Introduction to the Study of Religion

Religion: "To Bind together", "To tie back" (reconnect)

(Yoga: Yoke, unite) Comm -union (communion), At-one-ment (Atonement)

Religion helps us to reconnect:

• to reconnect to our source ("God" - the transcendental aspect of religion)

• to reconnect with other people (the social/moral aspect of religion)

• to reconnect with ourself (our own deeper self - the psychological aspect of religion)

Some quotes from Teach Yourself Philosophy of Religion, p. 5:

Religion is…

"The Transformation of human existence from destructive self-centeredness to a new centering in the Ultimate Transcendent Reality." - John Hick, philosopher

"People become religious when, through some moment of insight, they sense that their energies are harnessed and unified, their life is given new direction, the future is filled with a sense of hope."

"a journey - a process of self discovery and growth, a process which is fueled by the sense of renewed energy and well-being which it provides along the way."

"Religion is the opiate of the people." It keeps people going; it is calming, addicting, needed; it controls people but ultimately blinds us to our real problems and how to solve them. (Karl Marx)

Religion is an infantile dependency, a neurosis. God is a father figure, a substitute parent. (Sigmund Freud)

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