Can Psychology Explain Religion?

Is religion the result of subconscious desires that are ultimately the desire for something else? Many modern thinkers would say yes. Sigmund Freud proposed that it was the desire for fatherly protection against the deadly forces of nature. Some have appealed to a desire for immortality, a desire for social control, or an idealized projection of oneself (or, as it has been said “man created God in his image”). Still others have proposed it originated to satisfy humans’ curiosity of the natural world, and since they didn’t have science, they produced theories like lightning bolts being the product of Zeus.

When these theories have been proposed, they are seldom proposed together. Can each of these elements be extended to the entire body of religious belief? And do they touch on the core elements of religion, or just the tangential? Or can religion even be reduced down to a few simple motivations? And even in a more secular age, recent years have even seen the introduction of non-religious churches, which seems to reflect a desire for community. Join us as we kick off another year of Socrates Café with what promises to be a very lively discussion!

Brent Hardaway is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Brent Hardaway's Personal Meeting Room

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7261943123?pwd=Nmh4V2dkUFo0bHBjNUtlM0c5Y0dMQT09

Meeting ID: 726 194 3123
Passcode: 4vxu2X
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,7261943123#,,,,*702522# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,7261943123#,,,,*702522# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 726 194 3123
Passcode: 702522
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbRlnleGUi