Straight White American Jesus It's in the Code Ep 124: "Religion as Make Believe"
Nov 27, 2024
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.
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Religion as Make-Believe
- Religion is like make-believe play, with groups forming around shared imagined realities.
- These beliefs, often involving supernatural agents, shape group identity and values.
Defining Belief
- The concept of "belief" has different meanings for regular people versus philosophers.
- Philosophers see belief as encompassing any accepted idea, while the public often associates it with deeply held convictions.
Cognitive Attitudes Towards Belief
- People can have different cognitive attitudes toward the same belief content.
- One person might factually believe something, while another holds it as a creedal belief.