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{{Short description|1950 book by Erich Fromm}}
{{Infobox Book | <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Novels or Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Books --> {{Infobox book | <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Novels or Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Books -->
| name = Psychoanalysis and Religion | name = Psychoanalysis and Religion
| image = ] | image = Psychoanalysis-and-religion-fromm-bkcover.jpg
| caption = Cover of the first edition
| image_caption =
| author = Erich Fromm | author = Erich Fromm
| illustrator = | illustrator =
| cover_artist = | cover_artist =
| country = ] | country = United States
| language = ] | language = English
| subject = | subject =
| genre = ]
| publisher = ] | publisher = ]
| pub_date = 1950 | pub_date = 1950
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}} }}


'''''Psychoanalysis and Religion''''' is a 1950 psychoanalytic treatise that attempts to explain the purpose and goals of psychoanalysis in relation to ethics and religion. It was the third book written by mid-20th Century ] and psychoanalyst ]. '''''Psychoanalysis and Religion''''' is a 1950 book by ] and psychoanalyst ], in which he attempts to explain the purpose and goals of ] in relation to ethics and religion.


==Forward== ==Forward==
In the forward to the first edition, Fromm explains that ''Psychoanalysis and Religion'' is a continuation of the thoughts he expressed in his 1947 book ]. He states that he is not asserting that his thesis applies to all researchers and practitioners in the field of psychoanalysis.<ref name=PsyRel group=Ref /> In the forward to the first edition, Fromm explains that ''Psychoanalysis and Religion'' is a continuation of the thoughts he expressed in his 1947 book ''Man for Himself''. He states that he is not asserting that his thesis applies to all researchers and practitioners in the field of psychoanalysis.<ref name=PsyRel group=Ref />


In an updated forward to a 1967 printing, Fromm indicates that he believed the work had held up despite advances made over the intervening years, and he made no changes. In an updated forward to a 1967 printing, Fromm indicates that he believed the work had held up despite advances made over the intervening years, and he made no changes.


==Psychoanalysis and Religion==
According to an early reviewer, Fromm wrote ''Psychoanalysis and Religion'' in "an effort to reconcile the faith of the scientist with the ageless belief of man in the goodness and omnipotence of the Absolute...."<ref Name=Millet1952 group=Ref /> According to an early reviewer, Fromm wrote ''Psychoanalysis and Religion'' in "an effort to reconcile the faith of the scientist with the ageless belief of man in the goodness and omnipotence of the Absolute...."<ref Name=Millet1952 group=Ref />


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In discerning the positive and negative effects of religion on individuals, Fromm drew a distinction between ] and ] religions. Authoritarian religious entities promulgate the belief that humans are at the mercy of an ] God, whereas humanistic ones promote the belief that the power of God is visible in the mane of the individual. According to Fromm, authoritarian religions disserve the individual by denying their individual identities, while humanistic ones provide for personal validation and growth.<ref name=Personality group=Ref /> In discerning the positive and negative effects of religion on individuals, Fromm drew a distinction between ] and ] religions. Authoritarian religious entities promulgate the belief that humans are at the mercy of an ] God, whereas humanistic ones promote the belief that the power of God is visible in the mane of the individual. According to Fromm, authoritarian religions disserve the individual by denying their individual identities, while humanistic ones provide for personal validation and growth.<ref name=Personality group=Ref />


While Fromm provided for the possibility that religion could be a positive influence in an individual's life, perhaps facilitating happiness and comfort, his critique serves mainly to condemn, at a very basic level, most religious orders, especially those orders most commonly practiced in ]. Accordingly, Fromm's thesis is rejected by most theologians. Unfortunately, such rejection is mainly on theological rather than psychoanalytic grounds, and therefore not sufficient to discredit Fromm's critique.<ref name=Personality group=Ref /> While Fromm provided for the possibility that religion could be a positive influence in an individual's life, perhaps facilitating happiness and comfort, his critique serves mainly to condemn, at a very basic level, most religious orders, especially those orders most commonly practiced in ]. Accordingly, Fromm's thesis is rejected by most theologians.<ref name=Personality group=Ref />


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]
* Jensen, Walter A. (2017). "Humanistic and authoritarian religions." In ''Erich Fromm's contributions to sociological theory.'' Kalamazoo, MI: Printmill, pp. 11-58. {{ISBN|9780970491947}}.


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|group="Ref"|refs= {{reflist|group="Ref"|refs=
<ref name=PsyRel>{{cite book |last1=Fromm |first1=Erich |authorlink1=Erich Fromm |title=Psychoanalysis and Religion |url=http://books.google.com/?id=A-3DjYEK4MIC&dq=psychoanalysis+and+religion |accessdate=10 February 2010 |year=1950 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven, CT, USA |isbn=0-300-00089-8 }}</ref> <ref name=PsyRel>{{cite book |last1=Fromm |first1=Erich |author-link1=Erich Fromm |title=Psychoanalysis and Religion |url=https://archive.org/details/psychoanalysisre00fromrich |url-access=registration |quote=psychoanalysis and religion. |access-date=10 February 2010 |year=1950 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven, CT, United States |isbn=0-300-00089-8 }}</ref>


<ref name=Personality>{{cite book |title=Personality |last=Burger |first=Jerry |year=2007 |publisher=] |location=Stamford, CT, USA |isbn=0-495-09786-1 |page= |pages=122–123 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=FvGH0J_wHggC&dq=Fromm+Freud+Jung+religion |accessdate=10 February 2010}}</ref> <ref name=Personality>{{cite book |title=Personality |last=Burger |first=Jerry |year=2007 |publisher=] |location=Stamford, CT, United States |isbn=978-0-495-09786-0 |pages=122–123 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FvGH0J_wHggC&q=Fromm+Freud+Jung+religion |access-date=10 February 2010}}</ref>


<ref Name=Millet1952>{{cite journal |last1=Millet |first1=John |year=1952 |title=Psychoanalysis and Religion |journal=] |volume=XIV |issue=3 |pages=233–235 |url=http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/reprint/14/3/233-b.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=10 February 2010 }}</ref> <ref Name=Millet1952>{{cite journal |last1=Millet |first1=John |year=1952 |title=Psychoanalysis and Religion |journal=] |volume=XIV |issue=3 |pages=233–235 |doi=10.1097/00006842-195205000-00011 |url=http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/reprint/14/3/233-b.pdf |access-date=10 February 2010 }}</ref>
}} }}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Psychoanalysis And Religion}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Psychoanalysis And Religion}}
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Latest revision as of 00:03, 20 August 2024

1950 book by Erich Fromm
Psychoanalysis and Religion
Cover of the first edition
AuthorErich Fromm
LanguageEnglish
PublisherYale University Press
Publication date1950
Publication placeUnited States
Pages119
ISBN0-300-00089-8
Dewey Decimal131.34 F932p

Psychoanalysis and Religion is a 1950 book by social psychologist and psychoanalyst Erich Fromm, in which he attempts to explain the purpose and goals of psychoanalysis in relation to ethics and religion.

Forward

In the forward to the first edition, Fromm explains that Psychoanalysis and Religion is a continuation of the thoughts he expressed in his 1947 book Man for Himself. He states that he is not asserting that his thesis applies to all researchers and practitioners in the field of psychoanalysis.

In an updated forward to a 1967 printing, Fromm indicates that he believed the work had held up despite advances made over the intervening years, and he made no changes.

According to an early reviewer, Fromm wrote Psychoanalysis and Religion in "an effort to reconcile the faith of the scientist with the ageless belief of man in the goodness and omnipotence of the Absolute...."

As evidenced by this and his other works, Fromm was fascinated by the psychological aspects of religion and what seemed to be a ubiquitous need for religion by humans. Fromm postulated an explanation for this phenomenon, that people respond to and are comforted by the structure and discipline of church authority. Religion helps people to find fellowship and some modicum of control over their lives, and is thus a defense against feelings of powerlessness and loneliness. "To some people return to religion is the answer, not as an act of faith but in order to escape an intolerable doubt; they make this decision not out of devotion but in search of security." (Fromm 1950, p. 4) Self-awareness, with its potential for causing acute emotional feelings, can be frightening and overwhelming. Religion may serve to help ameliorate such fears.

In discerning the positive and negative effects of religion on individuals, Fromm drew a distinction between authoritarian and humanistic religions. Authoritarian religious entities promulgate the belief that humans are at the mercy of an omnipotent God, whereas humanistic ones promote the belief that the power of God is visible in the mane of the individual. According to Fromm, authoritarian religions disserve the individual by denying their individual identities, while humanistic ones provide for personal validation and growth.

While Fromm provided for the possibility that religion could be a positive influence in an individual's life, perhaps facilitating happiness and comfort, his critique serves mainly to condemn, at a very basic level, most religious orders, especially those orders most commonly practiced in Western culture. Accordingly, Fromm's thesis is rejected by most theologians.

See also

  • Psychology of religion
  • Jensen, Walter A. (2017). "Humanistic and authoritarian religions." In Erich Fromm's contributions to sociological theory. Kalamazoo, MI: Printmill, pp. 11-58. ISBN 9780970491947.

References

  1. Fromm, Erich (1950). Psychoanalysis and Religion. New Haven, CT, United States: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-00089-8. Retrieved 10 February 2010. psychoanalysis and religion.
  2. Millet, John (1952). "Psychoanalysis and Religion" (PDF). Psychosomatic Medicine. XIV (3): 233–235. doi:10.1097/00006842-195205000-00011. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  3. ^ Burger, Jerry (2007). Personality. Stamford, CT, United States: Cengage Learning. pp. 122–123. ISBN 978-0-495-09786-0. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
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