Having gained a particular understanding of religion from his anthropological knowledge and
psychological research, Raymond B Cattell claims that morality and ethics could be motivated
scientifically. He further postulates that the results of scientific research could be implemented
effectively to thwart the modern trend of moral collapse. Consequently Beyondism is presented
as a religion from science, working from without inward by starting from the outer reality and
moving inward to intention. Beyondism is based on the acceptance of evolution as the prime
process in the universe. It differs greatly from other alternatives to revealed religion such as
humanism and existentialism.
This study explores Cattell’s views on religion, epistemology, cosmology and morality, reflecting
his Darwinian approach of evolutionary advance and cooperative competition. The evaluation of
the viability of the idea of religion from science is performed by means of Ken Wilber’s systems
theory and JS Krüger’s conditionalist criteria for religion.
Read in the light of his work on personality, intelligence, heredity and environmental influence,
his approach to genetics is considered outside the fashionable opinion by which his views have
suffered negation, misrepresentation and rejection. Considering recent scientific and social
developments, his authentic research and visionary interpretation could be of value not only in
the field of psychology, but also in the study of religion. / Thesis (M. Th. (Religious Studies))
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/2688 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Lotz, Magrietha Aletha Cornelia Magdalena |
| Contributors | Kruger, J.S. (Prof.) |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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