Happy Atheist Forum

Religion => Religion => Topic started by: Kaypee on January 02, 2009, 02:21:56 AM

Title: Books on...
Post by: Kaypee on January 02, 2009, 02:21:56 AM
Was just wondering if anyone knew of any books on the psychology  and sociology of religion and its affects?

i just want to read up on why it seems to be in human nature to have a greater need to believe in a god.

any help would be great
Title: Re: Books on...
Post by: Whitney on January 02, 2009, 02:36:28 AM
Paranormal Beliefs - A Sociological Introduction
 http://www.waveland.com/Titles/Goode-PB.htm (http://www.waveland.com/Titles/Goode-PB.htm)

My husband said it was good but I've only read the introduction.
Title: Re: Books on...
Post by: Wechtlein Uns on January 02, 2009, 03:40:48 AM
Good luck finding credible writings. If anyone respected would even attempt such research, every religion in the world would scream bloody murder.

Hint: it's because they fear science will explain religion once and for all.  :cool:
Title: Re: Books on...
Post by: Sophus on January 02, 2009, 06:26:44 AM
The Dogma of Christ by Erich Fromm. He does a psychoanalysis of Christ's disciples. Plus some philosophy and more. I don't think you even have to buy it. I think I saw an "ebook" version online available for free.
Title: Re: Books on...
Post by: curiosityandthecat on January 02, 2009, 02:04:44 PM
Go to your local library, do a keyword search for "sociology of religion" and start writing down call numbers.  :D My search returned nearly 500 books with those words, and even slightly more for "psychology of religion". Likewise, here's the Amazon.com results for the former (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sociology+of+religion&x=0&y=0) and the latter (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=psychology+of+religion&x=0&y=0).
Title: Re: Books on...
Post by: Wechtlein Uns on January 02, 2009, 06:22:28 PM
I stand corrected.  :unsure:
Title: Re: Books on...
Post by: Whitney on January 02, 2009, 09:55:04 PM
Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"Go to your local library, do a keyword search for "sociology of religion" and start writing down call numbers.  :D My search returned nearly 500 books with those words, and even slightly more for "psychology of religion". Likewise, here's the Amazon.com results for the former (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sociology+of+religion&x=0&y=0) and the latter (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=psychology+of+religion&x=0&y=0).

I did that and my first hit was written by a ordained minister...so it's a good idea to check the author's background too.  Not that everyone who is ordained is going to stretch the truth; but they are probably more likely to do so.