Sigmund Freud

1
Sigmund Freud

• 1856-1939

2
Religion-relate Books

• Totem and Taboo (1913)
• Future of an Illusion (1927)
• Civilization and Its Discontents (1929)
• Moses and Monotheism (1938)

3
The Human Situation

• Live is characterized by helplessness and fate in
  3 realms
• The superior power of nature
• The feebleness of our own bodies
• The inadequacy of law and custom

4
How does individuals cope with life?

• Primitive religion
• The superior powers of nature were turned into
  gods
• These gods were then petitioned through prayer
  and offerings
• All in an attempt to gain control over the
  irrational
• If results were not forthcoming
• Gods are angry
• Beyond human comprehension

5
Typology of coping fromCivilization and Its
Discontents

• Withdrawal
• Intoxication
• Yoga
• Sublimation
• Imagination
• Utopian alternatives

• Love
• Psychosis
• Beauty

6
Freuds conclusions inCivilization and Its
Discontents

• One can never be ultimately happy
• Religion is an escapist reality promising
  ultimate fulfillment
• Work and love are better alternatives
• Although they, also, will disappoint

7
Freuds theory of religion

• The religious stage is equivalent to the stage
  of childhood (I.e., something to go through, but,
  as a civilization, to grow beyond)
• Science (rational thought) is a better
  alternative than being controlled by irrational,
  infantile responses to life

8
Source of religion

• God is a projection
• In childhood the world is frightening and the
  child finds comfort in the authority of the
  father or parent figure
• In adulthood, the parent figure has been weak,
  impotent, but one still needs a source of power
  and security
• Therefore, one unconsciously creates/projects a
  heavenly father (God)

9
Characteristics of God

• The projected father figure (God) has many of the
  same attributes as ones earthly father
• One typically relates to this father God in ways
  similar to how one related to ones earthly
  father
• Which includes ambivalence
• A simultaneous love/hate relationship

10
Potential Critiques of Freud

• His theory is based on his observation of
  neurotics (sick people)
• How would his theory be different if it was based
  on observation of psychologically healthy people?
  (Wm James approach)
• Does he give too much value to science?
• Is a theory of projection incompatible with
  belief in God?