How the mind hurts and heals the body

The author reviews some of the social and behavioral factors acting on the brain that influence health, illness, and death. Supported with data from several areas of research, his proposal for understanding health and illness provides both the concepts and the mechanisms for studying and explaining mind-body relationships. The brain is the body's first line of defense against illness, and the mind is the emergent functioning of the brain. This mind-body approach incorporates ideas, belief systems, and hopes as well as biochemistry, physiology, and anatomy. Changing thoughts imply a changing brain and thus a changing biology and body. Belief systems provide a baseline for the functioning brain upon which other variables act and have their effects.     

如何认识和对待马克思主义宗教观

如何认识和对待马克思主义宗教观,是宗教问题上一个关系到能否正确回答胡锦涛总书记提出的"什么是马克思主义、怎样对待马克思主义"的大问题。本文认为:正确回答"什么是马克思主义宗教观、怎样对待马克思主义宗教观"的大问题,必须坚持马克思主义宗教观的本质和特性,即坚持马克思主义宗教观的科学无神论本质,坚持马克思主义宗教观作为历史唯物主义宗教观、科学社会主义宗教观、一脉相承又与时俱进的宗教观、中国共产党的宗教观、社会主义核心价值体系的组成部分和理论基础等基本特性,否则很容易走到"打着马列主义旗号反对马列主义"的邪路上去。     

Heaven can wait. How religion modulates temporal discounting

Evidence suggests that religious systems have specific effects on attentional and action control processes. The present study investigated whether religions also modulate choices that involve higher-order knowledge and the delay of gratification in particular. We tested Dutch Calvinists, Italian Catholics, and Atheists from both countries/cultures using an intertemporal choice task where participants could choose between a small immediate and a larger delayed monetary reward. Based on the Calvinist theory of predestination and the Catholic concept of a cycle of sin–confession–expiation, we predicted a reduced delay tolerance, i.e., higher discount rate, for Italian Catholics than for Dutch Calvinists, and intermediate rates for the two atheist groups. Analyses of discount rates support our hypotheses. We also found a magnitude effect on temporal discounting and faster responses for large than for small rewards across religions and countries/cultures. We conclude that temporal discounting is specifically modulated by religious upbringing rather than by generic cultural differences.     

An outline explanation of how therapy heals

Therapists are unable to provide a comprehensive account of therapy as an intelligible activity. This is at least partly due to the unresolved problem of explaining how phenomenology is even possible. An alternative to providing a comprehensive account of therapy is to take the fact of phenomenology for granted and provide just an outline account of how therapy heals. One way this can be achieved is to set therapy in the context of medical anthropology which will facilitate a view of therapy as just another healing ritual. Insight into how healing rituals heal is provided in this paper by a long and in-depth look at the so-called ‘paradox’ of the placebo effect. This will reveal the so-called ‘placebo effect’ as a misunderstood, modern example of healing ritual self-healing. In fact, the single term ‘placebo effect’ will be abandoned and replaced by the two concepts of ‘SMCH’ (‘specifically modified consultation and health care’) and ‘RMH’ (‘response to modified health care’). These two concepts provide an outline explanation of how all healing rituals heal and so provide an outline explanation of how the healing ritual of therapy heals, also. At least one problem arises out of explaining therapy as healing ritual self-healing, namely that this conception conflicts with the idea in therapy circles that, in therapy, it is the relationship that counts. Nonetheless, it will be maintained that the purpose of therapy is healing, that the healing that is achieved is self-healing and that its fulfilment is not dependent upon one-to-one relationships. Finally, it will be argued that the further development of therapy requires a better understanding of what aids and obstructs psycho-emotional self-healing.     

全面理解马克思主义的宗教政策（一）

马克思和恩格斯创立的马克思主义宗教观，包括宗教理论和宗教政策两部分，是中国共产党正确认识和处理宗教问题的思想基础。马克思主义的宗教政策．是马克思和恩格斯根据人类历史发展规律和马克思主义的宗教理论制定的服务于无产阶级和全人类解放事业的专项政策体系。其直接的理论支点是无产阶级的宗教人权观，其基本内容包括彻底实行宗教信仰自由政策和坚持进行唯物主义和无神论宣传教育两个方面．既反对用行政手段取缔和限制宗教信仰自由的极左路线．又反对放弃唯物主义和无神论宣传教育的右倾机会主义。全面理解马克思主义的宗教政策．对于深入理解中国特色社会主义宗教理论，坚持中国共产党对待宗教问题的科学原则．具有重要的理论和实践意义。     

全面理解马克思主义的宗教政策（三）

马克思和恩格斯创立的马克思主义宗教观．包括宗教理论和宗教政策两部分．是中国共产党正确认识和处理宗教问题的思想基础。马克思主义的宗教政策．是马克思和恩格斯根据人类历史发展规律和马克思主义的宗教理论制定的服务于无产阶级和全人类解放事业的专项政策体系,其直接的理论支点是无产阶级的宗教人权观。其根本内容包括彻底实行宗教信仰自由政策和坚持进行唯物主义和无神论宣传教育两个方面．既反对用行政手段取缔和限制宗教信仰自由的极左路线．又反对放弃唯物主义和无神论宣传教育的右倾机会主义。全面理解马克思义义的宗教政策．对于深入理解中国特色社会主义宗教理论．坚持中国共产党对待宗教问题的科学原则．具有重要的理论和实践意义。     

How to do philosophy of religion: towards a possible speaking about the impossible

Abstract

It is postulated from different philosophical traditions, and explicitly in recent literature, that there is no further need for doing philosophy of religion – it has become an impossible task. I argue, however, that there remains a philosophical space for this practice and that this space determines greatly how philosophy of religion can be done. The starting point of my argument is the current discussion in the SAJP between De Wet and Giddy and the significance of my article is that it puts this debate within the broader international philosophical context by engaging the work of Trakakis and Desmond to resolve some of the apparently intractable issues raised. Trakakis discusses the divide between the analytic and continental philosophical traditions in which De Wet and Giddy’s work is further contextualized and clarified. Desmond’s work is seminal in its search for a metaxology wherein he advocates a new ‘in between’ position for doing philosophy of religion. I take this view of Desmond further by applying it to the current debate in South Africa and also using it to indicate some possibilities of speaking about the impossible.     

试从万物有灵论看宗教的起源与发展

19世纪末20世纪初的近代宗教学者热衷于研究宗教的起源和进化的历史,同时．他们试图将各种各样的宗教抽象化、一般化,使之适用于所有的宗教体系,著名代表人物爱德华．泰勒的宗教观就是这方面的典型。在泰勒看来,宗教发端于万物有灵的观念,并据此对宗教下了这样一个定义,即“对精灵实体的信仰”。本文着重从万物有灵论的不断流传演化、在此过程中发生的深刻变化及其所保持的完整的连续性,并结合其他学者对此问题的论证或反驳．来探讨宗教的起源与发展问题。     

Help-seeking and paranormal beliefs in adherents of mainstream religion,alternative religion,and no religion

This study explored the relationship between help-seeking and adherence to mainstream religion (Christianity, Judaism and Islam), alternative religion (for example, New Age spiritual belief and Paganism) and no religion (including agnosticism and atheism). Four-hundred and fourteen participants completed an online survey which included questions on demographics, help-seeking beliefs and paranormal beliefs (a modified form of the Paranormal Beliefs Scale was used). Previous research had explored adherence to various religions and compared aspects of help-seeking and paranormal beliefs separately. Comparisons were made between basic theoretical differences in belief (e.g., monotheism vs. polytheism vs. rationalism) and help-seeking beliefs. Implications of this research for therapeutic practice are discussed.