Abstract

AMATUZZI, Mauro Martins. Religion and the meaning of life: a theoretical approach. Temas psicol. [online]. 1999, vol.7, n.2, pp. 183-190. ISSN 1413-389X.

This paper explores the psychological meaning of the religious experience, starting with ideas of some authors, such as Erich Fromm. The perception of the ultimate unity of the world is implicit in any religion. Such perception refers to a more comprehensive view of the world boundaries and the essence of reality. This paper is also concerned with the human need for meaning and search for a lost harmony. The human responses to this need and search can be named as religious in the general sense of to re-unite. In a more specific sense, religious response leads to a worldview constructed around the idea of transcendence. Even in this specific sense religion is based on experiencing a relationship in which the objective aspect is reached through a symbol. If not, what exists is irrational faith, which disguises psychological problems.

Keywords : religion; faith; psychology; meaning of life.

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