Philosophical discourse on religious anthropomorphism and social connection

The human motivation for social connection extends beyond the boundary of the human in the (often misunderstood) religious language of anthropomorphism. In this chapter, an infamous sermon from colonial America—‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’—1s used to illustrate the way anthropomorphic language works to incorporate human society in a web of ethical obligations that connect to the natural environment and, by imaginative extension, to the universe as a whole. Personifications of God 12. How Does God Become Real Becoming a person of faith is not so much about acquiring certain beliefs but about learning to use one’s mind in particular ways; the often intensely private experience of God is built through a profoundly social learning process. Belief and Connection 13. Theological Perspectives on God as an Invisible Force The beliefs that religious individuals hold about the way God operates in human life are potential factors affecting perceived social isolation. My paper discusses a specific type of such belief that is common in the history of Christian thought: the belief that God 1s an invisible force of a rather impersonal sort working for the good in everything that happens. The paper argues that this sort of belief has as great or greater potential than belief in God as a personal friend to give one the sense that one is never alone, but the conception of God as pervasive can also lead to inattention and disconnection. The Elusiveness of Meaningful Connection 14. Visible Efforts to Change Invisible Connections Despite the human need for social connection, many individuals are lonely because they are unable to create meaningful social bonds. Interventions designed to reduce loneliness have not been successful, suggesting that a better understanding of loneliness, social connection, and the obstacles to forming meaningful connections with others is needed. Reflections on Invisible Connections 15. Social Brain, Spiritual Medicine? Science and religion are mextricably intertwined in the practice of medicine. Science has provided modern medicine with extraordinary diagnostic and therapeutic capacities that can be employed to care for patients. Religions provide a fuller vision for the worthiness of caring for the sick, a framework to guide the application of medical science in that endeavor, and practices that strengthen the human capacity for treating patients as the mindful persons they are. Invisible Forces 16. Epilogue Invisible forces that connect individuals to society, or to each other, have effects at both ends of the connection. As humans we are fundamentally individual and fundamentally social. We encompass both the pursuit of rational self interest of Homo economicus and the pursuit of approval, belonging, and intimacy of Homo socialis, the former grounded in eros, the latter in agape. These forces acting together represent a signature feature of Homo sapiens (the wise ones) and have contributed a record of influence and impact— both positive and negative —that is unmatched in biology. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021250