1. Question :
(TCO 4) Compare and contrast Sigmund Freud's theory as to the origin
of religions with William James' theory. How does each of these
psychologists view religion (positively or negatively)? Then analyze how
the insights of Freud or James might illuminate your religious tradition or
the tradition with which you are most familiar. How would
Freud or James understand that tradition? Use specific examples to
support your answer (e.g., a specific belief or ritual).
Student Answer: Freud believed and theorized
that belief in God or gods
originally came from the long
lasting impressions made on
adults from their childhood
experiences, in which the
parents play a very important
role in. In his theory adults
m
project their sense of their
er as
parents into their image of
God or Gods. James on the
co
other hand came to his ideas
eH w
and beliefs through an
unusual course of study.
o.
James viewed religion as a
rs e positive way of fulfilling these
needs and praised its
ou urc
positive influence on the lives
of individuals. He said
religion brings "a new zest"
to living, provides and
o
assurance of safety and that
it leads to a harmonious
aC s
relation to the universe.
vi y re
Freud or James do not really
have an impact on my
religious tradition because
their studies were from such
a long time ago they seem
ed d
outdated and their teachings
don't really make a lot of
ar stu
sense in today's modern
society. Since religion is not
a big part of my life Freud
would understand my
tradition as me being more
is
secure and that I've become
stronger physically and
Th
mentally secure. For an
example I do not agree with
Freud's belief that our
religious beliefs come mainly
from our childhood
sh
experiences and from our
parents because if that was
the case I would be a lot
more religious and would
practice Catholic teachings.
This study source was downloaded by 100000805706406 from CourseHero.com on 08-26-2021 23:09:03 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/7005946/Religions-Midterm-1/
, Comments: Not quite what Freud would argue - that religious beliefs come from what we are
taught as children - this is not his theory, but overall not bad
2. Question :
(TCO 8) Identify and describe four key concepts of theUpanishads. Make
sure you use enough detail to support your answer.
Student Answer: One of the Upanishads key
concepts was Brahman
which is probably the most
important of the key
concepts. The term Brahman
originally came from the
cosmic power present in the
Vedic sacrifice and chants,
over which the priest had
m
er as
control. The Sanskrit word
Brahman is neuter and
co
comes from a stem meaning
eH w
"to be great." The
Upanishads insist that
o.
Brahman can not be fully put
into words, they only give
rs e hints. it is the lived
ou urc
experience that all things are
in some way holy because
they come from the same
sacred source. The notion of
o
Atman is related to brahman
and is equally important to
aC s
the Upanishads. Sometimes
vi y re
translated as "self" or "soul"
Perhaps Atman would be
better translated as "deepest
self." The Upanishads teach
that it is true to say that I am
God, because, for the person
ed d
who understands reality at
ar stu
the deepest level, everything
is God. Atman when
experienced fully, is identical
to Brahman. Like Brahman it
is divine, holy and nature in
is
the external universe. The
Upanishads speak of the
Th
everyday world as maya,
which is usually translated as
"illusion." Maya contains both
"magic and matter." For one
thing, humans view the world
sh
as consisting of individual
things and people all sperate.
In reality, the world is one
basic holy reality that takes
on many different forms.
Nature is Maya but God is
the ruler of Maya. Karma is
the general Hindu notion of
rebirth assumes that human
This study source was downloaded by 100000805706406 from CourseHero.com on 08-26-2021 23:09:03 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/7005946/Religions-Midterm-1/
(TCO 4) Compare and contrast Sigmund Freud's theory as to the origin
of religions with William James' theory. How does each of these
psychologists view religion (positively or negatively)? Then analyze how
the insights of Freud or James might illuminate your religious tradition or
the tradition with which you are most familiar. How would
Freud or James understand that tradition? Use specific examples to
support your answer (e.g., a specific belief or ritual).
Student Answer: Freud believed and theorized
that belief in God or gods
originally came from the long
lasting impressions made on
adults from their childhood
experiences, in which the
parents play a very important
role in. In his theory adults
m
project their sense of their
er as
parents into their image of
God or Gods. James on the
co
other hand came to his ideas
eH w
and beliefs through an
unusual course of study.
o.
James viewed religion as a
rs e positive way of fulfilling these
needs and praised its
ou urc
positive influence on the lives
of individuals. He said
religion brings "a new zest"
to living, provides and
o
assurance of safety and that
it leads to a harmonious
aC s
relation to the universe.
vi y re
Freud or James do not really
have an impact on my
religious tradition because
their studies were from such
a long time ago they seem
ed d
outdated and their teachings
don't really make a lot of
ar stu
sense in today's modern
society. Since religion is not
a big part of my life Freud
would understand my
tradition as me being more
is
secure and that I've become
stronger physically and
Th
mentally secure. For an
example I do not agree with
Freud's belief that our
religious beliefs come mainly
from our childhood
sh
experiences and from our
parents because if that was
the case I would be a lot
more religious and would
practice Catholic teachings.
This study source was downloaded by 100000805706406 from CourseHero.com on 08-26-2021 23:09:03 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/7005946/Religions-Midterm-1/
, Comments: Not quite what Freud would argue - that religious beliefs come from what we are
taught as children - this is not his theory, but overall not bad
2. Question :
(TCO 8) Identify and describe four key concepts of theUpanishads. Make
sure you use enough detail to support your answer.
Student Answer: One of the Upanishads key
concepts was Brahman
which is probably the most
important of the key
concepts. The term Brahman
originally came from the
cosmic power present in the
Vedic sacrifice and chants,
over which the priest had
m
er as
control. The Sanskrit word
Brahman is neuter and
co
comes from a stem meaning
eH w
"to be great." The
Upanishads insist that
o.
Brahman can not be fully put
into words, they only give
rs e hints. it is the lived
ou urc
experience that all things are
in some way holy because
they come from the same
sacred source. The notion of
o
Atman is related to brahman
and is equally important to
aC s
the Upanishads. Sometimes
vi y re
translated as "self" or "soul"
Perhaps Atman would be
better translated as "deepest
self." The Upanishads teach
that it is true to say that I am
God, because, for the person
ed d
who understands reality at
ar stu
the deepest level, everything
is God. Atman when
experienced fully, is identical
to Brahman. Like Brahman it
is divine, holy and nature in
is
the external universe. The
Upanishads speak of the
Th
everyday world as maya,
which is usually translated as
"illusion." Maya contains both
"magic and matter." For one
thing, humans view the world
sh
as consisting of individual
things and people all sperate.
In reality, the world is one
basic holy reality that takes
on many different forms.
Nature is Maya but God is
the ruler of Maya. Karma is
the general Hindu notion of
rebirth assumes that human
This study source was downloaded by 100000805706406 from CourseHero.com on 08-26-2021 23:09:03 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/7005946/Religions-Midterm-1/
