Abstract:
While the majority of organised religions determine the origins of religion itself in an act of
divine revelation, social science literature takes an evolutionary perspective. Without engaging
the question of origin of religion from either perspective, this article proposes seven correlations
between interpersonal violence and the progression of organised religion by suggesting that
interpersonal violence plays a significant role in the institutionalising process of organised
religion. Although interpersonal violence does not necessarily cause the structuring of faith, it
reinforces and provides solutions to the existing patterns of threat faced by the community,
which together lead to the organisation of religion. The first part of this article (stages 1–4)
surveys the psychology of violence by focusing on the theories of frustration–aggression,
mimetic rivalry, triangulation and the genesis of scapegoating and guilt. The second part
(stages 5–6) marks the transition from personal to social psychology and surveys violence in
the primitive religion, as manifested in the ritualising process of the scapegoat, and the genesis
of sacrifice. The third part (stage 7) highlights the complexity of ritual, ethics and doctrine, in
the evolution of religion from a primitive state to an advanced organised institution.
Description:
Dr Simion is participating in
the research project, ‘Political
Theology’, directed by
Dr Tanya van Wyk, Faculty
of Theology and Religion,
University of Pretoria.
HTS 75th Anniversary Maake Masango Dedication.
