Introduction
In order to understand and preach religious doctrine, psychology is required. Religion is a faith based belief in what is unseen. It centers on ways in which humans are required to adopt in order to tap into a greater being. Since religion is based on faith, passing the intended message to humans is challenging especially when facts are required to support the message delivered. Religious teachers and preachers have had challenges in their work as the people they address have their own ideas formed in the mind. Religious messages are not to be dictated and one needs to be convinced. In order to understand the relationship between psychology and religion it’s important to understand the difference between the two and how the two work together.
Body
Psychology is a form of science that deals with the unseen part of the human brain, usually the conscious and subconscious mind. Those who use psychology to pass messages have seen tremendous results. Examples can be cited in advertising where information is repeated over and over to create attraction to a product or service. The unseen mind consists of the subconscious and conscious. If belief can be created in the sub-conscious mind then the conscious mind can be made to perform actions that relate to the belief. Psychologists use the subconscious to get what is in the subconscious. They use questions to probe the conscious into revealing what is in the subconscious. After consciously releasing what the client feels, the psychotherapist can inform new ideas to the client. This are done in such a way that the client gives views on the way forward, hence, owning the remedy for the problem.
The religion and psychology parallel has been used over the years in most religions but in a reverse manner. Religion informs beliefs into the subconscious that can be used later by the conscious in actions. The world is too complex for the human mind to fathom that there is none greater than humans. Over the years human generations have continued to believe there is an unseen overall power that controls the universe. This belief has led to shift of worship from greater things such as celestial images, enormous structures and other visible things to worship of the unseen overall power. This is evident in all religions but with different names.
Humans were created with a conscious and a subconscious mind. These synergetic parts of the brain help in the advance of humans. Psychologists use the working of the brain to tap into a clients mind to better understand their thoughts and intentions. Religious teachers, on the other hand, use the mind to plant beliefs that can be used by the human in his/her daily worship and reflection to the greater being. The human psyche has belief it develops in life experiences that can effort to query what is taught in religion. I agree with James that a true conversion requires one to deal with self first which I call the subconscious mind. If a person can allow the religious information to be formed in the subconscious the conversion is possible. The statements James makes in his book are philosophically correct and they play an integral part in religious experiences. He might have used a different term to explain the subconscious but it is the same. (James, 1985, p. 197)
When one is advised to love their enemies they remember the enemy’s wrongs that have been done. This springs an erratic behavior as this thought is embedded in their subconscious. A message of forgiveness should have been first cultivated in oneself in order to allow for love. This can only be done by the person willingly. The human mind receives information on a daily basis and can easily stick to a certain belief if not willingly denied. Saintliness cannot be measured as it is an ongoing process. One has to constantly develop values that will enable ethical traits to be adopted. Humans constantly would like the next fellow to change but not them to change. To be a saint or to have saintly character one needs to transform themselves into a better person. This is where religion plays a major role. Else loving is a value fed on the human spirit through teaching. No man is born with the will to love. Unless one is taught these values then they can never know if to love is wrong or right. Buddhism teaches that the human mind is programmed in such a way that one changes little by little as they progress on in life. It teaches that as you go on in life so does one become changed to a better person. Though some believe that love is a bit of verbal extravagance I beg to differ with this thought. To me love is a value just like any other. Like any other value love has to be taught from the cradle.(James, 1985, p.284)
Conclusion
In order to promote religion, psychology should be taught to the promoters. The human mind is known to pick up beliefs as it develops. These beliefs can be impediments or stepping stones towards a great life. The bible teaches that we should train a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from the way. Emphasis is put on child education on moral and religious matters so as to install a belief of having a greater being. James in his book describes how self has to be dealt with before conversion is attained. This is correct since the earlier beliefs can cause one to think they are inappropriate to receive the religious teachings. There are diverse information and teachings in our society today and in order to penetrate with religion, one needs to use psychology to pass the message. This has been done successfully in the business world through advertising.
List of References
James, W. (1985) The varieties of religious experience. (pp. 193,196-197,283-284).Harvard: Harvard University Press, ISBN 0674932250, 9780674932258.