Chapter 9, religion Flashcards
Estimate how pervasive religion is in the world.
83.6% of the world’s population maintains some religious belief. Of this group of faithful, 31.4% are Christian, 23.2% are Muslim, 15% are Hindu, 7.1% are Buddhist, 5.9% subscribe to folk religions, 0.8% are listed as other, and 0.2% are Jewish.
Define spirituality.
Spirituality may be considered a belief in supernatural forces used to answer questions of how the universe works, man’s place and purpose, the existence of a higher power and a soul, and the origin of evil and suffering.
Define religion.
Religion can be considered a universal attempt by philosophically or spiritually like-minded people to set out to explain the cosmology of the universe and their concept of a divine power through common conceptions and beliefs.
Forms Religion Can Take
Literal Does not question text) , Antiliteral (rejects text) , Mythological (go into the deeper symbolic meaning like Jordan Peterson Does)
Describe the three orientations related to religious belief.
intrinsic religiosity is a deep, personal religious belief and the individual can best be described as unselfish, altruistic, centered on faith
extrinsic religiosity is called upon when needed as in times of crisis, is not part of the person’s daily life, the individual sees faith and belief as superficial, religion is viewed as a means to an end
quest orientation, a person who is ready to face existential questions and looks for ‘truth,’ views religious doubt as positive, is open to change, and is humanitarian
Define faith and describe its salience in light of the question of why people are religious.
Faith is simply belief in the absence of proof
Mother Archetype
In mythology, it is symbolized by the “earth mother” or Eve in western religion. Also, less personal examples as the church, a nation, forest, or the ocean can be included. Jung suggested that the person who did not have the support of their mother as they grew up may seek comfort in the church, in a life at sea, or identifying with the “motherland.”
Shadow Archetype
The shadow comes from our pre-human, animal past, when our only goal was survival and reproduction. As well, during this time we possessed no self-conscious emotions. It is neither good or bad and is symbolized as a snake, dragon, demon, or a monster.
Anima/Animus Archetype
The anima is the female aspect of males, and the animus is the male aspect of women. Greek mythology has suggested that we spend our lives looking for our other half. When we experience love at first sight it is because we have found the person who fills the missing half.
Child Archetype
The child archetype is represented in mythology, mostly by infants, but also by small creatures. The Christ child is a manifestation of the child archetype.
Animal Archetype
The animal archetype represents the bond humanity shares with the animal kingdom. Snakes, often thought to be particularly wise, are an example of this archetype.
God Archetype
Man’s need to comprehend the universe and to assign a meaning to all that happens is said to be a byproduct of the God archetype. In doing so, we seek to know the purpose and direction behind all actions
Describe how religion could be viewed as deprivation by examining psychoanalysis.
Freud described religion as a childish attempt to feel secure in the world. Religion serves as a balm to our more antisocial desires.
Adler we are motivated by inferiority feelings when we are not capable of dealing with life’s problems. Or maybe a superiority complex in which we overestimate our own importance
Horney viewed it as a response to the anxiety created by the challenge of life and insecurity which she called the basic evils
Clarify how religious belief may be motivated by fear.
An escape from the fear life or its loss imposes upon us. In a way its negative reinforcement, God takes away that anxiety.
Religious people show lower death anxiety
Clarify how religious belief may be motivated by a desire to be more.
Maslow saw the desire to be more through self-actualization needs rising with religious beliefs
Religious creates knowledge about the ultimate unknown
Clarify how religious belief may be motivated by survival.
Unified myths encouraged prosocial behavior which helps improve health and survival
Religion may also be genetic as some people do show a predisposition to religiosity
Contrast research on religion as nature and religion as nurture.
Religious styles can be passed on basically because parents put it on their kids
Basically it is determined by whether or not the child accepts or does not accept the parents teaching
If there is conflict within the parent dynamic or if there is a lack of consistency in the message then the religious message is less likely to be transferred
While it’s a bit complicated a father’s religious beliefs tend to be followed more.
Also children prior to adolescence have very little capacity to question religious beliefs
Define religious conversion and proselyte.
Converting to a new belief and a proselyte is another word for convert
Contrast sudden and gradual conversion.
Its exactly how it sounds
Define deconversion and contrast it with apostasy.
Deconversion is leaving ones faith and apostasy is abandoning faith and becoming non-religious
