> Paul > > Vitz of NYU conducted a study on notable atheists and later wrote a book > > entitled "Faith of the Fatherless." Vitz argues that the decision to > > believe in a theistic or atheistic worldview is not the result of any > > rational objective decision but rather is based on feelings which were > > the result of a pernicious early childhood environment.
While that's an interesting perspective, like many arguments I'm sure it will resonate with some and thud with others. I am just a bit suspicious, not that I'm saying any of us don't have the right to theorize, of any attempt to psychologically explain someone's absence of or devoutness for religion, religious beliefs, God. It offers a reasonable explanation for some, but not for others. I sure don't like it when a non-religious psychologist tries to argue religious individuals and beliefs are just for the uneducated, the uninformed, the poor soul who desperately needs to make sense out of the universe and so buys into a religious explanation. >From personal experience, I spent a good portion of my college career -- undergrad and grad -- avoiding religion, religious types. To box me into a theory that argues that my religious beliefs are simply just another example of an individual who wants to believe fairy tales because of his "need set" will just not work. I've met and studied individuals who were enormously resistant to religion but ended up believers. On the other hand -- maybe not 80% of "high-status scientists" -- there are plenty of intelligent individuals who find no good reason to believe in many religious precepts, God, etc. We certainly do not want to argue that each of these individuals has resisted religion based on a particular set of family circumstances, psychological needs, etc. I'm sure we all agree that it is more complicated than that. It will always be a great puzzle to me why some people believe in religion, and some people don't. I have met some extraordinarily intelligent people in my life, devout believers in their religions. And can offer you intelligent reasons for believing. And then I've met other geniuses (more than in the first group) who are completely irreligious. And have THEIR good reasons for not believing. Maybe others don't spend much time on this, but I find it fascinating that two intelligent people can look at something like religion, or Christianity, or God, and walk away with different evaluations. One person reads the bible and say "Bulloney!" The other one reads it and says "Hallelujah!" Being quiet now, Jim ************************************************************************ Jim Guinee, Ph.D. Director of Training & Adjunct Professor President, Arkansas College Counselor Association University of Central Arkansas Counseling Center 313 Bernard Hall Conway, AR 72035 USA (501) 450-3138 (office) (501) 450-3248 (fax) "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it" -Martin Luther King, Jr. ************************************************************************** --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
