Ernest Becker's 'Escape from Evil' and the Functions of Religion and Culture

Ernest Becker identifies a profound connection between religion and culture, challenging the common beliefs that they are completely distinct entities. He argues that both serve critical functions in society as mechanisms to alleviate the existential terror associated with human mortality. Many view religion as the ultimate truth and culture as a mere construct, or alternatively, see culture as the dominant force with religion as a byproduct. Becker dismisses these perspectives as illusions, positing that both religion and culture have been intentionally developed to help individuals cope with the anxiety of being conscious of their eventual death. This intertwining suggests that neither can be fully understood in isolation from the other, as they collectively play a vital role in maintaining social cohesion and addressing human fears.