Secularism Flashcards
Freud on religion and wish-fulfilment
Freud put forward a different explanation to religion than theology, ethics and philosophy. His alternate accounts came from theories developed on how the human mind works, as a result Freud deemed religion as a lie. Freud believed that religion is a delusion that exists to protect us from nature and fate. He refers to this as ‘wis-fulfilment’. This is the experience of vulnerability and helplessness that humans experience as children. Religion also represses human desires, particularly desires destructive to society eg sexual violence, theft etc
Dawkins perspective on religion
Dawkins thinks that life would be more meaningful without reference to religion. The human heed for God is infantile and an adult should be able to find meaning in life from other sources of religion. Religion is repressive and he identifies religious dress code as an example of how religion repress women. And while religion narrows our perception, science widens it. Dawkins also believes that bringing children up with religion and labelling them as religious is doing harm and a form of psychological abuse eg ‘The God Delusion’
Jo Marchant on religion
Jo Marchant was a science journalist who suggested there is compelling evidence for positive medical and psychological benefit arising from some beliefs and practices. In her writing she explores how religious gatherings and being a part of something bigger psychologically benefits participants. She stated that this help us with life’s daily hassles and defuse our deepest sources of angst. Opposes Freud’s thinking
Arguments FOR the separation of Church and State
.It is time to leave the past. We now understand Christianity and religion to be a thing of the past and so society must change
.The heritage of other cultural tradition and religions may be valuable and incorporating this would reflect better its actual makeup
Arguments AGAINST separation of Church and State
.The UK would lose its identity entirely without a Christian influence and this may change society for the worst
.Christian ethics apply to everyone so its perspective on values can help balance society
Arguments FOR religion in education and schools
.Churches built schools for the people in England and own a lot of school property so removing the Church’s control from schools would be unethical
.Education and schools alongside Christianity and religion are involved with a lot of charitable work and provide for the needy globally
Arguments AGAINST religion in education and schools
.BHA argues that religion in schools and education segregates children into different groups creating a sense that people of different religions live parallel lives and increases intolerance
The ideas behind the failure of secularism
Many social scientists, philosophers and theologians have concluded that the secularisation theory is based on some mistaken assumptions that the change is inevitable. David Ford suggests we need to stop thinking about the development of the world in a linear term. For example the USA remains just as religious now as it did centuries ago even though Church and State were separated. Casanova and Ford are both critical of the idea that atheism is unquestionably good
Is Christianity the cause of personal and social problems
Christianity can be seen as having a negative influence on society. It can be seen as patriarchal and sexist in the way in which is depicts women and limits their life chances. Christianity can encourage infantile and ‘unscientific views’ of the world eg Dawkins point that Christianity has played a big role in the criminalisation of homosexuality
However, the difficulty with the argument that Christianity is the major cause of religious and social problems is that there are multiple examples which depict Christianity and religion in a more positive manner;
-Christian churches established schools for the poor in England
-Anglican Bishops were instrumental in the decriminalisation of homosexuality
How much contribution has Christianity made to society
Firstly the Head of the State is also the Head of the Church. National holidays are linked to Easter and Christmas. The Anthem ‘Jerusalem’ and the short poem by William Blake. The nations flag has a Christian cross at the centre. BBC 4 broadcasts daily act of worship on the air.
Dawkins also believes that biblical literacy is essential to a full appreciation of English Lit and an atheist view is no justification for cutting the Bible or other sacred books out of education
