PSYCHOLOGY AMD RELIGION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13078, 14 September 1904, Page 6

PSYCHOLOGY AMD RELIGION.

A goodly number gathered in Stuart Hall on Monday coning, on the occasion of the fifth lecture of tho series on " Modern Scicnco and Religion," conducted by the Piesbytorian Hall C.U. The subject of the lecture was "Tho Bearing of Psychology vpon religion," by tho Rev. William Saunders. Tho subject was handled in a thoroughly able and masterful way, and was full of practical and instructive suggestions for the religious teacher, The lceturer opened l with two definition.-)—one of psychology and tho other of religion. Psychology briefly described was the science of mental processes. Itcligion, on the other hand, was often wrongly identified with mere organisms and institutions. Truo religion was said to consist of a holy interchange of relations between God and man. Psychology proper, as difltinguhhed from tlij materialistic and purely psychological view of mind, was a positive aid to religion. It was a junivoraal truth that man's mental processes naturally issued in some form of religion. .Religion was it psychological necessity. Tho psychological origin of religion _ embraced -three stage;—(l) Tho selfconseiovs—man becamo conscious of himself; (2) man became conscious of that which was external to himself—the non og:>; (s)the ' tonsciousucss of that which tranctended both the ego and tho jion ego—i.e., God. The tniiui, as consisting of tho cognitive, tho emotional, and tho volitional, rose to tho idea of God, and the result wa3 a feeling of dependence—i.e., peace and faith. But there was no abstract religious emotion as distinct, from the psychological, for love in relation to the family was domestic, but in relation to God, religious. Homing to the practical, <ho study of psychology was important to tho teacher of religion. But ita importance might lie overestimated, and exaggerations might readily occur, as was tins case when it was said that, children ought not to bo committed to tcachers who" had no knowledge of psychology. It taught the force of habit in character formation, and tho necessity for the .cultivation of tho best habits, it emphasised the training of tho will- to act jn a proper direction. The teacher of religion .must always present to men tho highest conception" of God. Anything short of Gcd was irrational; anything more than God was impossible.' Thought, feeling, and will harmomoitsly related in a religious act must set forth tho best idei of God. Psychology, then, was not destructive, but helpful, to In truo religion the wholo. being; was exercised, and when the intellect bad been rightly informed and the feelings' quickened tho will, directed them to God and created fellowship.' At the. close of the lecture Mr Saunders 'was accorded -a very hearty, vote <?l thanks ' for Bninsfakins' address."