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Despite its name, "naturalism" as a world-view turns out to be
rather unnatural in its strict and more consistent form of
materialism and determinism. This is why a number of naturalists
opt for a broadened version that includes objective moral values,
intrinsic human dignity, consciousness, beauty, personal agency,
and the like. But in doing so, broad naturalism begins to look more
like theism. As many strict naturalists recognize, broad naturalism
must borrow from the metaphysical resources of a theistic
world-view, in which such features are very natural, common
sensical, and quite "at home" in a theistic framework. The
Naturalness of Belief begins with a naturalistic philosopher's own
perspective of naturalism and naturalness. The remaining chapters
take a multifaceted approach in showing theism's naturalness and
greater explanatory power. They examine not only rational reasons
for theism's ability to account for consciousness, intentionality,
beauty, human dignity, free will, rationality, and knowledge; they
also look at common sensical, existential, psychological, and
cultural reasons-in addition to the insights of the cognitive
science of religion.
The Complementarity of Women and Men provides a Catholic Christian
case that men and women are in certain respects quite different but
also have a positive, synergistic complementary relationship.
Although differences and their mutually supporting relationships
are focused on throughout the volume, men and women are assumed to
have equal dignity and value. This underlying interpretation comes
from the familiar, basic theological position in Genesis that both
sexes were made in the image of God. After a cogent philosophical
introduction to complementary differences by J. Budziszewski, this
position is developed from theological, philosophical, and
historical perspectives by Sr. Prudence Allen. Next Deborah Savage,
building upon the writings of St. John Paul II, gives a strong
theological basis for complementarity. This is followed by
Elizabeth Lev's chapter presenting new and surprising art history
evidence from the paintings of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel
supporting the complementarity interpretation. A final chapter by
Paul Vitz documents and summarizes the scientific evidence
supporting sexual difference and complementarity in the disciplines
of psychology and neuroscience. As a consequence of both the
individual chapters and the integrated understanding they present
The Complementarity of Women and Men is a significant contribution
to the important, complex, contemporary debate about men, women,
sex, and gender.
In this updated, expanded edition, starting with Freud's
"projection theory" of religion - that belief in God is merely a
product of man's desire for security - Professor Vitz argues that
psychoanalysis actually provides a more satisfying explanation for
atheism. Disappointment in one's earthly father, whether through
death, absence, or mistreatment, frequently leads to a rejection of
God.
A biographical survey of influential atheists of the past four
centuries shows that this "defective father hypothesis" provides a
consistent explanation of the "intense atheism" of these thinkers.
A survey of the leading defenders of Christianity over the same
period confirms the hypothesis, finding few defective fathers. Vitz
concludes with an intriguing comparison of male and female atheists
and a consideration of other psychological factors that can
contribute to atheism.
Professor Vitz does not argue that atheism is psychologically
determined. Each man, whatever his experiences, ultimately chooses
to accept God or reject him. Yet the cavalier attribution of
religious faith to irrational, psychological needs is so prevalent
that an exposition of the psychological factors predisposing one to
atheism is necessary.
A trenchant analysis of modern psychology -- an enterprise that
Paul Vitz maintains has become a religion, a secular cult of self,
now part of the problem of modern life rather than part of its
resolution. Virtually rewritten, this second edition of the
original 1977 text takes into account much of what has happened in
the field of psychology during the past seventeen years. Two
completely new chapters are also included -- one on education and
"values clarification" and the other on New Age religion.
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