Key words challenges to religious belief

Psyche

The mental or psychological structure of a person.

Psychoanalysis

A method of studying the mind and treating mental and emotional disorders.

Ego

The part of the psyche that is residing largely in the conscious and is reality oriented.

Id

The part of the psyche that resides in the unconscious and relates to basic needs and desires.

Superego

The ‘moral part’ of a person’s personality, including the conscious and ‘ideal-ego’.

Collective unconscious

Elements of unconsciousness that are shared with all other people.

Personal unconscious

Memories that have been forgotten or repressed.

Archetypes

Literally meaning ‘original pattern’, referring to symbolic forms which people share in their collective unconsciousness.

Sophists

Greek teachers and writers from the 5th century, who were skilled in reasoning.

Renaissance

Period of European history between the 14th and 16th century, seeing a revival of literature and learning.

Reformation

Religious movement in 16th century Europe, leading to the creation and rise of Protestantism.

Age of Enlightenment

An intellectual and philosophical movement in 18th century Europe.

Agnostic

A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.

New Atheism

Coined by Gary Wolf in 2006, describing the positions promoted by some atheists of the 21st century.

Obsessional Neurosis

Sometimes called compulsive neurosis, involving uncontrollable obsessions which create daily rituals.