It's in the Code Ep 124: "Religion as Make Believe"
Nov 27, 2024
auto_awesome
Neil Van Leeuwen, a philosophy professor at Florida State University and author of "Religion as Make Believe," dives into the intriguing idea of religion as a form of make-believe. He explores how religious beliefs compare to children’s imaginative play, emphasizing their psychological foundations. The conversation also tackles how belief shapes group identity and persists despite counter-evidence. With insights on religious trauma and deconstruction, Neil offers a thoughtful perspective on managing strong beliefs and the importance of access to academic literature.
Religion functions as a collective imaginative framework akin to make-believe, aiding individuals in defining their identities within communities.
The distinction between factual beliefs and religious credences highlights how the latter often serve as identity markers rather than truth claims.
Social dynamics and emotional factors significantly influence the formation and maintenance of religious beliefs, complicating individuals' relationships with their convictions.
Deep dives
Concept of Religion as Make-Believe
Religion can be understood as a form of make-believe akin to children's play, where different groups engage in collective narratives that help define their identities. This perspective positions religions not as strict doctrines or absolute truths but as shared imaginative frameworks that create in-groups and activate sacred values. The book emphasizes that this playful engagement does not necessarily undermine the seriousness of religious beliefs; rather, it reframes them as identity-forming activities that humans participate in to relate to supernatural agents. Understanding religion in this way can illuminate how individuals can genuinely believe in seemingly outlandish claims without the necessity of evidence, as these beliefs often serve to reinforce communal ties and personal identity.
Differentiating Types of Belief
The podcast discusses the crucial distinction between different types of beliefs: factual beliefs and religious credences. Factual beliefs involve a direct relationship to evidence; they can be updated and changed based on new information, such as knowing that a supermarket is closed. In contrast, religious credences are more like deeply held convictions that often aren't responsive to evidence and serve to solidify group identity. This differentiation helps explain why some individuals cling to religious beliefs despite contrary evidence, as the beliefs they hold may function more as badges of identity rather than objective truths.
Social Identity and Belief Formation
Social dynamics play a fundamental role in shaping and maintaining beliefs, particularly regarding religious credences. When individuals grow up in communities with strong ideological norms, they may find themselves pressured to conform to specific beliefs, often reinforcing their allegiance to those narratives. The podcast highlights how abandoning or questioning one's beliefs can lead to significant social costs, including alienation from family and friends. This pressure can create a complex relationship with belief, where individuals might confuse their cognitive attitudes, often believing they hold certain beliefs out of genuine conviction rather than acknowledging the influence of social identity.
Engaging with Deeply Held Beliefs
Engaging individuals who hold strong, unyielding beliefs can be complex and often requires a nuanced approach. Direct confrontation or challenges to their beliefs, particularly if they are identity-related, can provoke defensiveness and resistance. Instead, the podcast suggests fostering an open dialogue that minimizes perceived threats by using language that feels less confrontational, such as asking what individuals think rather than what they believe. This method aims to create a space for reflection and encourages individuals to examine the emotional and social factors that underpin their beliefs, potentially making them more open to new information.
Understanding the Role of Emotion in Belief
The emotional aspect of belief formation is intricately tied to individual experiences and sense of security, especially when it comes to religious convictions. The podcast suggests that for many individuals, beliefs provide comfort and a sense of purpose, making them resistant to questioning or altering those beliefs. Engaging someone in a discussion about what their beliefs mean for them can uncover the emotional foundation of their convictions, facilitating a deeper understanding of their identity. By addressing these underlying emotional needs, it may be possible to navigate conversations more effectively, allowing for a more productive exploration of differing viewpoints.
Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 700-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/
What does it mean to “believe” something? What is distinctive about religious belief? Is it different from other kinds of belief? In this episode, Dan interviews philosopher Neil Van Leeuwen to discuss his book, Religion as Make Believe: A Theory of Belief, Imagination, and Group Identity, which opens up a provocative and illuminating account of religious belief. Check it out as Dan and Neil explore these and other questions.
