RLG380H1

Trauma, Healing & Transformation

This course focuses upon the psychology of religion from the perspectives of psychoanalysis, affective neuroscience, attachment theory and evolutionary psychology. We explore the role of entheogens, psycholytics and dreams in facilitating and shaping mystical experiences of unseen realms. We will explore relationships and boundaries between belief and knowledge, subjective and objective experiences, as well as phantasy, dreams and visions. How are the insights of the founders of the field being updated by contemporary neuroscientific and evolutionary theories? We consider visionary, esoteric and paranormal experiences along with the distinctions between mental health and pathology.