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Year 8

Possible psychological explanations for religion

I can give an account of some psychological explanations for religion and present different perspectives on this.

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Year 8

Possible psychological explanations for religion

I can give an account of some psychological explanations for religion and present different perspectives on this.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sigmund Freud was an influential psychologist who had theories on the origin of religion.
  2. Freud stated that religion is an illusion, something people desperately want to be true.
  3. Freud stated that religion is a form of wish fulfillment helping people to cope with life.
  4. Freud's theories on religion have been widely criticised.

Keywords

  • Afterlife - the belief that there is some continued existence for those who have physically died

  • Conscience - the inner sense of right and wrong that guides a person's decisions

  • Illusion - something a person believes to be true so strongly that it doesn't matter whether it is or not

  • Instincts - basic human impulses and desires everyone is born with, such as to eat

  • Wish fulfillment - deep human needs and desires which religion can satisfy

Common misconception

That psychologists today accept all of Freud's ideas on religion.

Whilst influential, many of Freud's theories on the id and religion have been discredited.


To help you plan your year 8 religious education lesson on: Possible psychological explanations for religion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Freud's theories of religion are also linked to his views on the oedipus complex, which could be explored further with older students in supervised classes.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these religious leaders do Christians believe was God on Earth in human form?
Correct answer: Jesus
Moses
Mohammad
Nanak
Siddhartha
Q2.
Which of these terms most relate to religious beliefs about life after death?
creation
Correct answer: Heaven
Correct answer: Jannah
Correct answer: reincarnation
ritual
Q3.
Which of the following is often referred to as the part of a person responsible for thoughts, memories and emotions?
the body
the heart
Correct answer: the mind
the nerves
the skeleton
Q4.
What subject investigates the mind and human behaviours?
Correct Answer: psychology
Q5.
Which statement explains the term 'evidence' the most accurately?
Evidence is an opinion that someone has on a matter.
Evidence is a prediction that someone makes about the future.
Correct answer: Evidence is a piece of information or a fact that supports a claim.
Q6.
What does the term 'omnipotent' mean?
all-knowing
all-loving
Correct answer: all-powerful
everywhere
never-ending

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What term means the inner sense of right or wrong that guides a person's decisions?
Correct Answer: conscience, a conscience, the conscience, inner conscience
Q2.
What does Freud say about the human conscience?
that God gave humans consciences to behave well
Correct answer: that humans have evolved a conscience to control their instincts
that humans don't have a conscience
Correct answer: that having a conscience has helped human societies to progress
Q3.
What example did Freud give of what an 'illusion' is?
a young girl who believes she will win a race
a young boy who believes he will marry a princess
Correct answer: a young girl who believes she will marry a prince
a young boy who believes he will climb a mountain
Q4.
Which of these are examples of how religion can be wish fulfilment?
Correct answer: the wish to control a scary world
Correct answer: the wish to control our human instincts
the wish for a well-paid job
Correct answer: the wish for a fair afterlife
the wish for a better house
Q5.
Which of the following might a religious person say is evidence supporting their beliefs?
a chance coincidence
Correct answer: a religious experience
Correct answer: the design of the universe
the opinions of other people
Q6.
Which of the following arguments could be used to challenge Freud's view that religions always involve a 'father figure'?
Correct answer: In Islam, Allah is neither male or female.
In Christianity, God is often seen as God the Father.
Correct answer: In many Pagan religions, the higher power is Mother Earth.