Psychology of Religion

- RELIGION IS AN ILLUSION

Distortion of senses

Adresses needs and desires

Helps in time of need

Mind creates actions, ideas and beliefs

Offers comfort and protection

Explanation of meaning of life

Reduces fear of death

Addresses need for forgiveneness

- RELIGION AS A SYMPTOM OF COLLECTIVE NEUROSIS

Traumatic event causes neuroses

Memory repressed into subconcious

Causes imbalance of Id Ego and Superego

Resurfaces as religious behaviour

- EXAMPLE OF NEUROSIS

Genuflection : Washing hands repeatedly - Ritualised behaviour

Confession : Panic attack - Excessive guilt from failing ritual

Hail Marys : Deep cleaning - Means of redemption

- RELIGION AS A RESULT OF REPRESSED SEXUAL TRAUMA

Oral phase - All pleasure is fulfilled through mouth

Anal phase - Potty training stage

Phallic phase - Discovery of genitals

Father becomes love rival

Baby feels ambivalence towards father

Child suffers from frustrated libido (universal experience)

Child hates the **** out the father

Beginnning of Oedipus Complex

- REPRESSED TRAUMATIC EVENT IS AMBIVALNCE TO FATHER

Primal Horde

Young males develop ambivalence towards dominant male b/c he has pick of women

Young become so jealous they kill him and take his place

Young males become