Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
REL 100
Hobbs
22Feb2011
The four different definitions of writing that will be analyzed in this paper come from the
writings of Marx, Freud, Otto, and Tillich. This paper will include a summarized description of
their concepts in religion. Also this paper will show which definition and the aspects of their
thoughts that are closely relevant to my beliefs or as close to my own understanding of religion,
and which definition is furthest from my understanding. And finally what is my personal
Summarizing Marx’s definition of religion in my own words can be simply stated as man
has made religion and that religion does not make man. It seems that he believes that religious
people are lost and just haven’t found themselves yet, and that some people are addicted to
religious practices.
The summary of Freud’s definition of religion can best be described in my own terms as
a defense to life or being helpless in situations that life throws at a person. He seems to think that
it’s a drug or a crutch that mankind made up to cope with the world and dangers.
Otto’s definition of religion seems to be more of a feeling or reaction that a person gets
when they experience a “holy” feeling. It’s a human emotional experience of encountering the
“holy” and is unique to each individual. Otto in his writing tries to bring out the definition or the
their life, and they have to put in to get something out of it. There are many rewards for meeting
a certain criteria of demands. It can be what someone values, what their life is centered around,
or driving force.
be Tillich’s definition of religion. I think that sacrificing to religion because a person wants
fulfillment in their life is a very common practice to many people. Another reason that I feel this
way is because if you put all your high priorities or things you value first then a person will
usually make the correct decision and if there is a higher being then they will be put on the path
of that calling.
The theory that I disagree with the most would be the definition of Marx. His idea that
God is made up for man to have something to rely on seems wrong. Many people don’t throw
problems on religion but they do rely on it to get them through the tough and good times in their
lives.
with other people’s views. I believe that there is a God and a place where you go when u leave
this world. I think some of the things wrote historically may have been wrote to scare people into
certain situation or to do better for themselves. It may be written into history to place guidelines
onto humans. This world is too complex for humans and other creatures to come from nothing.
And there people that do abuse religion and rely on it to define who they are of ask for it to solve
their problems.