Pascal Boyer argues that while there is a wide array of supernatural concepts found around the world, in general, supernatural beings tend to behave much like people. The construction of gods and spirits like persons is one of the best known traits of religion. He cites examples from Greek mythology, which is, in his opinion, more like a modern soap opera than other religious systems. Bertrand du Castel and Timothy Jurgensen demonstrate through formalization that Boyer's explanatory model matches physics' epistemology in positing not directly observable entities as intermediaries. Anthropologist Stewart Guthrie contends that people project human features onto non-human aspects of the world because it makes those aspects more familiar. Sigmund Freud also suggested that god concepts are projections of one's father. COUNT 8
QSN1 Why does Stewart Guthrie believe that people project their human features onto non human things? ANS1 it makes those aspects more familiar QSN2 What is one of the most common traits of religion according to Boyer? ANS2 The construction of gods and spirits like persons QSN3 What did Frued believe about the belief in God? ANS3 god concepts are projections of one's father QSN4 How does Pascal Boyer believe that gods and other supernatural beings behave? ANS4 much like people QSN5 Who argues that there are lots of supernatural things in the world? ANS5 Pascal Boyer QSN6 How do supernatural entities act? ANS6 much like people QSN7 Which religion does Boyer equate with a modern soap opera? ANS7 Greek mythology QSN8 Who believed that gods are just projections of a person's father? ANS8 Sigmund Freud