Parent-Child Relationships and God

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that the subject of a child's conception of abstract entities, especially that of God is an area of interest for psychologists. The writer points out that there have been many studies done pertaining to the overall conception of God through the eyes of a child however; the main focus of the current paper is how a child's conception of God is affected by a child's relationship with a primary or secondary caregiver. The writer looks at two experiments that show how a child's image of the parents impacted the child's image of God. The writer maintains that both experiments reviewed show a strong correlation between how a child views his or her parents and how the child conceives of God.

Outline:
Abstract
Literature Review
Critique
Suggestions for Further Research

From the Paper:

"The pervading affect religion has on the world is clear and without question however, psychologists seek to explain much more narrowed topics. One topic of special interest is how people conceive of God. Perhaps as important as any other developmental stage of deity conception is that of childhood. A child's conception of God is without the same degree of the societal affects as that of an adult, without the baggage that accumulates over a lifetime. Research has been done studying how a child conceives of God, whether a child is bound to think of God as a large bearded man who reigns from the sky overseeing humanity, or whether children conceive of God differently. Surprisingly, most evidence seems to say that children are better equipped to not anthropomorphize God than adults . Children can think of God as a non-human agent, possessing characteristics, such as immortality, that people lack. If children are capable of conceiving of God in non-anthropomorphic ways, then one question is what, if any, relation does God have to actual humans in the child's life, and primarily the relation to those attachment figures who serve such a big role early on."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barrett, Justin L. & Richert, Rebekah A (2003). Ant hropomorphism or Preparedness? Exploring children's God concepts. Review of Religious Research, 44(3). 300-312.
• De Roos, Simone A., Miedama, Siema, & Iedema, Jurjen (2001). Attachment, working models of self and other, and God concepts in Kindergarten. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 40(4). 607-618.
• Dickie, Jane R., Eshelman, Amy K., Merasco, Dawn M., Shepard, Amy, Vander Wilt, Michael & Johnson, Melissa (1997). Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 36(1). 25-43.
• Hood, Bruce (2006, July). The intuitive magician: Why belief in the supernatural persists. The Dana Forum on Brain Science. Retrieved from http://www.dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=114
• Nunn, Clyde Z (1984). Child-control through a "Coalition with God." Child Development, 35(2). 417-432

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• Book Review # 73943 : "Parent-Son Relationships"
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• Analytical Essay # 136500 : "The Gospel for an Islam Believer"

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