the behavior of individuals. Spirituality, on the other hand, is all inclusive. â€Å"Spirituality is living ones life from the realization that the body/mind/ego personality we have beenRead MorePsychology Of Religion : The Mad, Holy And Demonic2878 Words   |  12 Pages VPR - 2209 Psychology of Religion: The Mad, Holy and Demonic Assessment 1: Essay (3,000 words) Question 4: What is the unconscious and what is its relevance in understanding religious belief or religious experience? Answer with reference to either Jung or Freud, or to both Jung and Freud. It is widely assumed that in the field of psychoanalytic theory there are only two major influential characters when discussing the effect and importance of religion on the unconscious, these characters beingRead MoreHamlet : Jungian Perspectives On Psychology And Religion1558 Words   |  7 Pagesunconscious contains thoughts, memories, and desires that are well below the surface of awareness but that nevertheless have a great influence on behavior. The influence of Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Gustav Jung’s work in analytical psychology has never been more prominent in texts than it is today. â€Å"Introversion and â€Å"extroversion† have become standard words. Most people are aware of the connection between the â€Å"individual psyche† and the â€Å"collective unconscious.† Many of us have secretly