Freud Flashcards
What did Freud term religion?
An illusion
Freud described religion as a childish, infantile phenomenon in his work ‘The Future of an Illusion’.
In which work does Freud expound his thesis about religion as a psychological aberration?
‘The Future of an Illusion’
Freud argues that religion is a neurosis stemming from deep-seated wishes and childhood experiences.
What is Freud’s ‘Projection Theory’ regarding the origins of religion?
It posits that the psyche projects a ‘cosmic father’ figure
This projection arises from the child’s realization of helplessness and need for protection.
Who does Freud identify as the child’s first love object?
The mother
The mother fulfills the infant’s hunger and needs, becoming the primary attachment figure.
What dual emotional bond does the father create in a child’s life according to Freud?
Protection vs. anxiety/fear
The father is both feared due to rivalry over the mother and depended upon for protection.
What realization does a child come to that leads to the need for a ‘cosmic father’?
The child realizes they are helpless
They need safety, security, and guidance that the earthly father cannot fully provide.
How does Freud judge religion in terms of its origins?
Infantile
He believes religion emerges from a childlike wish for protection.
What type of scholars resonated with Freud’s reductionist explanation of religion?
Certain early 20th-century scholars, e.g., logical positivists
An example includes Rudolf Carnap.
Which thinkers contrast with Freud’s views on religion?
Otto and Schleiermacher
They highlight a non-rational, ineffable core to religion.
