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Why we need religion / Stephen T. Asma.

by Asma, Stephen T.

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Oxford University Press, 2018.

Psychology, Religious.

Emotions -- Religious aspects.

9780190469672 (hc.)

viii, 256 p. ; 25 cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Opiate for the masses? -- 1. Adventures at the creation museum. For the Bible tells me so ; Habits of mind ; Rehearsing to believe -- 2. Sorrow, death, and emotional management. The biology of grief ; How does religion relive sorrow? ; All things are impermanent? ; Can the state manage sorrow? -- 3. Forgiveness and the restart button. Emotional regulation ; Shame and guilt ; Forgiveness or justice? ; Social psychology and the reset button ; Moving on, without truth or reconciliation -- 4. Mental training: peace, resilience, and sacrifice. Peace of mind ; Devotion: resilience and sacrifice -- 5. Ecstasy, joy, and play. Play ; Meaningful conjuring ; Sexual communion and religion ; Cosmic joy -- 6. Fear and rage. What is fear? ; Religious management of fear ; From fearing to fighting ; What is rage? ; Developing "eon perspective" ; The upside of demonization ; The challenge of Islam -- Epilogue.

"Stephen T. Asma argues that religion, like art, has direct access to our emotional lives in ways that science does not. Science can cause curiosity and wonder, but much emotional suffering and vulnerability is beyond the reach of scientific help. Unlike secular authors who praise religion's ethical and civilizing functions, Asma argues that its core value lies in its emotionally therapeutic power...Asma describes the way in which religion manages rage, play, lust, care, grief, and so on. [This book] is a surprising and persuasive Darwinian defense of religious emotions and the cultural systems that manage them."--provided by publisher.

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