Theories on the Origin of Religions

1. Theories on the Origin of Religions by Mr. Hill

2. Theory One: Animism • Herbert Spencer (1850s) - Manism • The gods of “primitive” people were/are based on dreams about the recent dead • Believe that these dead people were actually alive in another world or another form • Believe that these spirits can indwell inanimate objects

3. Theory One: Animism • Edward Burnett Tylor – Primitive Culture (1871) • Believed that souls (Latin anima) were to be found not only in people but in all of nature • The entire world and even the air was seen as being alive with spirits of all kinds • These spirits could be helpful or harmful to humans and had personalities that could be offended or flattered • Therefore “primitive” societies would seek to appease these spirits, and avoid offending them, through prayer, ritual, and sacrifice

4. Theory One: AnimismReligion Evolved from “Primitive” to “Sophisticated” • Animistic Understanding • of the World

5. Theory One: AnimismReligion Evolved from “Primitive” to “Sophisticated” 2. Ancestor Worship

6. Theory One: AnimismReligion Evolved from “Primitive” to “Sophisticated” 3. Worship of various aspects of nature

7. Theory One: AnimismReligion Evolved from “Primitive” to “Sophisticated” 4. Polytheistic Religions worshiping Nature-inspired Dieties

8. Theory One: AnimismReligion Evolved from “Primitive” to “Sophisticated” 5. Development of Monotheistic Religion

9. Theory One: Animism • Bishop R. H. Codrington – The Melanesians (1891) • Religion arises from a belief in supernatural power that belongs to the region of the unseen (Mana) • Experienced emotionally rather than rationally

10. Theory Two: Nature Worship • Max Muller (1823-1900) • Interested in mythology and the religions of India • The first hymns of the Rigveda were sung praising the elements of nature, namely, the air, the sun and the fire.’ • These were personified in the triad of the early vedic gods, Agni, Vayu, and Surya. • Humans developed their religion from their observations of the forces of nature • Religion arose from awareness of the regularity of seasons, tides, and phases of the moon • Human response: personalize them

11. Theory Two: Nature WorshipDevelopment of all Religions resulted from… • Identification of the forces in nature • Personification of these forces • Creation of myths to describe their activities • Development of religions around these myths

12. Theory Three: Original Monotheism • Wilhelm Schmidt (1868-1954) • Studied linguistics of New Guinea and then all of Oceania • Hunter-gatherer societies > oldest form of human society • Held a common belief in a distant High God, underlying the characteristics of animism and polytheism • Originally there had been one great god above all others • Creator of the world or parent of lesser deities • Qualities of eternity, omniscience, beneficience, morality, omnipotence • High God established everthing but now has little contact with the world • Will return and judge the world based on morality

13. Theory Three: Original MonotheismAll Religions are a Corruption of the Original (True) Religion • Primitive societies originally monotheistic • Religion was corrupted over time • More advanced religions recovered the true monotheistic nature of religion

14. Theory Three: Original MonotheismAll Religions are a Corruption of the Original (True) Religion “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

15. Theory Four: Magic • Sir James George Frazer – The Golden Bough (1890-1915) • Constructed theories by reading reports of anthropologists, colonial officials, missionaries, and ancient writers rather than direct study of “primitive” religions. • Human mind developed in a linear fashion in the same way as the process of physical evolution

16. Theory Four: MagicThree phases of development • Control nature through MAGIC Failure Failure 2. Implore nature to cooperate through RELIGION 3. Pursue rational understanding of nature through SCIEN CE

17. Theory Five: Projection of Human Needs • Ludwig Feuerbach (1804-1872) – The Essence of Religion • Religions are projections of the wishes and needs of humanity • Dreams or fantasies expressing the situation of humankind • Seeking to overcome problems through imagination • Imagine an idealized being of goodness or power who can help them • Thus, God is created in the image of idealized humanity • Religion is a form of wishing – people seek in heaven what they cannot find on earth

18. Theory Five: Projection of Human Needs • Karl Marx (1818-1883) “Man makes religion, religion does not make man. Religion is the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either not yet found himself or has already lost himself again…Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is the opium (drug) of the people.”

19. Theory Five: Projection of Human Needs • Karl Marx (1818-1883) • Religion is used by the ruling class to suppress the lower classes. “The social principles of Christianity preach the necessity of a ruling and an oppressed class, and for the latter all they have to offer is the pious wish that the former may be charitable…The social principles of Christianity declare all the vile acts of oppressors against the oppressed to be either just punishment for original sin and for other sins, or trials which the Lord, in his infinite wisdom, ordains for the redeemed.”

20. Theory Five: Projection of Human Needs “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore [ye] must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”

21. Theory Five: Projection of Human Needs • Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) • Religion originated as guilt that men feel in hating their fathers. • Saw the ancient Greek myth of Oedipus as a pattern of human experience

22. Theory Five: Projection of Human Needs • Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) • Referred to practices of “primitive” people where the dominant male/father kept the women of the group for himself and drove the younger males away from his territory. Finally, the younger males joined together in killing the father and eating his flesh. • Totemic religion (ancestor worship) arose to allay the sense of guilt and appease the father through deferred obedience to him. • Eventually humans projected a great father image called God.

23. Theory Five: Projection of Human Needs • Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) • Religious ideas are “illusions, fulfillments of the oldest, strongest, and most urgent wishes of mankind.” • The truly healthy and mature person is content to stand alone and face the problems of life without gods or religions.