RS- physcological approach to religion

I made such good notes but i left it at school. aaghhhhh!!!!

who is Feuerbach?

A German philosopher who analyzed religion as a projection of human nature .

what is psychological projection?

A defense mechanism where individuals attribute their own thoughts, feelings, or motives to someone else, often to avoid confronting their own issues.

What was Feuerbach’s theory in relation to God?

Feuerbach's theory suggested that God is not an actual entity, but rather a projection of human qualities and desires, representing the idealized version of humanity's emotions and needs.

What are the two quotes Feuerbach said presenting his theory?

“WHAT MAN NEEDS HE MAKES HIS GOD!, “WHAT MAN WISHES TO BE HE MAKES HIS GOD”

For Feuerbach what is the study of god?

The study of God is the study of human psychological and social life.

what does Feuerbach suggest?

Feuerbach suggests that the more helpless humans feel, the greater the power they attribute to God.

What does concievability imply?

possibility

What is the holy trinity?

For Christians God is the Father, Son and Holy spirit.

what is psychology?

The scientific study of the mind and behaviour.

what is maslow’s heirarchy of needs?

A psychological theory proposed by Abraham Maslow, which outlines a five-tier model of human needs, represented as a pyramid with basic physiological needs at the base and self-actualization at the top.

what is ‘character’?

implies enduring attributes that distinguish a person or make up there identity

Who was William James?

An influential American psychologist and philosopher, known for his work in pragmatism and the psychology of religion.

What does James define religion as?

the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider divine.

what does James describe religious conversion as?

a radical transformation of belief, often leading to deep inner piece

describe the “ healthy minded” soul

sees the world optimistically, experiences religion as a source of happiness and inner piece, often found in religions that emphasise God’s love, positivity, and personal well-being

describe the sick soul- links to Karl Marx’s idea of how the working class approach religion

pessimistic view of life, feeling guilt, sin, or suffering deeply, seeks religion as a salvation from despair, feels tormented by inner conflicts, moral struggles and existential anxiety

what are some examples of healthy soul?

liberal Christians, Mystics, New Thought movements.

what are some examples of sick soul?

Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, Augustine, Tolstoy

Who did James describe as an example of a sick soul?

John Bunyan

Describe Bunyan’s journey of conversion

experienced inner turmoil, struggling with guilt, sin and moral conflict, with the added fear of damnation( for Christians separation from God so Hell) led to existential anxiety, he encountered clarity and grace when he understood that God’s grace was greater than his sin and the faith in Christ’s redemptive work on the cross could bring him salvation so he found solace in faith.

What is a neurosis?

underlying fear that manifests into behaviour reflecting human’s buried fears and anxiety

What are the criticisms of James?

that he was being reductive reducing religious experiences to mere pyschology and Bunyan’s experiences were not a neurosis but a genuine spiritual trial leading into salvation

what does the father represent in Christianity and give a quote from the bible?

creator- “ we are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”

What was Freuds opinion of religion?

that is was a illusion and a neurosis and that “ when a man is freed of religion, he has a better chance to live a normal more wholesome life”

What is infantile helplessness- developed from Feuerbach’s projection?

is when an infant becomes a man and gets introduced to the realities of the world and feels helpless because of his dependence towards his father figure so lacking the assurance and support he needs someone more powerful to mitigate so he turns toward the forces of nature or a deity providing the 3-fold task.

For Freud God’s have the 3-fold task, what is the 3-fold task?

get rid of the terrors of nature, reconsile men to the cruelty of fate( end their fear of death) and compensate them from suffering

What are examples from religions for the 3-fold task?

1) Islam- when reading the Quaran angles come down and offer protection 2) Christianity- baptism 3) Hinduism- the idea of karma

What are the criticisms of Freud’s theory?

Many female goddesses ( for example Inanna) so his patriarchal father/son analogy fails and lack of universal application since not all religious believers have a protective parental figure and many people arrive at faith through personal experiences, cultural tradition etc rather than unconscious childhood anxieties