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Human Behavior by Bjork

savethedreams

Active Member
Does Social Science , specifically Psychology or Sociology help in understanding People 'minds' in reaching or understanding GOD or Religion?

I was reading an article on psychology at one time, although most social science I find hogwash and completely subjective. It was saying that we have a psychological need for God/spirituality. Understanding the universe is a scientific psychological needs but spirituality was another one. How do you guys feel about this? IF their is an afterlife, God, or anything spiritual how can it be a mental craving.?
 

Cassiopia

Sugar and Spice
I don't think the fact that we may have a psychological or sociological need for God or religion negates the importance of such things; indeed it may underline their importance in our development. After all we have inbuilt mental cravings for things like food, water and sex. Without these things we wouldn't survive or thrive. They are part of the physiological design that makes us successful as a species. So perhaps the fact that some people seem to be programmed to search for God or religion is evidence of those things importance.

However, I am not convinced that all people do have such a psychological need or that the theory that they do has actually been proved.
 

Shuddhasattva

Well-Known Member
IF their is an afterlife, God, or anything spiritual how can it be a mental craving.?

Because our needs are transitive; physical cravings take us towards mental & psychological needs/objectives.
 

Sir Doom

Cooler than most of you
I would expect that social sciences would be able to establish patterns of behavior that might lead one to draw conclusions about the general attitude towards religion. Whether these conclusions are correct or not, that's an entirely different matter.

I don't believe in 'need' except as a function of 'want'. So, I don't believe that we have any need (psychological or otherwise) for religion or spirituality. However, we do have a strong desire for it. A craving as it has been put. I would suggest that this is a product of the general human desire for control over reality. Power, in other words. Everyone loves power. Religion is just a natural form of expression in this regard.
 
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