Gevoelens, welstand en religie : 'n toepassing van Antonio Damasio se opvatting oor die rol van gevoelens in welstand op die ontstaan van religie
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
LitNet
Abstract
Alhoewel kulturele gedrag verbluffend wyd in die diereryk waargeneem word, is die mens oënskynlik die enigste spesie wat nie net ons uitwendige omgewing nie, maar ook die innerlike omgewing van ons gevoelens kultiveer. Oor millennia sou dié epigenetiese ingryping op die gemoed volgens ’n klein, maar invloedryke aantal wetenskaplikes ’n vername neerslag in daardie aannames en praktyke vind wat die kern van die mensdom se religieë vorm. In dié artikel word António Damásio – een van die invloedrykste neurowetenskaplikes van ons tyd – se opvatting oor die rol van gevoelens in welstand as teoretiese raamwerk ontwikkel vir ’n bespiegelende ondersoek na die evolusionêre druk wat tot die ontwikkeling van dié vermoë sou lei. Religie, so word aangevoer, ontstaan in aannames en praktyke wat die toegewyde in staat stel om die gevoelens en bewussyn wat deur groepslewe ontlok word, op wyses te reguleer wat die gemoed vir optimale welstand bestendig.
Indien groepslewe inderdaad die oorsaak eerder as die gevolg van religie is, behoort daar ’n verband te wees tussen die ontstaan en evolusie van historiese religieë enersyds, en samelewingsveranderinge wat die gemoed van die enkeling in beroering bring, andersyds. Dié voorspelling moet egter nog aan die ontwikkelingsgeskiedenisse van historiese religieuse tradisies getoets word.
Although cultural behaviour is surprisingly widespread in the animal kingdom, humankind seems to be the only species to cultivate not only our external environment, but also the internal environment of our feelings. Over the span of millennia, according to a small yet influential number of scientists, this epigenetic intervention in the state of mind would result in the assumptions and practices that form the core of humankind’s religions. In this article the ideas of António Damásio, one of the most influential neuroscientists of our age, about the role of feelings in well-being is developed as a theoretical framework for a speculative inquiry into the evolutionary pressures that would lead to the development of this ability. Religion, it is argued, arises in assumptions and practices that enable the devotee to regulate the feelings and consciousness evoked by communal life in ways that stabilise the mind for optimal well-being. If communal life is the cause rather than the result of religion, there should be a relationship between the birth and evolution of historical religions on the one hand and changes to communal life that would destabilise the frame of mind of the individual on the other. However, this prediction has yet to be tested against the developmental histories of historical religious traditions.
Although cultural behaviour is surprisingly widespread in the animal kingdom, humankind seems to be the only species to cultivate not only our external environment, but also the internal environment of our feelings. Over the span of millennia, according to a small yet influential number of scientists, this epigenetic intervention in the state of mind would result in the assumptions and practices that form the core of humankind’s religions. In this article the ideas of António Damásio, one of the most influential neuroscientists of our age, about the role of feelings in well-being is developed as a theoretical framework for a speculative inquiry into the evolutionary pressures that would lead to the development of this ability. Religion, it is argued, arises in assumptions and practices that enable the devotee to regulate the feelings and consciousness evoked by communal life in ways that stabilise the mind for optimal well-being. If communal life is the cause rather than the result of religion, there should be a relationship between the birth and evolution of historical religions on the one hand and changes to communal life that would destabilise the frame of mind of the individual on the other. However, this prediction has yet to be tested against the developmental histories of historical religious traditions.
Description
CITATION: Troskie, S. 2020. Gevoelens, welstand en religie : 'n toepassing van Antonio Damasio se opvatting oor die rol van gevoelens in welstand op die ontstaan van religie. LitNet Akademies, 17(3):609-638.
The original publication is available at https://www.litnet.co.za
The original publication is available at https://www.litnet.co.za
Keywords
Consciousness, Emotions, Psychological well-being, Religion -- Psychological aspects, Damasio, Antonio R.
Citation
Troskie, S. 2020. Gevoelens, welstand en religie : 'n toepassing van Antonio Damasio se opvatting oor die rol van gevoelens in welstand op die ontstaan van religie. LitNet Akademies, 17(3):609-638.