‘Voices are not proof of God but evidence of psychological neurosis.’

Could someone help me answer this question? (A2 OCR Philosophy of Religion). This is one of the predicted questions to come up in the June 2016 exam.

Reply 1

Imperion

17

I thought this was gonna be a good debate thingie :K:

Reply 2

riazerben

OP

Original post by Imperion

I thought this was gonna be a good debate thingie :K:

You're welcome to start a debate, it might still help haha

Reply 3

Steelmeat

2

Original post by riazerben

Could someone help me answer this question? (A2 OCR Philosophy of Religion). This is one of the predicted questions to come up in the June 2016 exam.

I wholly agree with the title.
All religion is trying to do is to get its hands on anything which might seem like a mental disorder and then say that "God is talking to them" or whatever else they can come up with.

All in all, all i see it as is the God of the Gaps argument

Reply 4

Joinedup

20

Well a lot of things the noted prophets of history claim to have seen and heard would be regarded as symptoms of schizophrenia today... Just sayin.

Reply 5

Namita Gurung

16

I agree with the title.
Religion changes e.g. in the past everyone believed that hearing voices was a way of God communicating but now, religious people agree with science, that it's a sign of schizophrenia.

Reply 6

the bear

20

in the past symptoms of what we would now call mental illness or conditions such as epilepsy were ascribed to various supernatural agencies... whether beneficial ( angels, God ) or maleficent ( demons, Satan ),

ironically it is the other way round now... anyone showing belief in the supernatural is accused of suffering from mental illness. on TSR anyway.

Reply 7

aliaahmad

Original post by riazerben

Could someone help me answer this question? (A2 OCR Philosophy of Religion). This is one of the predicted questions to come up in the June 2016 exam.

hey I am doing OCR Philosophy and Ethics too, and I know this is the predicted question. I guess you have to define what kind of religious experience voices are. Then you need to briefly define what religious experience is. Then you could perhaps talk about William James arguing that religious experiences are psychological phenomena, and you could also bring in freud. According to freud religious experiences are psychological neurosis. This is because he notes that many patients who suffered from mental illnesses displayed obsessive behaviour. He observed that the patterns of behaviour that had to be followed were remarkably similar to some religious practices, such as formal prayer or worship. He also said that religion is an illusion.

on the other side go the argument you could argue that religious experiences are not psychological neurosis, because many people experience them. For example, then you can bring biblical revelations of the prophets. Also, mention St Teresa of Avilla and also Bernadette who had visions of the virgin Mary. Don't forget to bring in William James findings.

Reply 8

HTA18

1

Original post by aliaahmad

hey I am doing OCR Philosophy and Ethics too, and I know this is the predicted question. I guess you have to define what kind of religious experience voices are. Then you need to briefly define what religious experience is. Then you could perhaps talk about William James arguing that religious experiences are psychological phenomena, and you could also bring in freud. According to freud religious experiences are psychological neurosis. This is because he notes that many patients who suffered from mental illnesses displayed obsessive behaviour. He observed that the patterns of behaviour that had to be followed were remarkably similar to some religious practices, such as formal prayer or worship. He also said that religion is an illusion.

on the other side go the argument you could argue that religious experiences are not psychological neurosis, because many people experience them. For example, then you can bring biblical revelations of the prophets. Also, mention St Teresa of Avilla and also Bernadette who had visions of the virgin Mary. Don't forget to bring in William James findings.

But isnt St Teresa of Avilla and Bernadette visions , the questions is asking about voices can we still include them?

Reply 9

aliaahmad

Original post by HTA18

But isnt St Teresa of Avilla and Bernadette visions , the questions is asking about voices can we still include them?

yeah it is, but you can link it to visions

Reply 10

HTA18

1

Original post by aliaahmad

yeah it is, but you can link it to visions

ohh I see Thank you

Reply 11

aliaahmad

Original post by HTA18

ohh I see Thank you

No worries. How's your preparation for ethics ?

Reply 12

HTA18

1

ethics is going good I have my notes for everything but im not going to revise for meta ethics apart from tht I will revise everything. I am just stuck with this voices topic im okay with vision but voices I have no notes and dnt get it. how u getting on with ethics and philosophy

Reply 13

inhuman

2

Original post by the bear

in the past symptoms of what we would now call mental illness or conditions such as epilepsy were ascribed to various supernatural agencies... whether beneficial ( angels, God ) or maleficent ( demons, Satan ),

ironically it is the other way round now... anyone showing belief in the supernatural is accused of suffering from mental illness. on TSR anyway.

Well there are indications there actually might be a gene that makes you prone to believing in God.

Whether that is an "illness" or not...personally I think it says a lot about your character if you need to believe in a purpose in life, in something bigger, in the afterlife, all that kind of stuff. Maybe not necessarily need to, but want to because it's "beautiful". Like all those people who say they found God in prison. Well yea, it's a shitty place and that was something that gave them comfort.

Reply 14

The Empire Odyssey

21

I miss A-level OCR RS!

Try Freud and his views of religion! That'd be a real good start!

Reply 15

HTA18

1

Thank you I actually didn't think this way I have more idea how to start

Reply 16

HTA18

1

Alongside freud if I put marx the opmuim of the masses would that be overboard for a voices question ?

Reply 17

the bear

20

Original post by inhuman

Well there are indications there actually might be a gene that makes you prone to believing in God.

Whether that is an "illness" or not...personally I think it says a lot about your character if you need to believe in a purpose in life, in something bigger, in the afterlife, all that kind of stuff. Maybe not necessarily need to, but want to because it's "beautiful". Like all those people who say they found God in prison. Well yea, it's a shitty place and that was something that gave them comfort.