sexularisation

Question 1

freud

Answer 1

Freud argues that belief in religion is caused by the psychological fear of a chaotic, unpredictable world and a fear of adult life and its responsibilities. During childhood, order is represented by the father. So, religious people find comfort by projecting an order-providing eternal father – God – onto reality. “Religion is the process of unconscious wish fulfilment” without which some would be in danger of mental harm due to being “unable to cope with the idea of a godless, purposeless life”.

the childish state of the mind should be replaced by a Freud argued that this childish state of mind should be replaced by a scientific understanding of the world which will provide order and predictability but without illusion.

Question 2

dawkins

Answer 2

Dawkins argues that an irrational mind will just believe whatever it wants rather than search for the truth. Dawkins is influenced by Freud, agreeing that religion is the result of childish wishful thinking regarding death:

Dawkins compared religion to fairy stories that children learn like Santa claus and the tooth fairy. It’s an unscientific and childish attempt to explain reality.

Question 3

Mcgrath response to the irrational inteabtile and wish -fulfilment view

Answer 3

McGrath responds that many reasonable people have converted to religion long after childhood, such as himself and the philosopher Antony Flew, who changed his mind due to modern design arguments that were based on modern scientific discoveries. So, religion cannot just be an irrational belief caused by indoctrination of children.

Question 4

dawkins and freud against faiths

Answer 4

Freud suggested that if there were an 11th commandment, it would be “thou shalt not question”.

Dawkins argues that religion bad for society because encourages irrational thinking. It encourages people to take things on faith instead of reason and evidence.

dawkins points to jesus’ disciple thomas who had not believed in jesus crucifixion until the body was shown. jesus then implied that the other disciples were better because they had faith. this encourages an unscientific mindset

Question 5

mcgraths response of faith

Answer 5

mcgrath argues aquinas’ five ways are not definite proofs of hod, but rather an argument defending the rationality of the beliefs in God

Dawkins doesn’t understand that a posteriori arguments are only meant to show that there are logical reasons to believe in God.

Question 6

harmfulness of religion, militant atheism

Answer 6

Militant atheism, sometimes called anti-theism, goes further than standard secularism by claiming that we should completely get rid of religion, even from private life, because it is harmful even as a private belief.

C. Hitchens argues the proselytising teachings of religions means it is still harmful, despite it being practiced at home.

Mcgrath argues militant atheism conflates religious believers with fundamentalists