Psychology, Religion, And Religion - 1397 Words

Psychology 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 questions. The fields of psychology and religion are more than mere ships that pass in the night; they are unlikely allies in the grand scheme of meaning. Some authors propose that religion is unnecessary. For instance, Sigmund Freud considered religion the refuge of the infantile; he writes in The Future of An Illusion that religion grows from an attempt by early humans to establish a modicum of control over an indifferent and sometimes cruel universe. Humans attribute the random nature of the univer se to machinations of deities or Deity, and then further presume to be able to influence said Deity into doing what is best for humans; at best, the Deity’s goals are in-line with humanity’s goals, and at worst humans presume to be able to coerce the Deity into acting in their interests through prayer. Freud proposes that religion, then, is merely a comforting illusion designed to assuage anxieties and existential dread. He then further extrapolates that, because religion is merely an illusion,Show MoreRelatedThe Psychology of Religion1187 Words   |  5 PagesIn 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 GodRead MorePsychology 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. I do not believe that an adequateRead MoreClass Of Religion And Psychology Essay2317 Words   |  10 Pages Linda Chacko Class of Religion and Psychology Professor Heaney-Hunter Final Research Paper: Religion can be defined as a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance. It contains a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices that allow its followers to live their life a certain way. The world consists of 19 major religions, which are further subdivided into 270 larger groups. According to David Barrett et al, editor of the â€Å"World Christian EncyclopediaRead MoreReligion vs. Psychology1800 Words   |  8 PagesSpirituality 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. Spirituality is living ones life from the realization that the body/mind/ego personality we have been taught to identify with is justRead MorePsychology And Religion : West And East957 Words   |  4 PagesWhile preforming a psychoanalysis of religion and human development, Sigmund Freud questioned whether or not a person could be religious and mature at the same time. 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 MoreReligion and Psychology Essay example729 Words   |  3 PagesCastelli, 1989). Despite the widespread prevalence of religious beliefs in society, some researchers have maintained that religion and religious beliefs are often neglected in psychological research (Jones, 1994; Plante, 1996). This neglect stems from a couple of different factors. First, it is difficult for psychologists to overcome the fact that believers in many religions claim to have unique access to the truth. Secondly, truly theological questions such as the existence of God or the natureRead 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 MorePsychology Of Christianity : Religion And Spiritual Belief2168 Words   |  9 PagesDaniel Faulkner English III AP Mrs. Vicknair 13 April 2017 Psychology of Christianity Religion and spiritual belief have always been a part of human culture since the first people. Whether or not a god or gods created them has influenced their choices of who, or what, to worship. Every human in history has given a spiritual act of worship to some person, object, or higher being. Even atheism and agnosticism involves this worship because people put their trust in celebrities and would treat said