Friday. November 25. 19b!) SCARLET AND BLACK Page Seven Thornton Explores Relationship Between Psychology and Religion Psychological insights into the nature oi religion were explored by G. l... Thornton, psychology, in a lecture and discussion last Sunday night. Thornton cited four essential components or religion. These are recognition of a superior, controlling force; the percep- tion or man as subject to this power; a need to understand and explain man's position rel- ative to this force; and appeals to this supernatural torce for assistance. support and guid- once. He then traced the role of psychology in explaining re- iigion, beginning with John Wat- son, who denied the psychologi- cal value of consciousness, thus separating psychology (mm re- iiglon. The acceptance ol evolu- tion eliminated psychology, as well as biologyi as a way to understand man as a religious being, Freud treated religion as neurosis, an explanation not very well accepted in theologi- cal circles. Thornton indicated that his thoughts would be those of a be- haviorist psychologist, saying that “methods. logic, techniques and skills that have proved ei- iective in explaining and undeb standing many areas of human behavior can also be applied with no apologies to the area or religious behavior." The psy— chologist attempts to under- stand and predict human beha— vior which the individual per- ceives as being religious, taking as an essential premise the tact that all religious behavior is learned and that there is no in- stinctive religious impulse. Religious experience, worship and prayer were the three areas of religious behavior discussed. In the first case, Thornton cited instances of a supernatural be« ing communicating with man, or oi man experiencing visions or, more appropriately, halluci- nations. Saul’s experience of en- countering an earthly manifes< tation of the supernatural force can he explained in terms oi the physical stresses produced by a period oi extreme heat which has been known to cause per- ceptual distortions. It is noted that visions are always cultur- ally relevant. What is halluci- nated is some foml of what is already known to the person. For instance, the most devout Hindu mystic has never con- jured up a vision or the Blessed Virgin. Thornton also mentioned the use of LSD and other drugs as producing psychologically and physiologically similar re- sults. “Worship as an overt mani- festation of religion provides the individual with the feeling that he is instrumental in‘ some small way in controlling a pow- ertiil force which is seen as both destructive and benevo- lent," said Thornton. “The signs and trappings or his re- ligious group are powertully re- iniorcing in that they provide a source of identity. The acts of his religion reinlorce and strengthen his commitment to his particular religious group.” Such acts initially were a re sponse to [ear and anxiety. A cause and effect relation was established between the per- forming of a certain act and the termination at a ieariul phe- nomenon, such as a hurricane. Prayer operates in the same way. “Petitiunary prayers pera sist, not because they are ‘an- swered,’ but because they have value as a psychological device to reduce anxiety, provide se- curity, and give the individual the impression he is doing something.” Debaters Rank High At Bradley Meet Ten students and three spon- sors, Mrs. Nick Ryan, Oliver Luther, Spanish, and William Vanderpool, speech, attended the Twentieth Annual Bradley Invitational Speech Tourna- ment at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois on November 18 and 19. This tournament, the largest of its kind in the United States, hosted 81 colleges and univer- sities from all across the hair tion. There were approximately 800 contestants involved in eight diiierent contests. In debate, Joy Williams and Beth Vourhees received a car tificaie of excellency {or win- ning 4 out of their 5 rounds. They were one out at 10 teams awarded this. Only two teams received superior certificates. Cindy Nagel and Dave Schrech won 3 out of 5 rounds. Also com- peting were Ben Williamson and Larry Fellerman. In individual events. Neil Fischer received a certificate of excellency in oratory, Jo Travgott received a certificate of excellency in extemporaneous speaking and Sarah Thorson re ceived a certificate of excel- iency in oratory. Also Competing in individual events were Joe Travgott in dis- cussion and Margaret Applebee in oral interpretation. The speech students are now preparing for a tournament to be held December 2 and 3 at lowa State University in Ames. $9M yr. lntl opiy lnr men-women willing to travel. Assignment to suit individual. 'lllg pm. Contact: have corps. Wash, DJ). 20525. driniieil Weekend Will Focus all did! Events to Feature Symposium, Drama “Arms and the Man." a sym- posium on World War i, will be the feature of a “Grinnell Weekend” [0 be held here Fri< day and Saturday, Dec. 2 and 3. Headllning the symposium will be two distinguished edu- catois — Historian Gordon A. Craig oi Stanford University and Literary Scholar Victor Brnmbert oi Yale University. They will lecture on the sym- posium theme and take part in tollow.up discussions led by members ol the Grinnell iacul< ty. Also scheduied during the weekend are two related tira- matic presentations _ a play, "War Without End,” and a mo- tion picture, "Grande lllusio ’ on display will be an exhibit or World war I posters and drawings This is the first in what is projected as a series at “Grin- nell weekends” to be held at irregular intervals on special» ized themes or interest to par- ticular groups or ltiends oi the college. Purpose oi the weekends, according to President Glenn Leggett, "is to give students and iaculty a special opportu- nity to demonstrate their lively and scholarly interests not only to one another but to visilors who wish ll see an educational community in ac, tion." Craig will open the weekend by lecturing on “The First World War: Some Problems of leadership" at 2 p.m. Friday in Roberts Theater. Following at 9, 3:15 p.m. Will be a discussion on “The Social and Political Implications of the First World War” involving Craig and Jo- seph F. Wall, history, and Alan R. Jones, history. A specialist in modern Ger- man history and contemporary European diplomacy, Craig has been at Stanford since 1956 and has authored several books and numerous articles. He has 3 11A,, M.A., and PhD. irom Princeton University and a B. Litt. from Oxford University. Brombert will lecture on "French Literature and the Images or World War I” at 10 am. Saturday in Roberts Thea— ter. He will discuss the same topic and the general symposi- um theme at 11 am. with three Grinnell (acuity members — Charles G. Cleaver, English; James D. Kissane, English; and Victor 5. Verrette, French. A member of the French faculty, at Yale since 1951 Brombert has a B.A., M.A., and PhD. item that university. He has written, edited, or contrib- uted to a number at hooks and has had many articles pub- iished. A documentary study of World War I by Raymond F Betts, history, “War Withoii End” will be having its pro; mlere showing. It will be pre: sented by the Grinnell Col- lege Theater at o p.rn. Friday and Saturday in Roberts The- met. "Grande Illusion,” a French motion picture about the war, will be shown at 10 each eve- ning, also in Roberts Theater. The art exhibition, which was secured lrom the Library oi Congress, will hang in Scheaf- rer Gallery in the Fine A!“ Center Dec. 1718. Philip L. Kintner, history, is chairman of the committee planning the weekend. Others involved in the planning include Baits; Verrette; Wall; Fred c. Hess and James 0. Awson, both of the administration staiiii and students Arthur Arnold and Catherine Cosman. "THAT upon which talk Wisdom common reuse. and philosophical demonstration have always udleed rem-in: the Verdict of reality.- men are unequalrunequalin intelligence, in ability. in vital; in mom staminl. So now we you in a new srnlfl a! .daiimienism. 11. despite the leveling ol opporiunity, inequality still rain" it. urly head. then the" is nothinfl is he done rain to desiroy in. rl-ndard‘l flu! measure diner. em." on a l... ropy M rim-m inve at N norm atvtrw. wt to copy. cm no Matthieu. x m SUN.-MON.>T|IES.-WED. SHOWS SUN. 2-5-8 WEEK DAYS ONE SHOW ONLY 1:30 RM. mimlmnmmmsiowtlm W Willi SKEW. m ”Mimi!“ IlWl EVERYBIIE Will SEE THE MOST “Willi.“ nonoii rlciulii oimnm W is IiaD Winner Di 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture. iUMDRi‘iHiFBURN-RiiiHlRRiSUii Elimination mono and.