Theories Flashcards
1
Q
Sir Edward Burnett Tylor’s Theory
A
Animistic
- people couldn’t tell dreams vs. reality
- they came to the belief in spirits (in people and nature)
- they later prayed to the spirits
- deities we’re formed from this
2
Q
Bishop Codrington’s Theory
A
- a strong for called Mana
- all primitive people had begun their religions with the awareness of a force
- impersonal Theory
3
Q
The nature worship Theory
A
Developed by Max Müller
- people observed forces
- then personalized them
- then gave them names
- and described them with myths
4
Q
Original Monotheism
A
- Wilhelm Schmidt
- there was a god who created the world, then left and now has little contact with the world
- He said believing in one god was so hard that religion turned into polytheism
5
Q
The Magic Theory
A
Sir James George Frazer
- people attempted to control the world of nature through magic
- then they realized it didn’t work so they turned to religion
- 3 phases of development with the spirit world: 1. Magic 2. Religion 3. Science
6
Q
The wish fulfillment Theory
A
Ludwig Feuerbach
- taught there were no gods
- people who had troubles projected their wishes and created gods and religion
7
Q
Karl Marx
A
“Religion is the opiate of the people”
- a means of controlling the masses
8
Q
Sigmund Freud
A
- religion originated from the guilt people feel for hating their fathers
9
Q
Immanuel Kant
A
Religion is the product of limited imperial reason
- an act of moral will
10
Q
Jonathan Haidt
A
- he says religion is like a staircase in the mind that takes us from the profane to the sacred level
- 2 levels: profane (individual) & sacred (group)
- benefits: unity, big groups move mountains
- why is man religious? : the religious experience
11
Q
Sharon Brous
A
- She sees the world in shambles and full of terror, bombings, shootings, and shifts
- 2 challenges facing religion: Extremism (often using violence) & Routineism (the leaders don’t know where to go next)
- Religion can be reclaimed by uniting ALL people
- 4 principles of religion: 1. Wakefulness 2. Hope 3. Mightiness 4. Inter-connectedness
- religious leaders should promote love, dignity, and justice
12
Q
Richard Dawkins
A
- science cannot prove/disprove many things
- highly improbable that a god exists - delusion
- we have evolved, so should our religious thinking
- people need to “come out” about being atheists
- parents should not impose beliefs
- if you accept one, you have to accept all religions
13
Q
Sam Harris
A
- we must get rid of religion - religious violence will end civilization
- society is now embarrassed about slavery, one day it’ll be embarrassed by religion
- society is based around reasonable thoughts (not supernatural)
14
Q
Daniel Dennett
A
- children should be taught religion - all religion - in a scientific way with just facts
- he doesn’t believe in religion
15
Q
De Botton
A
What can the secular world learn from religion?
- Unity
- Repetition
- Organizing time
- Treat body like mind
- Art
- Guidance
- Persuasive speaking skills
