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Religion (or lack of) as a 'defence mechanism'?

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
Religions are usually indeed defence mechanisms agains the unease of not knowing one's place in the overall scheme of things.

It does not follow that they are wrong or illusory, of course.
 

MW0082

Jesus 4 Profit.... =)~
How do you know that your religion (or lack of) is not an unconscious 'defence mechanism'?
Something tells me mine may be, or how my curiousity began. That is a story for another day, or a completely different forum. I guess I lost faith in someone being there for me a long long time ago...............
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
How would you logically get to "no religion" as a defense mechanism? I can't quite parse the thought process here.


Would not an unconscious defence against religion facilitate one driven to find their world stable, predictable and controllable?
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Would not an unconscious defence against religion facilitate one driven to find their world stable, predictable and controllable?
I think religion usually fits that bill better than irreligion: "the universe all unfolds according to the grand plan of an all-powerful creator entity... and he's my best buddy."
 

Onkara

Well-Known Member
How do you know that your religion (or lack of) is not an unconscious 'defence mechanism'?

I agree with 9-10ths_Penguin. I do not recognise any unconscious or subconscious. Even it it did exist it would not imply knowing that makes it conscious. Best to focus on what we do know i.e. consciousness of sense perception and knowledge.

That's how I see it. But I don't claim to know reality.
I think everyone can claim to know reality because reality is everything that happens now, regardless of your or my limited time and location, that is reality unrolling itself now. Perhaps a topic for a new post.

I think you come to the conclusion that you don't or won't claim to know reality is because you doubt also unconsciousness (or subconsciousness) in your OP. I am not attacking you my friend, but trying to point out that doubt leads to further doubt. Isn't it better to just take what you do know as the foundation of any premises? Should the OP be "Is your religion a defence mechanism in your life?"

Just playing with ideas :)
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
I think religion usually fits that bill better than irreligion: "the universe all unfolds according to the grand plan of an all-powerful creator entity... and he's my best buddy."

Perhaps. But of course the universe unfolding with observable measurable 'laws' of nature wouldn't be bad either.
But isn't it interesting that you think those holding your own views are less likely to be prey to unconscious defences than those holding opposing views?
 
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Onkara

Well-Known Member
My answer is yes, my religion (or philosophy) helps me to cope or defend myself against the difficulties of life. But more than that, it explain the difficulties of life, putting them into perspective. So it doesn't ignore, but rather it explains everything.

This is why my religious philosophy can be progressive in meeting new challenges and finding new answer not necessarily static and by the book.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
Why not 'no religions' too?

"No religions" has no more attributes than "no anything else", so it is possible yet pointless to think it possible of anything. "Not using neckties" might conceivably be a defense as well, for instance. But there is little for such an exercise.

Assuming that you mean active rejection of religion (out of pride or vanity, possibly), well, I guess that happens sometimes. But it is simply not very noteworthy. The rejection of pre-made answers does not lend itself all that well for such risks.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
But isn't it interesting that you think those holding your own views are less likely to be prey to unconscious defences than those holding opposing views?

Not much IMO. One can be both suspect and faithful, you know. :D
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Perhaps. But of course the universe unfolding with observble measurable 'laws' of nature wouldn't be bad either.
I guess, but I just don't see how that leads a person to irreligion.

I mean, take the "king" of searching for observable, measurable laws of nature: Newton. His whole pursuit was based on the idea that God was rational and not arbitrary, so the universe should be rational and unarbitrary as well.

When a particular view could motivate a person to take just about any position under the sun on the subject of religion, I'm not sure how you can say that it pushes them toward non-theism or irreligion specifically.

But isn't it interesting that you think those holding your own views are less likely to be prey to unconscious defences than those holding opposing views?
Well, of course. I know I'm rational, so everyone who thinks like me must be rational as well. It's all those other people who are deluded fools. :D
 

sandandfoam

Veteran Member
I agree with 9-10ths_Penguin. I do not recognise any unconscious or subconscious. Even it it did exist it would not imply knowing that makes it conscious. Best to focus on what we do know i.e. consciousness of sense perception and knowledge.

Has the location of a lost key or answer to a forgotten question never 'popped' into your head?





I think everyone can claim to know reality because reality is everything that happens now, regardless of your or my limited time and location, that is reality unrolling itself now. Perhaps a topic for a new post.

Sure we all know our own reality. With a small 'r'.



I think you come to the conclusion that you don't or won't claim to know reality is because you doubt also unconsciousness (or subconsciousness) in your OP. I am not attacking you my friend, but trying to point out that doubt leads to further doubt. Isn't it better to just take what you do know as the foundation of any premises? Should the OP be "Is your religion a defence mechanism in your life?"

Just playing with ideas :)

Don't worry - I won't take offence, perceive no 'attack' and am open to robust constructive criticism!
I agree that doubt leads to further doubt. Suppose that I haven't yet made it to the bottom of the rabbit hole :D
Regarding what I know - I think the only thing I know is my subjective experience and that this need not necessarily overlap with anything. Perhaps 'that there is thought' is what I know?
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
"No religions" has no more attributes than "no anything else", so it is possible yet pointless to think it possible of anything. "Not using neckties" might conceivably be a defense as well, for instance. But there is little for such an exercise.
"Not using neckties" is my defense against getting myself caught in moving machinery. :D

I've come up with one way in which irreligion can be reached as a defense mechanism: if a person adheres to some religion that says his behaviour is a sin, then it's conceivable that he'd reject the religion in order to comfort himself that he won't be punished for that sin... no God implies no Hell, basically.
 
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