Definition
Religion is defined by Webster’s dictionary (Unabridged) as the “belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe.”
Description
Throughout human existence, man has had the need to understand and explain to himself and others the origins and meanings of the common natural phenomena and the wonders of the world around him. Early men, in every known culture, used their creative imagination to make up stories about the natural events such as floods, earthquakes, eclipses of the sun and moon, and the like. Often in their attempt to make their stories credulous, they gave them anthropomorphic qualities. The Greeks, for example, as early as 2000 B.C., created highly imaginative, wise and instructive myths about gods, which were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth long before the invention of the printing press. In fact, they were the first people who created gods and goddesses that looked...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ashton, E. (2000). Religious education in the early years. New York: Routledge.
Cooper, S. (2002). God at the kitchen table. New York: Three Rivers Press.
Fromm, E. (1951). Psycho-analysis and religion. London: Victor Gollanez.
Harms, E. (1944). The development of religious experience in children. American Journal of Sociology, 50, 112–122.
Jung, C. G. (1953). Collected works (R.F.C. Hull, Trans). Vol. 12. Psychology and Alchemy. London: Routledge.
Osborne. R. (1998). Talking to your children about God. Harper Collins.
Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. New York: N.Y., International University Press.
Spinks, G. (1967). Psychology and religion. Boston, MA. Beacon Press Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Quintar, B. (2011). Religion. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2404
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2404
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science