Theories of Religion Essay

Submitted By Jaime22
Words: 891
Pages: 4
Open Document
Jaime Sanclemente
1/21/2013
Theories of Religion
Dr. Phil Theories of Religion German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach was by far the most influential and realistic thinkers of the nineteenth century. In both of his books, The Essence of Christianity and The Essence of Religion, Feuerbach explained how religion was a project based on the wishes and needs of humanity. According to Ludwig Feuerbach, people feel hopeless when they are faced with problems life gives them. For example when I get stressed over a major test I have to present, I then feel like I am helpless and immediately think I’m going to fail that test. Many people feel this way when it comes to human nature. When people get to this stage in their lives, they then imagine a power that can help them in most cases what is known as praying. In my case when I feel lost in life or feel like I am going through a huge struggle, I always pray to my lord because I feel that he is always there for me when I need him and deep inside it makes me feel better about myself. We picture god the way we want him to be even though it’s necessarily not true. Feuerbach believes religion is a form of wishing, people try to find great things in heaven that they cannot find on earth but it is all a simple imagination. He also believed that when people become powerful or problem less, they then push religion away and replace them with other things such as technology or politics. Karl Marx, one of Feuerbach’s younger contemporary also added to his theory of human needs. He stated that man makes religion, and that religion does not make man. He also adds that religion is the self-esteem of people who have not yet found themselves or has already lost themselves again. Both of these philosophers believed humans projected or imagined an image called “God”. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis felt that religious ideas are “illusions, fulfillments of the oldest, strongest, and most urgent wishes of mankind” (Hopfe, 9). I believe that out of the five theories of religion, the theory of human needs is by far the one I relate the most to. My whole life I have always wondered if there was really a “God” that was looking after me and keeping me safe from all danger. When I was younger I tended to get in a lot of trouble and the consequences were awful, that’s when I thought that “God” did not exist because he let me down on that one. However, at the same time I would pray to my lord and savior to help me lift back up and make all the problems go away. I thought that by praying to “God” my problems will be gone and it was the only thing I could do at the moment to help me feel better about myself. This theory of human needs really had me thinking a lot, what if we really are just imagining a figure called “God”? I think that this figure of “God” all started back in the day when people didn’t have the technology or supplies to live a healthy lifestyle. People back in the day felt that they were
Show More

Related Documents: Theories of Religion Essay

Enlightenment Theory: The Influence Of Religion On Today's Society

Enlightenment are still prevalent today as its concepts illustrate the ideal social contract between a government and its people, the psychology behind why we require a governing body, and the current influence of religion on today’s society. Firstly, many people today speak of the “social contract,” a theory that originated in the Enlightenment that depicts an agreement between the people and the government. According to Jean Jacques Rousseau, the people should possess the rights to a revolution if the government…

Words 469 - Pages 2

Religios Market Theory Essay

UNIT 3: Religion Renewal and Choice Religious market theory Learning Objective 1: To understand the key concepts of Stark and Bainbridge’s ‘Religious Market Theory’ . (Grade D/E) The main advocates of the Religious Market Theory (also known as rational choice theory) are Stark and Bainbridge (1985). They are very critical of secularisation theory which they see as Eurocentric. Q. What do they mean by ‘Eurocentric’? Stark and Bainbridge also believe that secularisation theory puts forward a distorted…

Words 330 - Pages 2

Difference Between Scientific Theories, Religious Doctrines And Political Ideologies

The view that there is little difference between scientific theories, religious doctrines and political ideologies is something widely discussed in sociological terms. While some sociologists see them as separate entities providing different functions, others see them as one in the same. This is a view discussed by Functionalists, Pluralists, Marxists, Feminists and Postmodernists. Postmodernist Lyotard, for example, talks about science as a ‘metanarrative’ or a ‘big story’ which, according to…

Words 1051 - Pages 5

Schools Teach Creationism Essay

2012 “Creationism Does Not Belong In Science” "As soon you realize that one species could evolve into another, the whole structure…” (Darwin) of religion becomes dirt. Science class in school teaches you the science about how the world works; it introduces you to theories and facts that involve the science of the universe. In biology, one is taught the theory of evolution, the science of how we as humans became. Evolution is the foundation of modern biology teaching students how humans once were primitive…

Words 1086 - Pages 5

School: Reality and Contemporary Religious Phenomenon Essay

Rel 103 First Writing Assignment: Reductionist Theories of Religion Application Due: Tuesday June 10 Length: 2 pages, double spaced, 12 pt font, 1” margins Papers will be submitted in hard copy to professor, and to assignments tab on Isidore. They will automatically be checked by TurnItIn.com for plagiarism. This assignment provides the opportunity to apply one of the theories of religion to a contemporary religious phenomenon. In this context, “phenomena” means “thing”—some religious activity…

Words 427 - Pages 2

Galileo And Aristotles And Their Effect On Science And Religion Debate

Galileo and Aristotle’s and their effect on the Science and Religion Debate TONETTE BEAMON Galileo and Aristotle’s and their effect on the Science and Religion Debate Many people believe that science and religion are separate although scientific theory roots can be linked to religion and the church’s view of the world. Religious people and scientist have disagreed for years about what is considered truth when it comes to science and religion but some scientist and religious people with moderate…

Words 1314 - Pages 6

Papa Don't Preach: Freud's Rejection of Religion Essay

Papa Don't Preach: Freud's Rejection of Religion "The whole thing is so patently infantile, so foreign to reality, that to anyone with a friendly attitude to humanity it is painful to think that the majority of mortals will never be able to rise above this [religious] view of life" Sigmund Freud, Civilization and its Discontents 1930 When I had originally begun to research and write this paper I focused on analyzing Carl Jung's perspective on religion and religious rituals. I was struck by…

Words 1208 - Pages 5

My Critisism Of Religion Essay

Criticism of the Adam and Eve story Science VS Religion – By Rebecca Leech 9a1 It is easy for me to say that the story of creation is unrealistic and therefore unbelievable; a world created in a mere six days where everything was considered “perfect” and “fully developed”. However we must consider it’s relevance in comparison to scientific facts and maybe we shouldn’t discard the theories and concepts which are hidden behind the biblical story of creation. For example…

Words 2245 - Pages 9

Teach The Controversy Analysis

There are several other individuals who argue the same point of view. In review of the argumentative essay titled Should Public Schools “Teach the Controversy” About Evolution, the author Gregory Bassham argues several points about the injection of religion into public classrooms. In response to this argument, I believe that the argument states some valid points but is not a good argument.…

Words 757 - Pages 4

Chronos Religion Research Paper

name is chronos. Chronos is located in the middle of europe. Chronos citizens are having trouble choosing a dominant religion. I have chosen christianity as the dominant religion. I because it's the religion I follow. This religion shares my beliefs and theories. And there is a way for forgiveness through confession. The first reason i chose christianity is because it's the religion I follow. I went to a christian church since i was six. I did my communion. I haven't been baptized yet. But i have…

Words 310 - Pages 2