how to apply freud's concept of human psyche to his critique of religion?

[mark414]

i should provide a disclaimer that i possess only a basic understanding of freud, so bear with me here please :)

it is quite obvious that freud does not have much use for religion; in 'the future of an illusion' freud equates religion to the obsessional neurosis of children, calling it the universal obsessional neurosis of humanity

so my question is, how can we take freud's concepts of the human psyche (the id, the ego, the superego) and his anxiety and ego-defense mechanisms theories, along with his theories of psychosexual development and apply them to his critique of religion?

is my question too broad? i can be more specific if you like...any freud people here?

[mark414]

1. hmm...perhaps this is too serious a question for the lounge

:shrug:

[undeterred]

2. Wow its late at night and this would be a good essay question

Somewhere in my voluminous library of outdated books from past lives there is a book called "Freud and the Problem of God" written in 1979 by liberal Catholic theologian Hans Kung.

Its an interesting little book- and a lot of stuff comes up when I googled it for reviews even though its a little old.

I think a lot of theologians have grappled with Freud and religion but that's the book that comes to mind.

[hickman1937]

3. I think Freud was on to something, he just missed the target.

It's all about womb envy. Women can actually grow a human being inside of themselves. All they need is about 1/8 of an once of matrix containing sperm, and they can populate anywhere with a bare minimum of sustanance. The ninth month of pregnancy is the key. It handicaps women.

[mark414]

4. anyone else?

[hickman1937]

5. I think you should have put this in GD, or maybe here,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=322

[mark414]

6. yeah...

no responses really in GD either...i was up for some discussion tonight; and the philosophy group moves pretty slow

:sigh: oh well...google is there for a reason

[hickman1937]

7. Then try GD-Politics.

Keep trying. Sometimes it's all about what time you go fishing.